Sr. HR Operations Generalist – Manufacturing

Scientific Search; Covington Township (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Strong benefit package

Participation in a company-wide bonus plan

Job summary

Scientific Search is seeking a Senior HR Operations Generalist in Covington Township, Michigan. This role is pivotal within a union manufacturing environment, delivering advanced HR support including employee relations, compliance, and workforce planning. The ideal candidate will influence plant culture and ensure operational excellence through effective HR practices.

Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and have 3+ years of HR experience, preferably in manufacturing. Strong communication and HR strategy knowledge are essential for this position.

Qualifications

• 3+ years HR experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment required.
• Union experiences preferred.
• SHRM SCP or SPHR certification preferred.
• Proficiency with HRIS and Microsoft Office required.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a primary advisor for complex employee relations issues.
• Leads compliance activities such as audit preparation.
• Supports recruiting activities for hourly and early-career salaried roles.
• Owns HR data integrity at a site level.
• Works closely with Operations, EHS, Finance.

Skills

Effective communication

Coaching

Facilitation

Relationship building

Knowledge of employment law

HR strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Industrial Relations, or related field

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

The Senior HR Operations Generalist serves as a trusted HR partner within a complex, multi‑shift union manufacturing environment. This role delivers advanced HR support across employee relations, compliance, workforce planning, performance management, and organizational development. The Senior HR Operations Generalist plays a key role in supporting front‑line leadership, strengthening plant culture, enabling operational performance, and driving continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will create a workplace where employees are respected, informed, supported, and engaged. This role contributes directly to safety culture, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations

• Acts as a primary advisor for complex employee relations issues, providing guidance, coaching, and conflict resolution support to leaders and employees.
• Under the direction of HR, conducts thorough ER investigations and recommends solutions that reduce risk and reinforce fairness and respect.
• Serves as a culture champion, fostering open communication, psychological safety, and trust.

Compliance

• Strong understanding of employment law, policy interpretation, and compliance risk management.
• Leads compliance activities such as audit preparation, recordkeeping reviews, and regulatory reporting.
• Ensures HR practices align with legal standards and Saint‑Gobain Values, empowering leaders to make informed decisions.

Frontline Leadership Support

• Actively participates in Gemba walks at manufacturing sites to observe operations, engage with employees, and gather insights on workplace culture and employee needs, contributing to continuous improvement initiatives and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to support World Class Manufacturing (WCM) initiatives by participating in training sessions, facilitating employee engagement, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement to enhance operational efficiency and workforce development.
• Acts as a strategic partner to frontline and midlevel leadership on workforce strategy, staffing, performance, and employee development.
• Coaches leaders on effective communication, accountability, corrective action processes, and change leadership.
• Supports the plant's leadership capability by reinforcing TEC behaviors.

Talent Acquisition

• Supports recruiting activities for hourly and early‑career salaried roles, including job postings, screening, interview.
• Partners with plant leadership on proactive workforce planning and talent strategies.
• Oversees onboarding effectiveness and drives improvements that enhance new hire engagement and retention.

HR Metrics

• Owns HR data integrity at a site level (turnover, attendance, staffing, and ER trends).
• Presents data driven recommendations to improve workforce stability, engagement, or efficiency.
• Use metrics to identify workforce patterns and to influence strategic decisions.

Collaboration & Cross Functional Partnership

• Works closely with Operations, EHS, Finance, Payroll, Corporate HR, and other partners to align HR actions with business priorities.
• Supports or facilitates training, engagement, and recognition programs.
• Operates both independently and with direction from HR in managing priorities, investigations, and projects with minimal supervision.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, Industrial Relations, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years HR experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment required. Union experiences preferred.
• SHRM SCP or SPHR certification preferred.
• Knowledge of employment law, HR strategy, and front‑line leadership support required.
• Effective communication, coaching, facilitation, and relationship building skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to influence leaders, manage complex ER situations, and lead HR initiatives required.
• Proficiency with HRIS and Microsoft Office required.
• UKG/Kronos experience preferred.

The client offers a competitive salary package that is dependent on qualifications and experience, as well as a strong benefit package, plus participation in a company‑wide bonus plan.