Senior Human Resources Generalist

Ampersand Brands; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Ampersand Brands seeks an experienced bilingual Senior HR Generalist to support our production operations in a fast-paced candy manufacturing environment. You will partner with frontline leaders through recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, investigations, performance management, and terminations.

Join a hands-on team on the production floor, coaching managers, and collaborating with senior leadership on people priorities while driving engagement and compliant HR practices across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in manufacturing or hourly workforce environments.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, with strong communication across levels.
• Experience supporting hourly employees and frontline managers in hands-on settings.
• Knowledge of recruitment, onboarding, HR practices, and employment law.

Responsibilities

• Partner with production leaders to identify staffing needs across production, packaging, warehouse, and other operational roles.
• Coordinate hiring activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interviews, and onboarding.
• Ensure new hires complete employment documentation, orientation, and policies.
• Serve as a trusted resource for employees, addressing workplace concerns and questions.
• Conduct timely investigations, document findings, and propose resolutions.
• Coach supervisors on performance management, attendance, corrective action, and policy application.
• Support disciplinary actions and terminations in line with policies and laws.
• Maintain a visible production floor presence to build trust and address concerns.
• Communicate company policies and updates clearly in English and Spanish.
• Plan and coordinate employee engagement activities and seasonal events.
• Track workforce metrics and identify HR process improvements.
• Build strong relationships with production supervisors, managers, and leaders.
• Provide HR guidance on staffing, workforce planning, and operational challenges.
• Maintain accurate employee records and investigations documentation.

Skills

Recruitment

Onboarding

Employee Relations

Performance Management

Investigations

Terminations

HR Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR

Tools

Rippling

Microsoft Office

Job description

Ampersand Brands is a growing portfolio of beloved confectionery brands, including Hammond’s Candies, the iconic hand-crafted candy maker, and Lolli & Pops, a premium retail and gifting brand with a national presence. The company is backed by strong growth ambitions, combining innovation, brand storytelling, and operational excellence to expand its reach and solidify its position as a leading player in the U.S. confections industry.

We are looking for an experienced, bilingual Senior HR Generalist to support our production operations in a fast-paced candy manufacturing environment. In this role, you will be a trusted HR partner to our production employees and frontline leaders, helping create a positive, productive workplace while supporting the full employee lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding to employee relations, investigations, performance management, and terminations.

The ideal candidate is approachable, proactive, and comfortable working directly on the production floor to build relationships with a diverse workforce. You will bring strong judgment, professionalism, and a people-first mindset, along with the ability to coach frontline managers and partner with senior leadership on employee matters and business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Partner with production leaders to identify staffing needs across production, packaging, warehouse, and other operational positions.
• Coordinate hiring activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interviews, and onboarding.
• Ensure new hires complete required employment documentation, orientation, and company policies and procedures.

Employee Relations & Performance Management

• Serve as a trusted resource for employees, addressing workplace concerns, conflicts, and HR-related questions.
• Conduct timely, objective workplace investigations, document findings, and recommend appropriate resolutions.
• Coach supervisors and managers on performance management, attendance, corrective action, and consistent policy application.
• Support disciplinary actions and terminations in accordance with company policies and applicable employment laws.
• Escalate sensitive or complex employee matters to HR leadership as appropriate.

Production Floor Support & Employee Engagement

• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor to build trust, understand employee needs, and address concerns proactively.
• Communicate company policies, expectations, and workplace updates clearly in both English and Spanish.
• Support employee engagement, recognition, retention, and workforce communication initiatives, such as monthly birthday celebrations, work anniversaries, and team milestones.
• Plan and coordinate company holiday events and seasonal gatherings, including vendors, budgets, and bilingual communications to production teams.
• Identify trends in turnover, absenteeism, and employee morale, and recommend practical solutions.

Leadership Partnership & HR Compliance

• Assist with board meeting preparation and logistics, including scheduling, materials, room setup, and catering, as well as other leadership meetings and company events as needed.
• Build strong working relationships with production supervisors, managers, and senior leaders.
• Provide HR guidance on staffing, employee relations, workforce planning, and operational challenges.
• Maintain accurate employee records, investigation documentation, and personnel files.
• Support compliance with applicable employment laws, company policies, and internal procedures.
• Track workforce metrics and identify opportunities to improve HR processes and consistency.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in manufacturing, food production, distribution, or a similar hourly workforce environment.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, with the ability to communicate effectively with employees and leaders at all levels.
• Experience supporting hourly employees and frontline managers in a hands-on operational setting.
• Demonstrated experience in employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
• Knowledge of recruitment, onboarding, HR practices, and employment law compliance.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential matters with discretion, exercise sound judgment, and build credibility with employees and leadership.
• Experience with Rippling preferred and Microsoft Office.

The pay range for this role is:

75,000 - 80,000 USD per year (Corporate)