About the Role

As a Senior Human Resources Manager at Zekelman Industries, you will play a key role in driving business results through effective people strategies while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement. This position requires strong leadership, employee relations expertise, business partnership capabilities, and strategic decision-making skills, and offers the opportunity to contribute directly to workforce development, employee engagement, talent acquisition, and organizational growth.

You will collaborate closely with plant leadership, employees, and cross-functional stakeholders to align workforce strategies with operational objectives, ensuring the facility attracts, develops, and retains top talent while maintaining compliance with employment laws and company policies. This is a fully onsite role located in Rochelle, IL.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, enjoys building strong relationships, and is passionate about leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the primary Human Resources partner for plant leadership and employees.
• Partner with operational leaders to align workforce strategies with business objectives and operational goals.
• Provide coaching and guidance on employee relations, leadership effectiveness, performance management, conflict resolution, and organizational development.
• Drive accountability and leadership capability throughout the organization.
• Lead initiatives that enhance employee engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
• Analyze workforce metrics and trends to identify opportunities and recommend solutions that improve organizational performance.
• Lead employee relations activities, including investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and policy interpretation.
• Ensure consistent application of company policies, practices, and procedures.
• Partner with leaders to manage attendance, performance concerns, corrective actions, and employee development plans.
• Maintain a visible presence throughout the facility and across shifts to strengthen employee relationships and engagement.
• Support organizational change initiatives and workforce transitions.
• Manage the full-cycle recruitment process, including sourcing, interviewing, selection, offers, onboarding, and workforce integration.
• Develop talent pipelines through partnerships with technical schools, colleges, workforce agencies, and community organizations.
• Partner with leaders to identify current and future staffing needs.
• Support succession planning and workforce development strategies.
• Lead onboarding programs that reinforce safety expectations, company values, and performance standards.
• Identify training and development opportunities that strengthen leadership capabilities and workforce effectiveness.
• Facilitate leadership development initiatives focused on communication, accountability, coaching, and employee engagement.
• Support career development and succession planning efforts.
• Partner with leaders to identify high-potential employees and develop growth plans.
• Promote a culture where safety is a core value and shared responsibility.
• Partner with Environmental Health and Safety personnel and plant leadership to support regulatory compliance and safety initiatives.
• Participate in incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Maintain employment-related records and documentation in accordance with company policies and legal requirements.
• Oversee employee lifecycle processes, including hiring, transfers, promotions, leaves of absence, and terminations.
• Maintain accurate employee information within Workday and other company systems.
• Partner with payroll to review timekeeping records, resolve discrepancies, and support payroll accuracy.
• Monitor attendance, turnover, engagement, and workforce metrics.
• Coordinate employee communications, recognition programs, meetings, and plant events.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support community outreach, workforce development, and employment branding initiatives.
• Lead or participate in special projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead and promote healthy and safe work practices as required by regulatory agencies and Company policy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Who You Are

• 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred.
• Experience supporting employee relations, recruiting, performance management, compliance, and leadership development initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with operational leaders in a manufacturing environment.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR compliance requirements, and employee relations practices.
• Strong coaching, conflict resolution, investigation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Human Resources Information Systems, preferably Workday.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ability to maintain regular, full-time, predictable onsite attendance.

What You'll Get

Zekelman Industries offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including low-cost, high-quality medical and dental benefits. In addition, we have an amazing tuition assistance program, a bonus plan, a 401(k) plan with a generous company match, loyalty awards, and much more:

• Competitive Compensation
• Bonus Plan & Profit-Sharing Opportunities
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Paid Vacation & Holidays
• Employee Loyalty Awards

Compensation & Benefits

Below is the expected base salary range for this position. This is a good-faith estimate, and offers will be determined based on experience, education, skill set, and interview performance.

Base Salary Range:

$113,000-$158,000 USD

Additional compensation may include:
• Performance-based yearly merit increase
• Profit-sharing bonus opportunities

#LI-KF1