Senior HR Generalist

Maker’s Pride, LLC; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Maker’s Pride in Grand Rapids, MI is seeking a Senior HR Generalist to drive culture, recruitment, retention, and compliance in a high-performance manufacturing setting.

You will lead talent management, onboarding, performance review processes, and union relations where applicable, while partnering with leadership to build an engaging, compliant and productive workplace.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead culture building and employee engagement initiatives.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and retention strategies.
• Direct performance management and succession planning programs.
• Support training, compliance and audits.
• Manage benefits programs and payroll for hourly staff.
• Analyze HR metrics and report KPIs to leadership.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Employee engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in related business field

MBA (preferred)

Tools

Dayforce HRIS

MS Office Suite

Job description

Grand Rapids - H2, 2455 Oak Industrial Drive, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM

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.
• 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.
• 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

• Undergraduate degree in a related business field required, with an MBA being a plus.
• 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.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
• No sponsorship available for work authorization.

Maker's Pride is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Grand Rapids - H2, 2455 Oak Industrial Drive, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America