Manager, Human Resources

Your Opportunity as the Human Resources Manager This is a pivotal moment for the Columbus site and the Human Resources Manager will play a central role in what comes next. As a key member of the plant leadership team, this role partners closely with operations to strengthen performance, rebuild momentum, and elevate the employee experience. Beyond leading core HR functions—including labor relations, talent management, and employee relations—this role offers a unique opportunity to be a culture amplifier: reinforcing values, rebuilding trust, and helping leaders create a high-performing, engaged, and connected workplace. The ideal candidate brings strong manufacturing and union experience, a hands-on leadership style, and a passion for shaping not just how work gets done—but how it feels to work here. Location: Columbus, GA Work Arrangements: 100% Onsite In this role you will: Serve on plant leadership team; act as a coach, advisor, and confidante to operations leaders. Manage plant HR activities such as hourly recruiting, performance management, employee/labor relations, and local talent management efforts. Help drive high-performing work systems with a leadership role in driving organizational capability. Play a leadership role in building organizational capability and advancing high-performing work systems for the future. Build strong labor management relationships through regular collaboration with union leadership while ensuring effective administration and interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement. Lead and manage site level investigations, ensuring timely, thorough, and compliant execution of the investigation process in alignment with company policies and protocols. Leverage specialized knowledge about the unique plant's practices, business needs, people, and procedures to execute HR tasks. Support the functional strategy by designing programs, policies, and practices to attract, retain, and/or engage talent in alignment with the business strategy. Manage supplemental activities such as community outreach, employee events, etc. Enhance the organization’s human resources by planning, implementing, and evaluating employee relations and human resources policies, programs, and practices. Provide excellent service to ensure activities deliver the intended experience for end users in an efficient and effective manner; manage tasks of self and team to ensure deadlines are met according to established service levels/targets. What we are looking for: Minimum Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field 5+ years HR functional experience (e.g., employee relations, staffing, compensation, benefits, learning, employee data) Experience leading in a unionized manufacturing environment, including administration and interpretation of a collective bargaining agreement Experience working at a manufacturing site Experience leading and mentoring a team and helping to foster a positive work culture Experience delivering and improving HR plant processes to maximize efficiency & deliver quality services Experience successfully managing multiple priorities & projects through successful delivery & implementation under time, budget, and political pressure Experience working, monitoring, and interacting with third-party vendors Strong people leadership skills and demonstrated track record of success leading initiatives Significant business/operational knowledge with an understanding of risks, challenges, and advantages Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role (not required): HR Generalist experience Food manufacturing experience Workday system knowledge Experience working in High Performance Organization work systems PHR or SPHR certification The Right Place for You We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, play to win, and believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs. We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr The J.M. Smucker Company