Human Resources Generalist

Position Overview

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

The Human Resources Generalist will serve as a visible, trusted partner to employees and leaders at our Decatur manufacturing facility. Reporting to the Sr. HR Manager, this role delivers hands-on HR services while contributing to long-term people strategies that enhance culture, leadership capability, and workforce stability. Working closely with leaders, the HR Generalist will help ensure consistent, and engaging employee experience across the full life cycle. This position offers broad exposure to HR disciplines and site operations, providing a strong foundation for continued career growth.

Targeted Outcomes

• Partner with leaders to foster a positive, inclusive, and performance-driven culture that aligns with Ascend’s values.
• Collaborate with leaders to strengthen front-line leadership capability and prepare emerging leaders for advancement.
• Deliver efficient HR processes across the employee life cycle to improve retention, engagement, and workforce readiness.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and development programs that build the talent pipeline for current and future business needs.
• Partner with leaders to proactively address workplace challenges, focusing on prevention, transparency, and constructive resolution.

Responsibilities

Culture & Engagement

• Partner with leaders to embed safety, respect, collaboration, and accountability into daily operations.
• Collaborate with the Sr. HR Manager, engagement teams and site leadership to implement strategies that support an engaged culture.
• Implement pulsing and feedback loops, support leaders in action planning, and share best practices to strengthen engagement.

Talent Attraction & Recruitment

• Manage full cycle recruiting for hourly positions and support salaried hiring, including posting, screening, interviewing, and coordinating offers.
• Partner with hiring managers and the talent acquisition team to ensure effective sourcing strategies and a positive candidate experience.
• Support the intern and early-career recruitment efforts to build future talent pipelines.

Onboarding & Orientation

• Lead onboarding and orientation programs to accelerate integration, build cultural connection, and ensure readiness to perform.
• Partner with leaders to provide role-specific onboarding and early performance check-ins.

Development & Performance Management

• Support leadership capability building through facilitation of training, coaching sessions, and skills workshops.
• Assist with annual performance management processes and calibration sessions.
• Contribute to workforce planning and succession management processes at the site level.

Employee Relations & Retention

• Partner with leaders to address performance, policy, and workplace concerns in a fair and constructive manner.
• Collaborate on investigations and provide guidance on policy interpretation while enabling leader ownership of outcomes.
• Work with leaders to identify retention risks, recommend interventions, and track progress.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Manage HRIS data accuracy, time and attendance processes, and payroll sign-off.
• Monitor compliance with employment laws, corporate policies, and management business review requirements.
• Develop HR communications for site initiatives, policy changes, and programs.

Workforce Transitions

• Support redeployment, restructuring, or exit processes in a professional and compliant manner.
• Conduct exit interviews and analyze trends to inform retention strategies.

Team and Interactions

• Reports to: Sr. Human Resources Manager
• Works closely with site leadership, front-line supervisors and broader HR teams
• Frequent direct interaction with employees across all levels to provide HR guidance and support.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive HR experience, preferably in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong employee relations background with proven ability to partner effectively across all levels.
• Experience supporting multiple areas of the employee life cycle, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee engagement.
• HRIS and applicant tracking system experience; Workday preferred.
• In-depth understanding of U.S. employment laws and HR compliance requirements.

Required Skills

• Ability to build trust and influence decisions through effective relationship management.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentation delivery.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret HR metrics and recommend improvements.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, and capable of managing multiple priorities.

• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Commitment to ongoing professional growth and development within the HR field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in human resources or related field.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification.
• Experience in workforce planning, leadership development, and management change.

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

Skills Summary:

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Confidential Documents, Confidentiality, Employee Relations, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), HR Payroll, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Human Resources (HR), Labor Standards, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Recruiting, Retention (Inactive), Workday Software

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities ​​for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.