Senior HR Generalist

Maker's Pride; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Maker's Pride in Grand Rapids, MI, seeks a Senior HR Generalist to champion culture, recruit and retain talent, and drive performance management. The role balances strategic initiatives with day-to-day HR operations in a high-performance manufacturing environment. Strong stakeholder engagement, compliance, and people leadership are essential for a positive, productive workplace.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of generalist HR experience in manufacturing or high-performance environments.
• Bachelor's degree in a related business field; MBA preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.
• No sponsorship available for work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Culture building and employee engagement initiatives.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies.
• Lead performance management and succession planning processes.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and audits.
• Manage payroll, benefits, and HR data/reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Conflict management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in business

MBA (preferred)

Tools

Dayforce

Job description

Job Summary Overview: The Senior HR Generalist will play a crucial role in fostering a strong company culture, ensuring effective recruitment and retention strategies, supporting performance management, and maintaining legal compliance. This role is focused on ensuring a safe and engaged work environment while balancing the administrative and strategic aspects of human resources. The ideal candidate will have a balance of strategic and tactical HR experience, particularly in high-performance manufacturing environments. They should be able to lead cultural transformation efforts, manage day-to-day HR operations, and maintain legal and ethical compliance. The role requires someone with a strong ability to connect with employees and leadership alike, with a focus on creating a positive, engaging, and productive workplace.

Key Responsibilities

1. Culture Building and Employee Engagement:
   • Leading the creation of a positive work culture by utilizing Maker's Pride Performance Systems.
   • Managing annual opinion surveys and action plans to improve engagement.
   • Ensuring employee recognition and driving pride within the workforce.
2. Talent Acquisition and Retention:
   • Overseeing recruitment, on-boarding, and retention strategies to ensure a steady pipeline of talent.
   • Developing strategies to stay union-free or maintain positive relations with unions if applicable.
   • Building strong relationships with staffing agencies to ensure facility is adequately staffed.
3. Performance Management and Succession Planning:
   • Leading the performance management system to evaluate and develop employees at all levels.
   • Creating and implementing talent management programs to build a pipeline for succession planning.
4. Community Outreach and Employer Branding:
   • Building a strong employer brand in the local community through donations, networking, and outreach efforts.
5. Training and Compliance:
   • Ensuring the facility meets all training and compliance requirements for audits and legal purposes.
   • Overseeing all policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
6. Employee Benefits and Payroll:
   • Managing employee benefits programs such as medical, dental, vision, 401(k), FMLA, etc.
   • Overseeing payroll and attendance systems for hourly employees.
7. Data and Reporting:
   • Analyzing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and identifying actions to address downward trends in performance.

Required Competencies & Knowledge

• Technical Skills:
  • Proficiency in MS Office Suite and knowledge of Dayforce (HRIS system).
• Leadership and Management Skills:
  • Ability to motivate and lead staff effectively while developing a high-performance team.
  • Strong decision-making and conflict management skills.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels.
• Analytical and Financial Acumen:
  • Ability to analyze HR data and trends, with a strong focus on problem-solving and financial understanding.
• Interpersonal Skills:
  • Strong conflict management skills and the ability to foster a positive work environment.
  • Ability to coach and mentor both front-line employees and leadership staff.

Qualifications

• Educational Requirements:
  • Undergraduate degree in a related business field required, with an MBA being a plus.
• Experience:
  • 3 to 5+ years of experience in a generalist HR role in a manufacturing or high-performance environment.
  • Experience in Food Manufacturing is a plus.
• Additional Skills:
  • Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
• No sponsorship available for work authorization.