HR Manager

Onsite | Manufacturing Environment | Confidential Client

XpanseHR is partnering with a privately held, growth-oriented manufacturing organization seeking a hands-on, systems-minded HR Manager to lead Human Resources operations at its plant location in Philadelphia, PA.

This is not an administrative HR role.

This is an opportunity for a builder. The right person will be someone who wants to modernize HR infrastructure, strengthen accountability, and make a visible operational impact inside a manufacturing environment.

The Opportunity

The HR Manager will serve as the operational owner of Human Resources within the plant. This individual will operate as a department-of-one, partnering directly with executive leadership while working closely with frontline supervisors and hourly employees.

You will be visible on the shop floor. You will handle issues in real time. You will build structure where needed. You will hold standards.

This role is designed for a leader who wants to grow. The right individual will have the capacity and ambition to evolve into Director-level responsibility over time.

What You'll Own

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Lead and manage workplace investigations (attendance, conduct, safety, policy violations)

• Maintain clear, defensible documentation

• Provide practical guidance to managers while holding standards firm

• Serve as the primary HR presence for frontline employees

Performance Management Ownership

• Operationalize and oversee the annual performance review process

• Audit review quality and ensure managers follow through

• Strengthen documentation discipline and accountability

HRIS & Systems Modernization

• Support or lead HRIS/HCM implementation or system optimization

• Centralize and modernize employee record-keeping

• Improve documentation processes and compliance systems

• Identify opportunities to streamline and automate

Training Governance

• Identify organizational training needs

• Ensure required compliance and leadership training occurs

• Track and audit completion

• Coordinate internal or external training resources

Compliance & Risk Management

• Oversee FMLA, leave administration, and employment compliance

• Maintain audit-ready records

• Partner with leadership on OSHA, workers' compensation, and safety documentation

• Stay current on regulatory requirements impacting manufacturing operations

Recruiting & Workforce Support

• Coordinate hiring efforts for hourly and salaried roles

• Conduct candidate screenings

• Support structured interview processes

• Partner on hard-to-fill and leadership roles

What Success Looks Like

Within the first year:

• Investigations are handled cleanly and efficiently

• Documentation is organized, centralized, and defensible

• Performance reviews are executed consistently and effectively

• Managers feel supported but accountable

• HR systems are modernized and stabilized

• Executive leadership is no longer managing day-to-day HR firefighting

What We're Looking For

• 5–10+ years of progressive HR experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment

• Strong employee relations and investigation experience

• Experience participating in or leading HRIS/HCM implementation or upgrades

• Demonstrated ownership of performance management processes

• Comfort working directly with hourly and frontline teams

• Ability to operate independently with minimal daily oversight

• Organized, structured, and execution-focused

• Confident communicator who can coach — and push back when needed

• Desire to grow into broader HR leadership responsibility

Who Will Thrive Here

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Enjoys building structure and improving systems

• Is comfortable balancing tactical execution with longer-term improvement

• Wants visible impact inside a manufacturing organization

• Has ambition beyond maintaining the status quo

Confidentiality

Our client has elected to remain confidential at this stage of the process. Additional details will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview phase.

If you are a hands-on HR leader ready to build, modernize, and grow within a manufacturing organization, we welcome the conversation.