HR Operations Manager

HR Operations ManagerWalbec produces high-quality construction materials and delivers unparalleled professional design, engineering and construction services at its six companies, including Payne and Dolan, Northeast Asphalt, Zenith Tech, Parisi, Premier Concrete, and Construction Resources Management. Whether building bridges, stabilizing shorelines, rehabilitating structures, or providing site engineering and construction solutions for solar, Walbec is your bridge to expertise in construction and engineering.With safety and ethics at the core of everything we do, our experienced professionals are hard at work on commercial and industrial sites throughout the Midwest.We are seeking a strategic, hands-on HR Operations leader to architect and elevate our HR function as we expand from a regional construction leader to one with national presence. This role is the operational backbone of HR—responsible for building scalable infrastructure, supporting our HR technology strategy, owning employee compliance, and transforming how we deliver people services across union and non-union workforces as we grow.The HR Operations Manager will own the full spectrum of HR operations: from employee data integrity, HR service delivery, workforce reporting, and employee compliance.Key Responsibilities:Own hiring-requirements documentation and Workday data capture for project-specific and local-hire programs (TERO, TLAC, NAHP, RPP, RWP, EEP, WHEDA/HUD)Oversee apprenticeship program management from post-hire through the employee lifecycle, including document collection, level progression, and journeyworker conversionCreate processes and systems for new hire/rehire I-9 processing and audits, road-test/MVR requirements, and certification collection for new hires/rehires (CCO, OSHA 10/30, forklift, flagger, First Aid/CPR, competent person)Serve as DOT Designated Employer Representative (DER), owning the drug & alcohol testing program, including DOT/FMCSA requirementsOwn MVR monitoring and the FMCSA Clearinghouse responsibilitiesSupport prevailing wage/Davis-Bacon recordkeeping and compliance and internal/external union audit resolutionOwn regulatory reporting including for federal, state or internal requirementsManage VOEs, garnishments, unemployment insurance claims, and local/state job reporting (RWP, RPP, NAHP, EEP, HCST, ACPI, HUD/WHEDA Section 3)Manage MSHA credentialing, annual required safety & compliance training activities, and certification tracking (CDL, CCO, ACI, welding)Own HR policy interpretation, record retention, workplace poster compliance, and multi-state labor law monitoring as the company expands into new statesServe as a Workday data steward, driving data integrity across the employee lifecycleLead evaluation, selection, and implementation of HR compliance technologyBuild and lead the HR Service Center (AskHR) as the single point of intake — email/phone triage, ticket management, SLAs, and a KBA/SOP knowledge libraryOwn employee status and data-change processing for payroll-related processes, absence management, union rate maintenance and additional federal programsManage performance, SLAs, and contract renewals for compliance vendors supporting drug testing, background checks, and MVR/DOT administrationBuild a vendor governance framework with performance scorecards, and identify opportunities to outsource high-volume manual compliance workDeliver workforce reporting for business partners (Insurance, Risk, Workers' Comp, Transportation, etc.) and support HR dashboards for key data points to drive HR decision-makingLead HR integration for M&A due diligence and execution, and build the playbook supporting multi-state work and national expansionRequirements:Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master's degree or MBA a plus8+ years of progressive HR experience with at least 4 years in HR Operations, HRIS, or HR leadership roleStrong background in HR compliance activitiesProven experience in a multi-state or national company operating across U.S. regions; experience nationally a significant plusHands-on Workday experience preferred—HCM, Benefits, Absence, Reporting, and/or Payroll modules strongly preferredExperience supporting both union and non-union workforces; working knowledge of collective bargaining and labor relations preferredDemonstrated experience managing HR service center operations, HR compliance programs, and vendor relationshipsConstruction, field services, transportation, manufacturing or similarly regulated industry experience strongly preferredTechnical & Regulatory Knowledge:Deep knowledge of federal and multi-state employment law (FMLA, ADA, FLSA, Title VII, NLRA, state-specific requirements)Familiarity with DOT/FMCSA regulations, including CDL requirements, drug & alcohol testing programs, and DER responsibilitiesFamiliarity with OSHA, MSHA regulations and construction industry workforce requirements a strong plusWorking knowledge of prevailing wage/Davis-Bacon compliance, EEO-1 and Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) reporting, I-9 processing, and local-hire/public-contract programs (RWP, RPP, TERO, HCST, WOTC)Strong data literacy; advanced Excel, Workday reporting, and/or BI tool experience (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) a plusLeadership & Competencies:Strategic thinker who can translate vision into operational execution; comfortable moving between high-level planning and hands-on workProven ability to lead and develop HR teams in fast-paced, growth-oriented environmentsExceptional project management skills; ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneouslyHigh integrity; skilled at navigating sensitive employee matters and confidential information with discretionChange agent with a continuous improvement mindset; experience implementing process automation or HR shared services a plusThe Benefits:Competitive compensation aligned with industry standardsEmployer Paid Medical Plan with HRA contribution (eligibility requirements)Dental, Vision, and Life InsuranceFlex Spending Account (FSA)Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Company-paid short and long-term disability coveragePaid parental leaveGenerous PTO and paid holidaysProfit sharingRobust training and professional development programOngoing career growth opportunitiesWe are an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action employer, and it is our practice to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants. In addition, it is the policy of the Company to comply with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in each locality in which the Company has employees. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply!