People Operations Manager

ebs Recruiters; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a People Operations Manager to oversee HR initiatives in a manufacturing environment. This role focuses on workforce management, employee engagement, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Ideal candidates will have a strong HR foundation, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of manufacturing. Responsibilities include managing recruiting, onboarding, and training while fostering a positive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in HR including employment law and payroll.
• Ability to engage with leadership and supply teams.
• Experience in manufacturing environments essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee HR initiatives including recruiting and onboarding.
• Serve as the primary contact for workplace issues.
• Develop training programs and track certifications.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and standards.
• Manage performance reviews and compensation benchmarking.
• Lead employee engagement initiatives and support change management.

Skills

Communication skills

Conflict resolution

Data-driven decision-making

Education

Strong HR foundation in employment law, payroll, and compliance

Job description

Founded in 2003, ebs Recruiters is built on a foundation of family values and a passion for finding great opportunities for amazing individuals. With over 3,000 talented professionals successfully placed, we are dedicated to making dreams a reality. Networking is at the core of what we do, connecting candidates with their ideal roles and providing top-notch services to our clients.

Today, our leadership team boasts over 100 years of collective experience in technical recruitment. Their extensive expertise brings a unique blend of business acumen and interpersonal skills to every interaction. When you partner with ebs Recruiters, you can rely on us to offer continuity, expertise, and a dedicated contact for all your recruitment needs. We recruit a perfect fit, every time.

People Operations Manager

Position Overview: The People Operations Manager leads HR initiatives within a manufacturing environment, aligning workforce strategy with operational goals. This role combines strategic HR leadership with hands‑on support for plant operations, focusing on workforce planning, employee relations, safety compliance, and employee development. The position partners closely with operations and leadership teams to ensure effective staffing, a positive workplace culture, and strong organizational performance.

Key Responsibilities

Workforce Management

• Oversee recruiting, onboarding, and retention for production, shipping, maintenance, and service teams
• Support production staffing forecasting and labor planning with supply and customer service leadership
• Partner with managers and directors to manage scheduling and overtime

Employee Relations

• Serve as the primary contact for workplace issues on the production and warehouse floor
• Handle conflict resolution, grievance management, and employee engagement
• Promote a positive, safe, and inclusive workplace culture

Training & Development

• Develop training programs for operators, technicians, and supervisors
• Track required certifications such as OSHA, forklift, and machine‑specific training

Compliance & Safety

• Partner with Environmental Health & Safety to ensure compliance with OSHA and industry standards
• Support audits and investigations of workplace incidents
• Drive safety culture initiatives aligned with manufacturing risks

Performance & Compensation

• Manage performance reviews, corrective action plans, and rewards programs for production, shipping, and service teams
• Benchmark compensation against industry standards
• Support labor cost forecasting with finance and operations

Change Management & Culture

• Lead employee engagement initiatives tailored to shift‑based workforces
• Support change initiatives such as automation, new production lines, and restructuring
• Build trust between management and supply teams

Qualifications

• Strong HR foundation including employment law, payroll, and compliance
• Strong understanding of manufacturing environments
• Excellent communication with both leadership and supply teams
• Conflict resolution and employee engagement skills
• Data‑driven decision‑making using metrics such as turnover, absenteeism, and training ROI