Human Resources Manager
Privately Held Manufacturing Company | Illinois | Full-Time | On-Site
A long-standing, family-owned manufacturing organization with a 40+ year legacy of craftsmanship, employee commitment, and quality is seeking a Human Resources Manager to build on the early momentum of a newly established HR function. This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands-on HR professional ready to bring structure, strategy, and care to a business that is deeply rooted in tradition and values—but ready for transformation.
About the Role
As the company’s first fully dedicated HR hire, you’ll own and evolve the HR function across three Illinois locations, supporting approximately 235 employees. Reporting to the CFO, you’ll oversee the full scope of HR operations—from compliance, payroll, and benefits to org design and onboarding—while setting the stage for a longer-term culture, talent, and people strategy.
This role is on-site 5 days a week with occasional travel to other locations within a 1-hour drive.
Core Responsibilities:
- Lead HR operations across all locations, providing strategic and administrative support for employees and leadership.
- Own payroll processing and HRIS management, including maximizing use of Paylocity.
- Oversee compliance-related responsibilities, including I-9 verification, OSHA 300 logs, E-Verify, FMCSA and USDOT tracking, and life insurance beneficiary documentation.
- Evaluate and formalize vacation scheduling, employee reporting structures, org charts, and emergency contact records.
- Manage benefits administration, including preparation for 10/1 open enrollment.
- Partner with current staff members performing HR-adjacent duties to assess, clarify, and streamline responsibilities.
- Build a comprehensive onboarding process inclusive of health/drug screenings, documentation, and proper delegation of tasks.
- Review and enhance HR policies and procedures; contribute to updating the employee handbook.
- Maintain and track metrics, including TRIR and DART, for safety and risk management.
- Support HR functions related to maternity leave coverage and employee leave administration (FMLA, disability, etc.).
- Foster an inclusive and positive work environment across multilingual and multicultural employee populations.
- Encourage consistency, compliance, and proactive people practices across all business units.
Required Qualifications:
- 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years supporting multiple locations.
- Proven ability to manage end-to-end HR functions in a privately held, family-run business.
- Bachelor’s Degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field.
- Proficiency with Paylocity (or similar HRIS) and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Solid knowledge of federal and state employment laws, OSHA, and DOT regulations.
- Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to build trust across all levels of an organization.
- Able to work independently, handle sensitive information with integrity, and juggle competing priorities.
Preferred:
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) or prior experience working with non-English-speaking employee populations.
- HR certification (SHRM-CP, PHR).
- Experience managing HR during periods of organizational professionalization, transition, or leadership succession.
- Experience in manufacturing or industrial environments.
Compensation
- Salary: $120,000-$140,000
- Informal bonus eligibility.
Culture and Environment
- Join a collaborative, close-knit culture where employees are valued and longevity is the norm.
- Contribute to meaningful projects with real impact across the business.
- Build and professionalize an HR function in a company ready for growth and modernization.
We’d love to hear from you if you’re a proactive HR leader looking for an opportunity to create clarity, consistency, and lasting impact in a values-driven organization.
