Head of Recruiting & HR

Recruiting, Onboarding & People Operations
This position is based onsite in the Charlotte Metro Region (Mooresville, NC).
Full Time |Reports to company leadership| Salary: $85,000 to $105,000 depending on experience and qualifications.
For over 25 years, we have delivered engineering and custom automation across defense and aerospace (DOD), telecommunications, space, medical device, life science, and automotive industries. With more than 34 engineers and technicians, IST integrates mechanical, electrical, and software expertise with in house manufacturing and assembly to deliver turnkey systems from concept to commissioning.

We are growing quickly across engineering, machining, and production, and we are building out our people function to support that growth. We are looking for our first dedicated HR Manager to lead recruiting and hiring while building the day to day people operations that keep a fast moving technical company running.

The ideal candidate is an experienced HR generalist who can personally run full cycle recruiting for a wide range of roles, from build technicians and machinists to mechanical and electrical engineers, and administrative and accounting staff, while also managing onboarding, benefits, records, and the systems and processes that support our team. it is about building and running the function itself to support leadership.

The HR Manager will build and operate the HR function at IST Precision. The primary focus of this role, especially in the first year, is recruiting and hiring across a wide range of technical and nontechnical fields.

Our most immediate need is recruiting support. We hire across a broad range of positions, build technicians, machinists, mechanical and electrical engineers, and accounting and administrative staff, and you will be the person who keeps that pipeline full and moving as we expand our business.

Beyond recruiting, this role will grow to own the full range of HR responsibilities. Areas such as onboarding, benefits, performance management, safety and compliance, and employee relations will develop into the role over time as the HR function matures. You will have significant influence over how we recruit, who we bring onto the team, and the processes and culture that support them.

Recruiting and hiring is the primary, day one focus of this role. The remaining responsibilities below will grow into the role over time as the HR function develops.

Recruiting & Talent Acquisition (Primary Focus)

Own full cycle recruiting for a wide range of positions, including build technicians, machinists, mechanical and electrical engineers, and accounting and administrative staff.

Write and post job openings across job boards, LinkedIn, and other channels.

Source, screen, and build a pipeline of qualified candidates for current and future openings.

Conduct phone screens, initial candidate meetings, and interviews.

Coordinate and administer personality assessments and pre employment testing.

Order and manage background checks and reference checks.

Build and maintain relationships with local colleges, technical schools, and trade programs.

Represent IST Precision with engineering team leads at career fairs, campus recruiting events, and industry events.

Coordinate relocation logistics for hires as needed.

Track candidates and hiring activity and keep hiring managers informed throughout the process.

Onboarding & People Operations

Own the full onboarding experience for new hires from offer acceptance through their first weeks.

Coordinate onboarding meetings covering company culture, policies, insurance and benefits, and expectations.

Prepare offer letters, new hire paperwork, and required employment documentation.

Ensure new employees have the equipment, access, and information they need on day one.

Manage the offboarding process professionally and in line with company policy when transitions occur.

Administer employee benefits, including health, dental, vision, 401(k), and related programs.

Support payroll processing and coordinate with accounting to ensure accurate, timely pay.

Maintain accurate, confidential employee records and HR documentation.

Track timekeeping and help ensure staff are meeting their weekly hour and attendance obligations.

Manage employee leave and reasonable accommodation requests.

Help research, establish, and maintain competitive salary ranges across positions.

Advise leadership on hiring plans, compensation, and people related decisions.

Provide leadership with basic HR reporting such as headcount, time to fill, and retention.

Performance Management

Help establish and run performance review cycles and goal setting.

Support managers in documenting performance and addressing issues consistently and fairly.

Help build career development and advancement paths as the company grows.

Coordinate incident reporting and manage workers’ compensation claims.

Help coordinate safety training and support a safe shop environment.

Develop and maintain the employee handbook and HR policies.

Ensure HR practices comply with applicable federal and North Carolina employment laws.

Employee Relations & Culture

Help address and resolve workplace issues fairly and professionally.

Support company culture, engagement, and internal communications.

Events, Travel & Administration

Manage travel arrangements and logistics for staff as needed.

Support office and facilities coordination and general people operational needs.

5+ years of progressive human resources experience, including hands on recruiting.

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or Organizational Development, or an equivalent combination of professional certifications and work experience.

Demonstrated experience running full cycle recruiting and filling a range of positions.

Experience administering benefits and supporting or running payroll.

Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR best practices, and confidentiality requirements.

Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Proficiency with HR systems, applicant tracking tools, and standard office software.

HR experience in a manufacturing, engineering, or other technical environment.

Experience recruiting technical roles such as machinists, technicians, or engineers.

Broad generalist background spanning recruiting, onboarding, benefits, employee relations, and HR operations (rather than a single specialty).

Established relationships with local colleges, technical schools, or trade programs.

Experience helping define job titles, leveling, and salary ranges.

Experience with performance management, safety/OSHA compliance, or workers’ compensation.

Experience with HRIS and payroll systems.

Experience building an HR function or processes at a growing company.

We are looking for someone who wants to build a people function, not simply administer one, an HR generalist comfortable wearing many hats and creating structure where none exists yet.

The successful candidate will be an experienced HR professional who is comfortable personally running recruiting while also building the processes, records, and culture that support a growing technical team. You should enjoy talking with people, solving problems, and moving fluidly between sourcing and interviewing candidates, onboarding new hires, supporting benefits and payroll, and partnering with leadership on titles and compensation.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who takes pride in finding and developing great people and wants to help build the team and the culture of IST Precision.

Work with a talented team of engineers and manufacturing professionals on cutting edge systems.

Own and build the HR function at a growing, vertically integrated company.

Have a direct impact on who we hire and the culture we build.