Human Resources Manager

Ready to join a growing company with a positive culture, a dedication to customer service, and great benefits? Join us in Franklin, Kentucky! EJ is seeking a Human Resources Manager at our Franklin Foundry.

This is an exciting time for EJ. This role will be critical in the startup of this site as well as instilling EJ safety, culture, and values.

Generous Benefit Package that includes:

Paid Vacation and Holidays, Paid Maternity & Paternity Leave, 401K (with match), Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Account, HSA with Employer Match, Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Employee Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement and Bonus Program

About EJ: We are the leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of access solutions for water, sewer, drainage, telecommunications, and utility networks. EJ is a family-owned company with global operations. The corporate headquarters is in East Jordan, Michigan, where the company was founded in 1883.

We are seeking high performing individuals who embrace our values, understand the importance of relationships, and strive for excellence. Our values, which have been passed down for generations, are the essence of our company’s identity and our guide for making decisions. Core values at EJ include safety and security, honesty and integrity, environmental responsibility, respect for others, quality and excellence, and social responsibility.

Location: Onsite, Franklin, KY

SUMMARY

Leads and administers all phases of human resources for the Franklin, KY foundry facility. This role partners closely with facility leadership, operations, safety, and corporate human resources to support workforce planning, employee relations, staffing, compliance, performance management, training, engagement, and retention for an hourly and salaried manufacturing workforce.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Promotes the culture, mission, vision, and the core values of the company. This includes adherence to and promotion of the company safety beliefs, employee engagement, competencies, code of conduct, and other policies and procedures.
• Identifies legal requirements and government reporting regulations affecting human resources functions and ensures policies, procedures, records, and reporting comply with applicable federal, state, and local employment requirements.
• Partners with facility leadership to support staffing plans, labor planning, retention initiatives, and workforce needs for foundry operations.
• Recruits, interviews, tests, and selects employees to fill vacant positions.
• Plans and conducts new employee orientation and onboarding to promote positive employee relations, safe work practices, understanding of company expectations, and alignment with company goals.
• Maintains accurate records of personnel transactions including hires, promotions, transfers, job changes, performance reviews, disciplinary documentation, separations, and employee statistics.
• Coordinates supervisor and management training in interviewing, hiring, performance reviews, employee relations, safety expectations, compliance, and other policies and procedures.
• Works directly with the safety department and operations leadership to promote a safe work environment through employee involvement, training compliance, incident prevention, and support of safety standards.
• Advises management on the appropriate resolution of employee relations issues and conducts or supports workplace investigations as needed.
• Responds timely to employee and manager inquiries regarding policies, procedures, benefits, payroll, attendance, leaves of absence, and human resources programs.
• Administers performance review and salary/wage administration programs to support compliance, consistency, and internal equity.
• Communicates information regarding new hire enrollment, life events, and annual enrollment for benefits programs such as life, health, dental and disability insurances, retirement plans, and employee assistance programs.
• Supports incident investigations and consults with third-party administrators or insurance carriers regarding workers’ compensation claims. Prepares necessary documentation to report workplace injuries and assists with return-to-work coordination.
• Prepares employee separation notices and related documentation and conducts exit interviews to identify separation reasons and opportunities for improvement.
• Prepares reports and recommends procedures to improve employee statistics such as absenteeism, turnover, retention, engagement, training completion, and staffing effectiveness.
• Ensures required training records and are entered and maintained in employee training database.
• Represents the organization at personnel-related hearings, unemployment proceedings, agency inquiries, and investigations as appropriate.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises onsite HR team. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, recognizing and assisting with disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; and four or more years of progressive human resources experience, preferably in a manufacturing, foundry, industrial, or hourly workforce environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk through manufacturing and foundry areas. The employee is occasionally required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, mobile equipment, dust, fumes, airborne particles, vibration, extreme heat, and other conditions commonly associated with foundry and heavy manufacturing environments. The noise level in the work environment may vary from moderate to loud, and appropriate personal protective equipment may be required.

EJ is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.