OVERVIEW
Our client is a global manufacturer seeking a Senior HR Manager to serve as the senior onsite People leader at their Ontario manufacturing facility. This role leads a local HR team and partners closely with Operations and corporate leadership to strengthen workforce stability, improve manager effectiveness, and ensure strong execution across employee relations, performance management, training, compliance, and employee programs.
This role provides HR support across multiple U.S. states, including remote team members, requiring strong judgment, consistency in employee experience, and working knowledge of multi-state employment compliance. Additionally, this position supports cross-border reporting and communication needs due to a global parent company structure, requiring strong documentation skills, metrics reporting, and executive-ready presentations.
Location: Ontario, CA (Onsite – not remote or hybrid)
Department: Human Resources / People & Culture
Reports to: Global HRBP (Director)
Direct Reports: Training Specialist, HR Assistant Manager
Compensation Base Salary Range: $110,000 – $145,000 USD + Performance Bonus. Full compensation approximately $150,000 - $190,000 USD
RESPONSIBILITIES
HR Site Leadership & Business Partnership
- Serve as the primary HR leader for the manufacturing site supporting both hourly and salaried employees
- Partner with site leadership to improve workforce effectiveness, accountability, engagement, and retention
- Coach supervisors and managers on performance management, corrective action, attendance practices, and consistent documentation standards
- Lead HR team priorities and ensure timely execution of HR deliverables aligned to business needs
People Management (Direct Reports)
- Provide leadership and daily direction for the onsite HR team, including Training Specialist and HR Assistant Manager
- Set team goals, ensure high service levels, and drive continuous improvement in HR processes
- Build internal capability through coaching, clear expectations, and escalation support
Employee Relations & Compliance (Senior-Level)
- Lead employee relations matters including performance counseling, investigations, workplace conflict resolution, corrective action, and separations
- Ensure HR practices comply with all applicable federal and California employment laws and align to company policy
- Partner with leadership on sensitive employee situations while ensuring professionalism, fairness, and risk reduction
Workers' Compensation & Leave Administration
- Manage all aspects of Workers' Compensation: incident intake, documentation, coordination with medical providers and claims partners, return-to-work planning, modified duty coordination, and claims trend analysis
- Support management of leaves of absence and employee accommodation processes
Benefits Oversight & Employee Support
- Provide onsite HR leadership oversight for employee benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, disability, 401(k), voluntary benefits)
- Partner with corporate/shared services and benefits vendors on employee questions, enrollment support, benefit education, and leave/disability coordination
- Ensure benefit processes are communicated clearly across onsite and remote teams
Training & Development Partnership
- Lead and support onboarding quality, compliance training, leadership enablement, and job training programs for manufacturing roles
- Partner with site leaders to identify training gaps and improve supervisor capability
Multi-State HR Support
- Provide HR partnership for remote employees across multiple U.S. states, including Sales and field-based roles
- Support multi-state compliance including onboarding, policy alignment, employee relations, and separation practices
Reporting, Analytics & Executive Communication
- Develop clear HR reporting: headcount, turnover, retention risk, safety/Workers' Comp trends, employee relations themes
- Prepare executive-ready PowerPoint presentations and monthly/quarterly site updates
- Provide structured reporting supporting leadership visibility and global reporting needs
QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years progressive HR experience with strong Generalist depth
- 3+ years direct people management experience
- Manufacturing, industrial, or warehouse environment experience (required)
- Multi-state HR experience supporting employees across more than one U.S. state (required)
- Strong expertise in: employee relations and investigations, performance management, California HR compliance (wage & hour, policies, documentation), Workers' Compensation administration, benefits support and issue resolution
- Expert-level Excel skills (reporting, pivot tables, formulas, trend analysis)
- Expert-level PowerPoint skills (executive presentations, structured communication)
- Ability to work onsite with urgency and professionalism in a production environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting multi-shift or high-volume hourly workforces
- Experience partnering with global leadership or parent-company reporting expectations
- HR certification (PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SCP)
Core Competencies
- Strong judgment and discretion in high-sensitivity situations
- High accountability and hands-on leadership style
- Data-driven decision making and clear documentation
- Strong executive communication and stakeholder management
- Ability to balance employee support with business requirements
- Comfort partnering closely with Operations leaders in a fast-paced environment
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or other non-merit factor. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees.