Sr. Human Resources Manager - VinFast Manufacturing

JOB SUMMARY:

Senior Human Resources Manager serves as the on-the-ground HR leader for VinFast Manufacturing’s new electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is a foundational role responsible for building the HR function from the ground up—establishing policies, processes, compliance frameworks, and an employee handbook tailored to North Carolina employment law and manufacturing operations. This position is not the head of the HR department; it reports into a future HR Director and will receive interim guidance and support from VinFast’s Global HR team. Must bring deep expertise in North Carolina HR regulatory requirements, hands-on experience standing up payroll and HR operations for new manufacturing entities, and the judgment to navigate the unique challenges of a high-growth, globally backed startup environment. This role will be instrumental in ensuring VinFast Manufacturing’s North Carolina operations launch with a compliant, employee-centered HR infrastructure that supports the company’s rapid scaling plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES & KEY ACTIVITIES:

North Carolina HR Regulatory Compliance & Policy Development

• Serve as the subject matter expert on North Carolina employment law and ensure all HR policies, practices, and documentation comply with NC-specific statutes and regulations, including the NC Wage and Hour Act, NC Workers' Compensation Act, NC OSHA (OSH Act), NC Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA), and applicable local ordinances.
• Monitor and interpret changes in North Carolina and federal employment legislation (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, WARN Act) and proactively update policies to maintain compliance.
• Serve as primary liaison with the North Carolina Department of Labor, NC Division of Employment Security (DES), and other state regulatory agencies as required.
• Develop and implement mandatory workplace postings, new hire documentation, and separation procedures in accordance with NC requirements.
• Manage state-specific reporting obligations including NC New Hire Reporting, EEO-1 reporting, and OSHA 300 log maintenance for the manufacturing facility.

Employee Handbook & HR Policy Framework

• Author and maintain a comprehensive employee handbook for the VinFast Manufacturing North Carolina entity, ensuring alignment with both NC state law and VinFast global policies.
• Draft policies covering employment classifications, at-will employment provisions, anti-harassment and discrimination, workplace safety, attendance, leave of absence (FMLA, ADA interactive process, NC-specific leave provisions), drug and alcohol testing, disciplinary procedures, and termination protocols.
• Develop manufacturing-specific policies including shift scheduling, overtime management, personal protective equipment (PPE), workplace injury reporting, and return-to-work programs.
• Establish onboarding and orientation programs tailored to manufacturing operations, including safety training, benefits enrollment, and compliance acknowledgments.
• Ensure the handbook is reviewed by legal counsel, updated annually, and distributed to all employees with documented acknowledgment.

Payroll Setup & Administration

• Lead the establishment of the payroll function for the VinFast Manufacturing North Carolina entity, including vendor selection, system implementation, and process design.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll for all manufacturing employees, including hourly, salaried, and shift-differential compensation structures.
• Manage NC state tax withholding, unemployment insurance (SUTA) registration with NC DES, and federal payroll tax compliance (FICA, FUTA, W-2 reporting).
• Administer garnishments, child support orders, and tax levies in compliance with NC garnishment statutes and federal law.
• Coordinate with Finance and Accounting on payroll journal entries, labor cost allocation, and manufacturing cost center reporting.
• Oversee benefits administration including enrollment, changes, and COBRA compliance; partner with corporate benefits team on plan design and carrier management.

Manufacturing HR Operations & Employee Relations

• Partner with plant leadership on workforce planning, staffing models, and headcount forecasting to support manufacturing ramp-up timelines.
• Lead talent acquisition efforts for manufacturing roles including production operators, technicians, quality inspectors, maintenance staff, and supervisory positions.
• Manage employee relations matters including investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, and disciplinary actions in compliance with NC employment law.
• Develop and deliver supervisor training on HR compliance topics including harassment prevention, wage and hour requirements, accommodation processes, and documentation standards.
• Support workers' compensation claims management, return-to-work coordination, and workplace safety programs.
• Monitor labor relations environment and advise leadership on maintaining a positive, direct-relationship workplace culture.

Cross-Functional & Corporate Partnership

• Report to the HR Director once hired; in the interim, receive guidance and support from VinFast’s Global HR team to align NC manufacturing HR operations with corporate HR strategy, policies, and governance.
• Partner with General Counsel and outside employment counsel on complex HR matters, litigation holds, EEOC charges, and regulatory audits.
• Coordinate with VinFast global HR on headcount approvals, organizational design, compensation benchmarking, and HRIS integration.
• Support government incentive compliance by maintaining required workforce documentation, training records, and job creation metrics as required by state and local incentive agreements.

Other duties as assigned as required by business needs

SUPERVISORY DUTIES:

• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities and is not the head of the HR department. The Sr. HR Manager will operate as a senior individual contributor, reporting into a future HR Director, with interim support from VinFast’s Global HR team. The role works cross-functionally with plant leadership, corporate HR, and external partners to deliver HR operations for the manufacturing facility.