Manufacturing HR Manager

Vaco; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco on behalf of a southwest Indianapolis manufacturer seeks an HR Manager to lead the HR function on site. You will partner with operations, support onboarding, training, payroll, benefits, and compliance, while remaining visible on the production floor.

This hands-on role offers a clear leadership seat, collaboration with a small leadership team, and opportunities to improve processes, culture, and engagement across hourly and production staff.

Qualifications

• Progressive HR leadership experience, including primary or lead HR resource responsibilities.
• HR experience in a manufacturing environment is required.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR compliance.
• Experience building or improving onboarding, training programs, and HR processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted, approachable resource for employees and leaders on the shop floor.
• Partner with shop leadership on attendance, timekeeping, performance, and day-to-day workforce issues in a production environment.
• Build a more consistent onboarding experience beyond first-day paperwork.
• Lead and coordinate ongoing employee training and development programs.
• Gather, organize, and formalize existing HR processes and documentation for consistent application.
• Oversee employment-law compliance and HR best practices.
• Leverage ADP to improve HR efficiency and modernize processes.
• Manage relationships with staffing partners and support hiring across the organization.
• Oversee benefits administration and coordinate with Accounting on payroll-related matters.
• Lead employee engagement efforts and company events with leadership team.

Skills

HR leadership

Manufacturing HR

Employee relations

Employment law

Onboarding programs

Training development

HR processes

ADP/HRIS

Communication skills

Production floor

Job description

HR Manager – Manufacturing

Location: southwest side of Indianapolis, IN | 100% Onsite

Schedule: Monday–Friday, approximately 7:00 AM–4:00 PM

Compensation: $80,000-$120,000 base, depending on experience, plus discretionary annual bonus and benefits

About the Company

Our client is a growing, family-owned manufacturer with a strong reputation for going above and beyond for its customers. The company has grown significantly over the past several years and is committed to long-term family ownership. It is investing in an experienced leadership team to support its next stage of growth.

The culture is outgoing, collaborative, and people-focused. Employee retention has historically been strong, and leadership puts real time and money into morale through monthly team lunches, company competitions, sporting events, and other team-building activities.

The Opportunity

This is a hands-on HR leadership role for someone who wants to be visible, involved, and part of the business. You'll spend time on the production floor, build relationships with hourly employees, and work closely with shop and operations leadership every day.

You will be the company's primary HR leader and a member of a leadership group of about 6–9 managers. Many HR processes and documents are already in place, and leadership fully supports this person organizing, formalizing, and improving them. You'll have room to make a real impact and shape how the HR function grows.

What You'll Do

• Employee Relations: Serve as a trusted, approachable resource for employees and leaders. Spot small issues early, listen to employees, and help keep the workplace steady and positive.
• Operations Partnership: Work closely with shop leadership on attendance, timekeeping, performance, communication, and other day-to-day workforce issues in a production environment.
• Onboarding: Build a more consistent onboarding experience that goes beyond first-day paperwork and helps new employees get off to a successful start.
• Training & Development: Lead and coordinate ongoing employee training and development programs.
• Processes & SOPs: Gather, organize, and formalize existing HR processes and documentation. Make sure processes are applied consistently across the organization.
• Compliance: Oversee employment-law compliance and HR best practices.
• HR Technology: Use ADP to its full potential and find ways to make HR processes more efficient. Help modernize manual or paper-based processes as needed.
• Recruiting: Manage relationships with staffing partners and support hiring across the organization.
• Benefits & Payroll: Oversee benefits administration and partner with Accounting on payroll-related matters.
• Culture & Engagement: Lead employee engagement efforts and company events alongside leadership.

What You'll Bring

• Progressive HR experience, including experience as a primary or lead HR resource
• HR experience in a manufacturing environment (required)
• Proven employee-relations experience supporting hourly and production employees
• Strong working knowledge of employment law and HR compliance
• Experience building or improving onboarding, training programs, and HR processes
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to build credibility with front-line employees and leadership
• A proactive, hands-on approach and comfort working on the production floor
• Experience with ADP or a similar HRIS
• Strong organizational, communication, and follow-through skills

Nice to Have

• Experience moving manual or paper-based processes into automated systems
• Payroll knowledge
• Experience managing staffing agency relationships
• Experience in a privately held or family-owned company

Why This Role

• Long-term stability with a family-owned company that has no plans to sell
• A direct seat at the leadership table and visible impact on the business
• Room to shape and strengthen the HR function
• A positive, people-first culture with strong employee retention
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Benefits, HSA with employer contribution, Retirement Plan + match, 3 weeks PTO, 11 paid holidays

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.