Human Resources Manager

MGP Ingredients is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions. Its Distilling Solutions segment provides bourbons, whiskeys, ryes, gins, and vodkas to craft and multinational brands. MGP's own Branded Spirts business is growing following the 2021 acquisition of Luxco, a top spirits producer, bottler, supplier, and importer as well as the 2023 acquisition of Penelope Bourbon, known for its wide range of uniquely blended expressions. Ingredient Solutions delivers nutritional, functional wheat- and pea-based ingredients aligned with consumer trends. The company operates in locations across the Midwestern U.S., and overseas in Northern Ireland and Mexico.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Manages, coordinates, and provides strategic leadership and oversight for human resource activities related to recruitment, employee retention, employee and labor relations, training, and performance management for the assigned location. Retains final accountability for legal, labor, and policy compliance and serves as the escalation point for complex employee and labor relations matters across all departments.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

Payroll Processing
• Serve as payroll backup and provide oversight to ensure payroll accuracy, internal controls, and compliance.
• Review weekly payroll to ensure accuracy and audit compliance.
• Review payroll reports, trends, and exceptions and recommend actions based on the analysis.
• Approve and resolve escalated payroll issues.
• Reconcile and approve temporary agency payroll submissions and invoices.

Employee Recruitment
• Assist Talent Manager with recruitment strategy and decision support for salaried and non-union roles.
• Partner with the Talent Manager on workforce planning and candidate selection.
• Participate in interviews for management, salaried, or high impact roles.
• Manage relationships with staffing agencies and recruiting vendors.
• Ensure recruiting practices comply with internal policy and regulatory requirements.

Employee/Labor Relations
• Lead employee and labor relations strategy for assigned site.
• Maintain clear understanding of the collective bargaining agreement and interpret CBA to assist management with executing the agreement.
• Assure company compliance with CBA.
• Maintain good working relationship with Union officials. Resolve day-to-day labor issues.
• Manage grievance process, including investigation of grievances and employee complaints.
• Participate in CBA negotiations.

Recordkeeping/Government Compliance
• Implement HR policies, procedures and practices in compliance with federal and state requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date job descriptions for assigned location to provide an accurate description of competencies required for positions within the company.
• Effectively interpret FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absences/disabilities. Determine approved leaves and reasonable accommodations.
• Administer FMLA and Non-FMLA leave. Process and administer all leave requests and disability paperwork. Maintain records of leave time taken to ensure compliance with the Federal FMLA regulations

Training
• Conduct new hire orientations as needed.
• Train new and existing employees on HR rules, policies, procedures and the CBA to provide knowledge of HR and Labor Union requirements.
• Coach and train managers in their communication, feedback, recognition and interaction responsibilities.
• Coordinate all required HR training at assigned location.
• Assist with the development, coordination and presentation of training programs. Conduct follow-up studies of completed training to evaluate and measure results and modify programs as needed.

Performance Management

• Administer company performance evaluation program at assigned location.
• Manage and execute disciplinary program or improvement plan to address substandard performance and ensure the performance standards of the company are met.
• Assist in determining development needs of employees at assigned location and explore and assist with execution of appropriate training.

Miscellaneous
• Reconcile invoices for HR purchases
• Manage HR/Admin budget for assigned facility
• Assist HR Generalist with planning, scheduling, coordinating and implementing plant and company events.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• B.S. degree or a minimum of 5 years combination of experience and training that provides the equivalent to 4-year college
program.
• Background in employment law and other government compliance regulations.
• Professional in Human Resource (PHR) certification preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Requires strong multi-tasking and presentation skills.
• Strong personal computer skills particularly within Microsoft Suite.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in human resource/payroll related field required.
• Experience with Ultimate Software HR/Payroll System or equivalent payroll processing system, preferred.
• Experience with an automated Timekeeping System
• Experience in Labor Relations preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop business relationships and communicate clearly with respect to all groups of employees and external contacts.
• Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to deal with the grey areas effectively.
• Creative problem solver, willing to constructively challenge the status quo and present alternatives.
• Excellent negotiating skills.
• Strong change management skills.
• Superior listening and problem resolution skills.
• Ability to analyze complex data and develop recommendations based on data.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to support ideas.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong organizational skills to keep up on the fast-paced and changing landscape of manufacturing.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.  If you require a reasonable accommodation in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Caitlin Zbikowski, Talent Manager @ c.zbikowski@mgpi.com.

If the above speaks to you, we’re excited to learn more about you!  At MGP, we know that our people are our greatest strength. With different perspectives and unique ways of thinking, our employees are as varied as our products. We believe that inclusivity strengthens the organization and champions a company culture that is evolving to reflect all of us. Culture results from our behaviors, our personal commitment, our curiosity, how we collaborate, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and expect others to do the same. Each of us can make a difference by fostering thinking and actions that empower us to connect, belong and grow together.  Compensation is competitive and is commensurate with experience. MGP offers exceptional medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) Match and PTO.  All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug test.