Human Resources Generalist

Role overview

A well-established food manufacturing company in the Cincinnati area is hiring a Plant HR Specialist / Generalist to support a unionized production site. This is a practical, hands-on HR position covering roughly 150 employees in a fast-moving plant environment.

The opportunity is well-suited to an early- or mid-career HR professional who wants to move beyond transactional work and gain broader exposure to employee relations, labor relations, payroll, recruiting, compliance, and day-to-day plant HR operations. The site has a cooperative union relationship and an upcoming contract negotiation, which creates a strong learning environment for someone interested in developing labor relations experience with guidance from a seasoned HR leader.

The organization is seeking someone driven, inquisitive, and open to learning. Deep labor-relations expertise is not required; what matters most is a solid HR base, sound judgment, and the ability to earn trust with both hourly team members and plant leadership.

Key responsibilities

• Handle routine HR support for a union manufacturing facility, including employee relations, policy interpretation, performance management, and HR compliance.
• Work closely with plant leaders and employees to help maintain a positive, engaged, and cooperative workplace.
• Support labor-relations work such as contract interpretation, documentation, grievance preparation, and assistance with an upcoming collective bargaining cycle.
• Coordinate recruiting for both hourly and salaried roles at the plant, managing both internal and external hiring activity.
• Assist with onboarding, employee communications, training coordination, and smooth integration of new hires.
• Help administer leave management processes and communicate with employees and external vendors as needed.
• Act as a backup for payroll and learn union pay practices such as straight time, overtime, double time, call-ins, and related contract-based rules.
• Keep HR files, personnel records, compliance paperwork, and confidential employee information organized and up to date.
• Support unemployment matters, EEOC/civil rights responses, workplace investigations, reporting, and other compliance-related tasks.
• Prepare HR data, reports, and insights for plant and HR leadership to support informed decision-making.
• Back employee engagement efforts, recognition events, plant activities, and internal initiatives.
• Collaborate with payroll, benefits, EHS, training, and operations teams to keep HR processes running smoothly.
• Encourage a safe work environment and help address safety-related employee issues when needed.
• Contribute ideas for improving HR processes and take on new projects as the role evolves.

Candidate profile

This position is intended for someone with at least 3 years of human resources experience, ideally in manufacturing, food manufacturing, industrial settings, or other hourly workforce environments. Experience in plant, distribution, or similar operations environments is especially relevant.

A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related discipline is preferred.

Exposure to labor relations, union settings, contract interpretation, grievances, or collective bargaining preparation is strongly desired. Familiarity with HRIS platforms is important, and Workday experience would be an advantage.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable learning payroll processes and understanding how union contract language affects pay practices. Strong communication skills are needed to work effectively with hourly employees, supervisors, managers, and senior HR leadership.

Professional maturity, discretion, good judgment, and the ability to handle sensitive matters are essential. The role also calls for strong organization, attention to detail, and a willingness to support both administrative HR work and broader plant initiatives.

Above all, the company wants someone ambitious, coachable, and interested in growing into a stronger plant HR professional over time.

Tools and software

• HRIS systems
• Workday, preferred
• Microsoft Office
• SharePoint, helpful
• PowerPoint, helpful
• Adobe, helpful

Why this role stands out

This is a strong growth opportunity for someone aiming to build a deeper HR career in manufacturing. The successful hire will work closely with an experienced HR leader and gain exposure to meaningful plant HR responsibilities, including employee relations, union contract language, payroll, compliance, recruiting, engagement, and labor-relations preparation.

The position offers variety, visibility, and the chance to become a key HR partner within the plant. For someone ready to expand beyond a narrow HR function into a more complete plant HR generalist path, this can be an excellent next step.

Compensation and benefits

The role is eligible for annual merit increases. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and a 401(k) plan with a 5% company match.

Relocation

Relocation help is not formally budgeted, although limited assistance may be considered for the right candidate.

Work setting

This is an onsite role in Cincinnati, Ohio, supporting a union manufacturing facility within the food manufacturing / consumer packaged goods industry.