Plant Human Resources Manager

Confidential; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An leading manufacturing firm in Maryland seeks a Plant HR Manager to serve as a strategic HR partner. This role focuses on fostering positive employee relations, managing talent development, and ensuring compliance with labor regulations. Candidates should have at least 6 years of HR experience in a manufacturing setting. This position is onsite 5 days a week, and offers a dynamic environment for HR professionals driven to improve workforce engagement and strategy alignment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of progressive HR experience, in manufacturing or a plant environment.
• Proven expertise in employment law and modern HR practices.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and coach leaders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR contact for all plant employees.
• Partner with labor relations to resolve employee concerns.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor regulations.
• Identify training needs and coordinate training programs.
• Collaborate with EHS teams to support safety initiatives.

Skills

Employee relations

Talent management

Workforce planning

Communication

HRIS systems

Job description

The Plant HR Manager is a strategic and hands‑on HR business partner responsible for supporting all people‑related initiatives within the manufacturing facility. This role partners closely with plant leadership to drive positive employee relations, talent development, employee engagement, workforce planning, aligned to the enterprise, business unit, and supply chain strategy. The Plant HR Manager ensures HR practices support operational goals while fostering a safe, inclusive, and high‑performance work environment. You will partner with plant leadership to understand their needs and provide strategic HR guidance and support.

This role is onsite 5 days a week. Remote and Hybrid onsite not considered.

Key Responsibilities

Positive Employee Relations

• Serve as the primary HR contact for all plant employees exempt and non-exempt.
• Design and execute a positive employee relations strategy that aligns with company values and business strategy.
• Partner with labor relations to investigate and resolve employee concerns, performance issues, and policy violations.
• Coach leaders on communication, conflict resolution, and team management.

Talent Management & Workforce Planning

• Partner with plant leadership to forecast staffing needs and develop labor strategies.
• Partner with talent acquisition COE to support recruitment for hourly and salaried plant roles.
• Lead onboarding, orientation, and retention initiatives.
• Facilitate development plans, succession planning, and performance management processes.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor regulations (e.g., FMLA, FLSA, OSHA).
• Administer HR policies, disciplinary actions, and employment documentation.
• Manage HR metrics and reporting (turnover, headcount, absenteeism, engagement indicators).

Training & Development

• Identify training needs and coordinate programs for safety, leadership, skills training, and compliance.
• Support plant leaders in driving continuous improvement and organizational capability building.
• Partner with compensation COE on compensation strategy, job evaluations, and pay administration.
• Provide guidance to employees on benefits, leaves of absence, and payroll questions.

Safety & Well‑Being Partnership

• Collaborate with EHS teams to support safety initiatives, injury management, and plant wellness programs.

Qualifications (Must Have)

• Minimum of 6 years of progressive HR experience, in manufacturing or a plant environment.
• Proven expertise in employment law, modern HR practices, and the dynamics of manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and coach leaders.
• Experience with HRIS systems and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to react quickly in a fast‑paced, high‑volume plant environment.
• Leading and managing a team of direct and indirect (matrix) reports.
• Demonstrated ability to design and develop strategy

Nice to Have Qualifications

• Experience in Lean & Agile Methodologies
• Union/Non-Union manufacturing environments; labor relations