Plant Human Resources Manager

Affiliated Recruiters Network; Missouri; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Affiliated Recruiters Network is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager for a Southeast Missouri manufacturing operation. You will lead a small on-site HR team, partner with plant leadership, and own the full range of people, culture and HR responsibilities to drive performance.

We value a hands-on leader with a track record of organizational change, credible coaching, and the ability to elevate accountability, engagement and leadership effectiveness across hourly and salaried staff.

Qualifications

• Progressive HR leadership experience in manufacturing or similar environments.
• Experience leading change initiatives and cultural transformation.
• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field; professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full plant HR function and develop a small on-site HR team.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to operational leaders and partners.
• Lead organizational and cultural change to improve accountability and performance.
• Coach leaders through employee relations and performance management.
• Strengthen communication, retention, workforce development and leadership effectiveness.
• Oversee recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, talent development and compliance.
• Introduce process improvements while avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy.

Skills

HR leadership

employee relations

change management

coaching

leadership development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Southeast Missouri / Northwest Arkansas / Eastern Tennessee area

Our client is seeking an experienced Human Resources Manager to provide full functional HR leadership for an established manufacturing operation in Southeast Missouri.

This individual will lead a small on-site HR team, serve as a key member of the plant leadership team and own the full range of people, culture and HR responsibilities for the facility.

The operation has an experienced, long-tenured workforce and established processes. The opportunity is to help lead its evolution from current state to higher performance — strengthening leadership, accountability, employee trust, engagement and organizational effectiveness. The role will have strong support from proven corporate HR leadership.

We are seeking a seasoned HR leader who has successfully led meaningful change before — someone who can understand an existing culture, recognize what should be preserved, identify what needs to improve and help make change stick.

This is a hands-on leadership role in a smaller, lower-density community. Success will require visibility, credibility, resilience and the judgment to know when to listen, when to coach, when to challenge and when to act.

What You'll Do

• Lead the full plant HR function and develop a small on-site HR team.
• Serve as a key member of plant leadership and trusted advisor to operational leaders — supporting and challenging them as appropriate.
• Lead organizational and cultural change that improves accountability, engagement and performance.
• Coach leaders through employee relations, performance management and difficult people decisions.
• Maintain a visible presence throughout the operation and build credibility with employees at all levels.
• Strengthen communication, retention, workforce development and leadership effectiveness.
• Oversee recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, talent development, workforce planning and compliance.
• Bring greater process, structure and clarity where needed without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

What We're Looking For

• Progressive HR leadership experience supporting a substantial, long-tenured hourly workforce.
• Demonstrated success leading meaningful organizational, cultural or workforce change — not simply maintaining established HR programs.
• Experience owning an HR function and developing HR team members.
• Manufacturing or industrial experience strongly preferred, ideally within durable goods manufacturing.
• Strong employee-relations experience and sound judgment in complex situations.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, influence and appropriately challenge operational leaders.
• A track record of improving leadership effectiveness, accountability, engagement and/or retention.
• Ability to earn credibility with both hourly employees and senior leadership.
• Bachelor's degree and professional HR certification preferred.

The Leadership Profile

This opportunity requires someone capable of leading change, not simply managing HR.

The right person understands that sustainable improvement rarely comes from another policy, program or slogan. It comes from understanding how an organization really works, earning credibility, setting clear expectations, developing leaders, confronting difficult issues and consistently following through.

We are looking for someone approachable but assertive, collaborative but willing to challenge, and experienced enough to know what needs to change — and how to make that change last.

The objective is not change for change's sake. It is to help an established organization perform at a higher level.

We have a very long and successful relationship with this market leading manufacturing company.