HR Generalist

Location: 4545 W. Lyndale Ave., Chicago, IL

Position Summary

The Senior HR Generalist serves as a strategic partner to facility leadership, driving employee engagement, retention, workforce stability, and positive employee relations within a fast-paced union manufacturing environment. This position requires a hands-on HR professional who is comfortable navigating complex employee relations matters, coaching leaders through difficult situations, addressing workplace concerns, and influencing management teams to improve employee experience and business outcomes. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience working in manufacturing, distribution, logistics, or unionized environments where retention, attendance, employee relations, and leadership effectiveness are critical operational challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Resolve employee relations issues and conduct effective, thorough, and objective investigations.
• Coach managers and supervisors on leadership effectiveness, communication, conflict resolution, performance management, accountability, and workforce engagement.
• Partner with operational leadership to identify root causes of turnover and implement retention strategies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on performance concerns, attendance issues, policy interpretation, discipline, and terminations.
• Administer and interpret labor agreements, grievance procedures, and union-related matters.
• Analyze turnover, absenteeism, employee complaints, and workforce trends to identify improvement opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with frontline employees and leadership to promote trust and engagement.
• Oversee leave of absence administration and employee accommodations.
• Support recruitment and onboarding of exempt and non-exempt employees.
• Assist with benefits administration, open enrollment, and employee communications.
• Conduct exit interviews and identify themes affecting retention.
• Develop and recommend HR programs, policies, and initiatives that improve employee experience and business performance.
• Oversee and develop the HR Coordinator and perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field; SHRM/HRCI certification preferred.
• Three or more years of progressive HR experience with significant emphasis on employee relations and leadership coaching.
• Demonstrated success improving retention, reducing turnover, or addressing workforce engagement challenges.
• Experience conducting investigations and handling complex employee relations matters.
• Experience influencing difficult leadership situations and driving behavior change.
• Union manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish required.
• Experience with UKG preferred.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR practices, and labor relations.
• Exceptional communication, conflict-resolution, and relationship-building skills.

Success Factors

• Ability to build credibility with both frontline employees and facility leadership.
• Confidence handling difficult conversations and challenging workplace situations.
• Strong business acumen and balanced decision-making.
• Proactive identification of workforce and cultural issues before they escalate.
• Willingness to provide candid feedback and challenge leadership behaviors that negatively affect retention, morale, engagement, or compliance.