Senior HR Generalist

Tenneco; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tenneco is seeking aSenior Human Resources Generalist to support employees and leadership in a fast-paced manufacturing setting in Blacksburg, VA. You will handle labor relations, recruiting and onboarding, performance management, attendance, HR compliance, and HIP policies.

You will collaborate with plant leadership and supervisors on workforce planning, provide coaching on HR practices, and ensure timely HR actions while maintaining confidentiality and data accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Admin, Industrial Relations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Progressive HR Generalist experience.
• Experience handling employee relations matters.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR practices.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, problem-solving and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• Ability to work with employees at all levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HRIS.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary HR resource for employees, supervisors, and managers regarding workplace policies and HR practices.
• Support positive employee relations through fair and timely application of policies.
• Assist with employee investigations, attendance concerns, and other HR matters.
• Support labor relations activities in a unionized manufacturing environment, including grievance administration.
• Partner with leadership to address workplace concerns before they escalate.
• Coordinate recruiting, interviewing, selection, pre-employment activities, and onboarding.
• Support new-hire orientation and onboarding experience.
• Monitor staffing levels, vacancies, turnover, and workforce trends.
• Support performance management and coach supervisors on feedback.
• Assist with development plans, succession, and talent development activities.
• Coordinate training and track completion of programs.
• Identify development opportunities for hourly employees and leaders.
• Administer attendance policies and payroll-related HR docs.
• Ensure accurate timekeeping and HR records.
• Support employee status changes and personnel actions.
• Prepare HR reports and metrics on headcount, absenteeism, turnover, and training.
• Ensure HR practices comply with policies and laws.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Support HR audits and compliance initiatives.
• Partner on implementation of corporate HR programs and plant initiatives.
• Build relationships with plant leadership and union representatives.
• Provide supervisors with HR guidance and coaching.
• Participate in plant meetings and workforce planning.
• Maintain visibility on the production floor and address concerns.
• Support organizational change and continuous improvement.

Skills

Employee relations

Labor relations

Recruiting & onboarding

Performance management

HR policies & compliance

HR data & metrics

Coaching & influencing

Communication & collaboration

MS Office proficiency

Confidentiality & ethics

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Admin, or related field

SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

Senior Human Resources Generalist

Position Summary: The Senior Human Resources Generalist is a key member of the plant Human Resources team and provides hands‑on HR support to employees and leadership in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment. This position serves as a trusted HR resource and supports employee and labor relations, recruiting and onboarding, performance management, attendance, training and development, workforce planning, policy administration, and HR compliance.

The ideal candidate is comfortable working directly on the manufacturing floor, building relationships with employees and supervisors, addressing employee concerns, and balancing employee needs with operational and business requirements.

Location and Environment

Blacksburg, Virginia

Manufacturing Facility

Job Details

• Department: Human Resources
• Reports To: Human Resources Manager
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Work Location: Blacksburg, Virginia

Key Responsibilities

Employee & Labor Relations

• Serve as a primary HR resource for employees, supervisors, and managers regarding workplace concerns, policies, and HR practices.
• Support positive employee relations through consistent, fair, and timely application of company policies and practices.
• Assist with employee investigations, corrective actions, attendance concerns, and other employee relations matters.
• Support labor relations activities in a unionized manufacturing environment, including grievance administration, contract interpretation, and preparation for labor‑management discussions.
• Partner with leadership to address workplace concerns before they escape.

Recruiting, Staffing & Onboarding

• Partner with operations leadership to understand hourly and salaried staffing needs.
• Coordinate recruiting, interviewing, selection, pre‑employment activities, and onboarding.
• Support new‑hire orientation and ensure employees receive a positive and organized onboarding experience.
• Coordinate with staffing partners and hiring managers regarding temporary and direct‑hire staffing needs.
• Monitor staffing levels, vacancies, turnover, and other workforce trends.

Performance & Talent Management

• Support the performance management process and coach supervisors on providing timely, effective employee feedback.
• Assist leaders with employee development plans, succession planning, and talent‑development activities.
• Coordinate employee training and track completion of required programs.
• Help identify development opportunities for hourly employees, supervisors, and emerging leaders.

Attendance, Payroll & HR Administration

• Support administration of attendance policies and related employee documentation.
• Partner with supervisors to ensure employee timekeeping information is accurate and concerns are addressed promptly.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation.
• Support employee status changes, promotions, transfers, compensation changes, and other personnel actions.
• Prepare and analyze HR reports and metrics related to headcount, absenteeism, turnover, staffing, training, and other workforce measures.

Compliance & Policy Administration

• Ensure HR practices are administered consistently and in accordance with company policies and applicable employment laws.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of employee and business information.
• Support HR audits, recordkeeping requirements, and compliance initiatives.
• Partner with HR leadership on implementation of corporate HR programs and plant‑specific initiatives.

HR Business Partnership

• Build strong working relationships with plant leadership, supervisors, employees, and union representatives.
• Provide supervisors with practical HR guidance and coaching.
• Participate in plant meetings and workforce‑planning discussions.
• Maintain regular visibility on the production floor and proactively identify employee and organizational concerns.
• Support organizational change and continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Perform additional HR responsibilities and projects as business needs require.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant HR experience.
• Progressive Human Resources Generalist experience.
• Demonstrated experience handling employee relations matters.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR practices.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to appropriately manage confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of an organization.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and HR information systems.

Preferred

• HR experience within a manufacturing, distribution, or industrial environment.
• Experience supporting a unionized workforce.
• Experience with grievance administration and collective bargaining agreement interpretation.
• Experience supporting high‑volume recruiting and hourly workforce staffing.
• SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Experience utilizing HR data and metrics to identify workforce trends and recommend solutions.

Key Competencies

• Employee & Labor Relations
• Manufacturing HR Support
• Sound Judgment & Decision‑Making
• Conflict Resolution
• Coaching & Influencing
• Relationship Building
• Recruiting & Workforce Planning
• HR Compliance
• Confidentiality
• Organization & Follow‑Through
• Data Analysis
• Continuous Improvement

Work Environment

This position supports an active manufacturing facility and requires regular interaction with employees and supervisors on the production floor. The Senior HR Generalist must be comfortable working in both office and manufacturing environments and adjusting work hours periodically to provide HR support across plant operations and shifts.

Role Scope

This role is positioned above a traditional HR Generalist and below the Human Resources Manager. The Senior HR Generalist is expected to independently manage employee and labor relations matters, staffing, investigations, supervisor coaching, onboarding, and HR metrics while serving as a strong secondary HR leader for the plant.