Human Resources Manager (Newark)

We're seeking a seasoned HR Manager to lead and the Human Resources function across multiple sites. This is a hands-on role for someone equally comfortable serving as a strategic partner to leadership and as the day-to-day operator who handles recruiting, employee relations, compliance, benefits, payroll, and culture initiatives.

Responsibilities

Recruiting & Onboarding

• Own full-cycle recruiting, including job postings, sourcing, screening, interviewing, and offer negotiation
• Design and continually improve the new-hire onboarding experience across all locations
• Work with hiring managers to define role requirements and hiring plans

Employee Relations & Culture

• Act as the primary resource for employee questions, concerns, and conflict resolution at every site
• Investigate and resolve workplace issues fairly and confidentially
• Drive company culture, engagement initiatives, and internal communications, keeping a consistent employee experience across locations

Compensation & Benefits

• Administer benefits programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and PTO
• Support annual compensation reviews and market benchmarking
• Manage open enrollment and vendor relationships (brokers, carriers, payroll providers)

Compliance & Policy

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, etc.), including any state or local variations across sites
• Maintain and update the employee handbook and HR policies
• Own recordkeeping, I-9 compliance, and audit readiness for all locations

Performance Management

• Design and run performance review cycles and goal-setting processes
• Coach managers on feedback, documentation, and difficult conversations
• Support promotion, PIP, and termination processes

HR Operations & Payroll

• Process payroll for all sites, ensuring accuracy and timeliness, in partnership with Finance or an outside payroll provider
• Maintain HRIS data integrity and produce reports for leadership
• Manage leave-of-absence administration and workers' compensation claims

Strategic HR

• Advise leadership on organizational design, headcount planning, and workforce strategy
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, tools, and the employee experience
• Build HR from the ground up or scale existing practices as the company grows

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience
• Strong working knowledge of employment law and HR compliance
• Experience supporting multiple sites or locations
• Hands-on experience with employee relations and payroll processing
• Manufacturing or distribution experience preferred
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills at all levels of the organization
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification