HR Generalist/Employee Relations/Payroll

Waukegan Steel is a structural steel fabricator serving the Midwest construction markets. Our team has worked on various projects throughout the Midwest including, Soldier Field, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Northwestern Welsh-Ryan Arena, Washington/Wabash CTA Platform, Ravinia Festival, and Lincoln Park Zoo.
The Human Resources Generalist serves as a trusted business partner to plant leadership and employees, providing hands-on support across a broad range of human resources functions including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, payroll and benefits support, policy administration, HR compliance, safety initiatives, training, and organizational development.
This position supports multiple manufacturing locations and works closely with operations leadership to strengthen employee engagement, improve the employee experience, implement consistent HR practices, and standardize processes across the organization. The successful candidate will be highly visible in the operation and will demonstrate strong judgment, confidentiality, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
Manage full-cycle recruiting for hourly, skilled trades, technical, administrative, and salaried positions.
Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs, position requirements, and workforce priorities.
Develop recruiting strategies using job boards, referrals, social media, LinkedIn outreach, community resources, technical schools, staffing partners, and local networking opportunities.
Screen applicants, coordinate interviews, participate in selection discussions, and support timely hiring decisions.
Maintain applicant tracking records, recruiting documentation, and staffing metrics.
Support workforce planning efforts to help ensure appropriate staffing levels across supported locations.

Coordinate pre-employment activities including offer letters, background checks, drug screens, new hire paperwork, and start-date communications.
Conduct or coordinate new employee orientation and ensure employees receive required policy, safety, benefits, payroll, and facility information.
Monitor onboarding effectiveness and recommend improvements to enhance the new hire experience and retention.

Employee Relations & Employee Support
Serve as a primary point of contact for employees and supervisors regarding HR-related questions and concerns.
Provide guidance on employee relations matters, attendance issues, policy interpretation, performance coaching, corrective action, and workplace concerns.
Assist with employee communications, recognition efforts, engagement activities, and company events.
Help build positive employee relations by maintaining a strong presence on the plant floor and developing effective working relationships with employees and leaders.

Payroll & Benefits Support
Respond to employee questions regarding payroll, timekeeping, benefits, leave programs, and HR policies.
Coordinate with payroll, benefits, and HR teams at National Material L.Policy Administration, HR Compliance & Safety Support
Interpret and consistently apply company policies, procedures, employee handbook provisions, and HR practices.
Assist with the implementation, communication, and administration of HR policies and initiatives across supported locations.
Support HR compliance activities involving FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, harassment prevention, leave administration, recordkeeping, employee documentation, and other federal, state, and local employment requirements.
Assist with employee relations investigations, policy violations, workplace concerns, and compliance-related matters.
Maintain employee records and HR documentation in accordance with company standards and legal requirements.
Assist with safety training administration, safety communications, incident documentation, workers' compensation coordination, return-to-work activities, and safety committee initiatives as needed.
Participate in facility audits, safety meetings, and compliance initiatives when requested.

Multi-Site HR Support & Process Standardization
Provide HR support to multiple manufacturing facilities and partner with local leadership teams to ensure consistent application of HR practices.
Identify opportunities to improve, simplify, and standardize HR processes, forms, communications, onboarding practices, and employee-facing procedures.
Promote HR best practices across locations while recognizing site-specific operational needs.
Support HR projects and continuous-improvement initiatives focused on organizational effectiveness, compliance, communication, and employee experience.

Training & Organizational Development
Coordinate employee training programs, compliance training, and development initiatives.
Support performance management processes, employee development planning, and succession planning activities.
Assist with identifying training needs and implementing programs that improve employee capabilities, supervisor effectiveness, and organizational performance.

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, psychology, or a related field preferred.
Three to five years of Human Resources experience preferred.
Human resources experience in a manufacturing, distribution, industrial, or multi-shift environment is strongly preferred.
Experience supporting recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, payroll, benefits, HR compliance, leave administration, and employee communications.
Experience working in a multi-site environment preferred.

Understanding of HR best practices and federal, state, and local employment laws.
Experience with HRIS, payroll and applicant tracking systems.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with the Waukegan Steel management team broader NMLP HR team.

Experience with Dayforce, UKG, ADP, Workday, or similar HRIS/payroll systems.
Experience supporting manufacturing or distribution operations.
Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills a plus.

Ability to work in both office and manufacturing plant environments.
Ability to walk through production areas, interact with employees on the plant floor, and attend meetings across supported locations.
Primary location will be Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin with travel to other company facilities.