Senior HR Generalist, Full Time, Human Resources

Senior HR Generalist Full Time Mishawaka, IN, US

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens in Europe and the US.

Joining us, means joining an international, passionate and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! But it doesn’t stop there: we truly care about building encouraging, supportive, long-lasting partnerships, both inside as well as outside of our fast-growing family company. By only working with the very best ingredients and most innovative technology available, we ensure a spot in which you can grow, bloom and make thousands of pets happy worldwide!

Position Summary: The Senior People & Engagement Generalist serves as the primary People & Engagement representative for the assigned manufacturing facility. This position is responsible for independently managing the day-to-day People & Engagement operations while partnering closely with plant leadership to support business objectives and create a positive employee experience.

This role provides leadership in recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, compliance, engagement, training, and workforce development. The Senior People & Engagement Generalist exercises sound judgment in managing routine People & Engagement matters while collaborating with the People & Engagement Manager on complex employee relations issues, disciplinary actions, organizational changes, and other high-impact business decisions.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Manage full-cycle recruiting for hourly and salaried positions.

Facilitate New Hire Orientation and ensure successful onboarding.

Build relationships with staffing agencies, schools, and community organizations.

Employee Relations Serve as the primary People & Engagement contact for employees and supervisors.

Coach leaders through performance management and employee concerns.

Escalate complex employee relations matters and disciplinary recommendations to the People & Engagement Manager.

Performance Management Support leaders with coaching, documentation, and performance improvement.

Coordinate performance review processes and development conversations.

Compliance Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.

Maintain accurate employee files and HRIS records.

Ensure policies and procedures are consistently administered.

Employee Engagement Plan employee appreciation events and recognition programs.

Leadership Partnership Partner with site leadership to support operational goals.

Provide guidance on People & Engagement policies and best practices.

Safety & Training Coordinate onboarding and required compliance training.

Partner with Environmental Health & Safety to support safety initiatives.

Qualifications: Required Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Minimum of 5 years of progressive Human Resources experience.

Manufacturing, food production, distribution, or industrial experience preferred.

Experience conducting investigations and managing employee relations.

Experience with recruiting and onboarding.

Experience using HRIS systems and Microsoft Office.

Multi-site manufacturing experience.

Experience supporting hourly workforces in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Core Competencies Employee Relations

Leadership Coaching

Performance Management

Business Partnership

Organization & Planning

Physical Requirements Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and move throughout the manufacturing facility.

Ability to travel occasionally between company locations and attend off-site meetings.

Our Values in Action We Aim Higher – Deliver quality and efficiency on every pallet; We Do What’s Right – Follow safety, quality, and operational standards; We Thrive on Passion – Bring energy, care for animals, and dedication to producing top-quality pet food.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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