PLANT HR MANAGER – FREEMONT, OH, USA – #5772

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IN DEMAND Recruitment & Consulting Inc. is seeking a PLANT HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER for a client in Freemont, OH.

Our client, global Tier 1 & Tier 2 automotive supplier operating 60+ facilities across 10 countries, employing over 7,500 teammates and serving more than 600 customers worldwide.

This is a hands-on plant HR leadership role reporting directly to the Plant Manager.

🔴 Critical Requirements:

 Union plant experience is mandatory

  • Must have served as first or second chair in collective bargaining negotiations
  • Experience limited to note-taking or scribe roles at negotiations will not be considered
  • Supervisory experience strongly preferred
  • One direct report (HR Generalist)

Role Overview:

The Plant HR Manager has full responsibility for the site’s HR function, ensuring the execution of corporate HR standards while developing local strategies that drive engagement, compliance, and business performance.

This role requires a combination of strategic leadership and tactical, day-to-day HR execution within a unionized manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

 Plant Leadership

 Serve as a key member of the Plant Management Team

  • Act as trusted advisor to the Plant Manager
  • Deliver end-to-end HR solutions aligned with business objectives
  • Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local labor laws
  • Lead employee relations and complex issue resolution
  • Track, analyze, and improve HR KPIs and metrics

Union & Employee Relations 

  • Lead and support collective bargaining negotiations
  • Interpret and administer the collective agreement
  • Provide coaching and guidance on employee relations matters
  • Maintain strong union relationships

Recruitment & Talent Management 

  • Lead full-cycle recruitment and selection processes
  • Manage onboarding and orientation programs
  • Deploy performance management systems
  • Implement talent identification tools (e.g., 9-box model)
  • Develop succession and development plans

Training & Development 

  • Build and implement plant-wide training matrices
  • Deliver required compliance and operational training
  • Partner with Corporate Talent & Organizational Development

Total Rewards 

  • Ensure local alignment with Corporate compensation and benefits programs
  • Monitor regional wage and benefit trends
  • Oversee benefit administration and HRIS accuracy

Health, Safety & Environmental (HS&E) 

  • Champion a safe, compliant work environment
  • Manage injury claims and return-to-work processes
  • Maintain workers’ compensation records and reporting
  • Serve as liaison during regulatory inspections
  • Drive HS&E performance and continuous improvement

Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree required; Professional HR designation preferred
  • Minimum 5+ years of HR leadership experience in manufacturing
  • Automotive experience preferred but not required
  • Proven union negotiation experience (first or second chair)
  • Strong business acumen in a global, matrix organization
  • Working knowledge of HRIS and payroll systems
  • Ability to influence and advise senior leadership

Ideal Profile:

 Hands-on plant HR leader, not a corporate-only HR professional

  • Comfortable on the floor and in negotiations
  • Strong labor relations capability
  • Data-driven and performance-focused
  • Confident decision-maker

Qualified and interested applicants are encouraged to apply today in confidence by sending your resume as a MS Document to us at:  info@indemand.ca.

ONLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED