HR Manager

POSITION SNAPSHOT: The Human Resources Manager serves as the sole and primary HR leader for a growing contract manufacturing facility of approximately 50 employees, acting as a strategic business partner while maintaining full ownership of daily HR operations. This highly hands-on role supports a diverse workforce that includes skilled trades, engineering, operations, production, finance, and administrative personnel. The position requires an experienced HR professional who can independently manage the entire employee lifecycle while advising leadership on workforce strategy, organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, retention, and policy development. As the organization's central HR resource, the manager is responsible for establishing and maintaining HR programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, particularly California-specific regulations, maintaining employee records, and continuously improving HR processes to support business growth and operational success.

A significant portion of the role focuses on talent management, employee relations, and workforce administration. The Human Resources Manager leads full-cycle recruitment efforts across all departments, partnering with hiring managers to create job descriptions, develop sourcing strategies, facilitate interviews, oversee background screening, and manage onboarding activities. Beyond talent acquisition, the position serves as a trusted advisor on employee relations matters, conflict resolution, workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, corrective action plans, and performance management initiatives. The role also champions employee development through performance review programs, coaching, succession planning, and career growth opportunities while fostering a positive, productive workplace culture aligned with organizational goals. Success in this area requires strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and the ability to build trusted relationships at all levels of the organization.

The position also carries comprehensive responsibility for HR administration, compliance, risk management, payroll, benefits, and workplace safety programs. The Human Resources Manager oversees payroll processing, benefits administration, open enrollment activities, time-off tracking, attendance programs, leave administration, and 401(k) plan oversight, ensuring employee deductions and company contributions are properly deposited. Additionally, the role manages workers' compensation claims, return-to-work programs, safety initiatives, unemployment claims, employment verifications, HR audits, and regulatory reporting requirements. The ideal candidate possesses at least 10 years of progressive HR experience, preferably within manufacturing or industrial environments (strong preference in aerospace, space or defense), along with deep knowledge of California employment law, payroll practices, employee benefits, and compliance requirements. Strong competencies in employee relations, recruitment, workers' compensation management, policy development, problem-solving, confidentiality, communication, and HR systems are critical for success. The organization offers a competitive salary range of $110,000 to $145,000 DOE, comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and the ability to make a meaningful impact within a fast-growing, entrepreneurial manufacturing environment.