People & Culture Manager

Description

The People & Culture Manager serves as a strategic business partner by providing comprehensive human resources support to multiple client groups and operational locations. This position is responsible for delivering high-quality HR services primarily in the areas of overall employee relations (including workplace investigations) and talent acquisition (including employer branding and recruitment strategy) and will provide proactive support to initiatives in performance management, leave administration, policy interpretation, compliance, and employee engagement.

Reporting directly to the Director, People & Culture, the People & Culture Manager partners closely with leaders at all levels of the organization to foster a positive workplace culture while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, company policies, and HR best practices. This is a fully on-site position that requires regular travel to company locations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Employee Relations

• Provide coaching and guidance to managers and employees on employee relations matters, performance management, workplace conduct, attendance, and policy interpretation.
• Coach and advise managers on Corrective Actions and Progressive Discipline steps; review documentation and Correction Actions to ensure compliance and workplace fairness.
• Coach and advise on terminations; assist with termination coordination.
• Build strong partnerships with leaders to proactively address workplace issues and improve employee engagement.
• Conduct prompt, thorough, compliant and impartial investigations involving employee complaints, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace misconduct, policy violations, and other employee relations matters.
• Assist with conflict resolution and utilize deescalation tactics for problem solving between employees, managers, and leadership when needed.

Talent Acquisition/Recruitment

• Partner with Hiring Managers and the Recruiting team to identify workforce needs and develop effective recruitment and staffing strategies.
• Assist with Employer Branding initiatives.
• Provide guidance, training, and coaching to managers and recruiters on hiring processes, interview techniques, employment laws, company policies, and best practices.
• Develop, update, and maintain recruiting procedures, training materials, interview guides, and related documentation to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Collaborate with leadership to review open positions, job postings, candidate pipelines, interview schedules, time-to-fill metrics, and hiring progress.
• Participate in candidate interviews and selection processes as needed, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant hiring decisions.
• Coordinate and support pre-employment processes, including background checks, employment verifications, drug testing, and other pre-employment requirements, as applicable.
• Manage and monitor the pre-adverse and adverse action process to ensure complaint practices and procedures are maintained.
• Develop, update, and manage new hire orientation presentations, onboarding materials, new hire packets, and related processes to improve the onboarding experience and ensure compliance with company policies and legal requirements.
• Partner with department leaders to evaluate workforce planning initiatives and proactively address current and future staffing needs.

Compliance and HR Administration

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Interpret and communicate company policies and procedures.
• Ensure HR files and all pertinent documentation is maintained compliantly.

Employee Engagement

• Assist with and support the execution of employee engagement programs, recognition initiatives, wellness activities, and company events.
• Partner with the Director, People & Culture to assist leadership to improve employee morale, retention, and workplace culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; will consider a combination of experience, education and relevant HR certifications in lieu of degree.
• Five (5) or more years of progressive Human Resources experience in similar HR roles is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in recruitment/talent acquisition and employee relations; California labor law experience is required.
• Computer proficiency required; experience with MS Office, Paylocity, Canva strongly preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.
• Prior experience in brokerage/trucking/logistics fields strongly preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and build credibility while maintaining confidentiality.

Physical & Environmental Requirements:

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged sitting (office/administrative work)
• Walking for extended periods across facilities or yards
• Lifting up to 15lbs
• Repetitive hand/wrist movements (typing, scanning, equipment use)
• Driving as part of job duties (local or regional travel)

Work Environment:

• Office environment
• Exposure to varying temperatures (heat/cold)
• Travel required (10%)
• Multi-site and/or client-facing environment