HR Manager

Job Summary

Kiwa North America is seeking a Human Resources Manager to support two growing business lines, NQA and Unitek, while contributing to the continued development of the North American HR organization.


About the role

Working closely with business leaders and HR colleagues, this role will provide practical, solutions-oriented support across employee relations, performance management, talent acquisition, onboarding, employee engagement, compliance, and organizational change. The position will also contribute to regional HR transformation initiatives involving Workday, HR technology, process improvement, standardization, and change management.


This opportunity is ideal for an HR professional who is ready to broaden their experience, take on greater responsibility, and help shape the future of HR at Kiwa. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgment, curiosity, adaptability, learning agility, and the ability to build trusted relationships while balancing hands-on HR responsibilities with broader business
priorities.


Key Responsibilities

Human Resources Business Partnering

• Support assigned business leaders and employees across a broad range of HR matters.
• Build effective working relationships with leaders and employees and provide responsive, practical, and solutions-oriented HR support.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, HR policies, and employee-related questions, escalating more complex matters when appropriate.
• Partner with leaders on employee engagement, retention, development, and other people priorities.
• Develop an understanding of the businesses supported, their workforce, and their key business and people priorities.
• Support talent discussions, organizational changes, and other workforce-related activities.
• Maintain appropriate HR documentation and ensure HR processes are completed accurately and consistently.

HR Operations & Technical HR

• Support core HR processes throughout the employee lifecycle, including recruiting, onboarding, employee changes, performance management, and offboarding.
• Partner with HR colleagues and business leaders to ensure HR processes are completed accurately, timely, and in accordance with company policies and applicable requirements.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of HR policies, practices, and applicable employment requirements.
• Support HR reporting, data accuracy, and maintenance of employee information.
• Identify process issues and recommend practical improvements.
• Build proficiency in HR systems and technology and support the ongoing improvement of HR data and processes.
• Handle confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.

HR Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in North America HR initiatives focused on process improvement, technology enablement, standardization, and operational effectiveness.
• Contribute to the implementation and adoption of Workday, including data quality, process alignment, testing, change management, and user adoption.
• Help document, standardize, and improve HR processes across business lines.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, improve the employee experience, and reduce unnecessary administrative work.
• Support the transition from current processes and systems to new ways of working.
• Work collaboratively with HR colleagues across North America and contribute to regional projects and initiatives.
• Take on new responsibilities and projects as the HR operating model continues to evolve.

Talent & Organizational Support

• Support talent management, employee development, engagement, and retention initiatives.
• Assist with organizational effectiveness initiatives and workforce-related projects.
• Support regional HR programs and initiatives as needed.
• Participate in special projects, organizational changes, and other business initiatives.

Do you have what it takes?

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive HR experience in an HR Generalist, HR Specialist, HR Business Partner, or similar role.
• Solid working knowledge of core HR practices, including employee relations, performance management, recruiting, onboarding, HR policies, and HR operations.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to complete technical HR work accurately.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently while recognizing when to seek guidance or escalate an issue.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment.
• Ability to understand broader business and HR priorities while maintaining strong hands- on execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting HR transformation, HR technology implementations, or process improvement initiatives is a plus.
• Experience with HRIS systems; Workday experience is a plus.
• Experience working in a decentralized or multi-business-unit environment is a plus.
• Exposure to change management and organizational effectiveness initiatives is a plus.

What We Value

At Kiwa, we are looking for someone who:

• Is energized by change and enjoys building better ways of working.
• Brings curiosity, creativity, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Can influence without authority and build trust across different teams and leaders.
• Is comfortable operating in an environment where not everything is already defined.
• Takes ownership, learns quickly, and brings positive energy to the organization.
• Wants to grow their HR career while making a meaningful impact.

Location

Houston, Texas - Hybrid work environment

This role supports business lines located in multiple states; however, no regular travel is required.


What can you expect from us in return?

At Kiwa North America, you will be part of a fast-growing, high-performance global organization where innovation, continuous improvement, and professional development are at the core of everything we do. This is a place where your contributions matter, your ideas are valued, and your career growth is actively supported.

You will play a pivotal role within a global leader in Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC), delivering trusted expertise across consulting, testing, inspection, certification, and training services.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including medical coverage, a 401(k) plan with company contribution, health and dependent care savings accounts, paid time off, and more.