Senior HR Business Partner

Joining King’s Hawaiian makes you part of our `ohana (family). We are a family-owned business for over seventy years, respecting our roots while thinking about our future as we continue to grow and care for our customers and the communities we serve. Our `ohana members build an environment of inclusivity as they freely collaborate, pursue learning through curiosity, and explore innovation as critical thinkers. Beyond that, we are also passionate about supporting the long-term health and well-being of our employees and their families. If you’re excited to rise with our team, come and join our `ohana!

The Senior HR Business Partner is a trusted advisor, coach, and strategic thought partner to leaders within King’s Hawaiian California Manufacturing Operation, supporting a multi-shift, hourly and salaried workforce across Production, Maintenance, Quality, Sanitation, Warehouse, and Distribution. This role helps California Operations leaders be successful and accountable, mitigates employment risk, and connects leaders with the People Team to deliver talent solutions that drive safety, quality, and productivity. Maintaining a visible presence on the plant floor across all shifts, the Senior HRBP builds trust with frontline employees and supervisors. The role is a resource to leaders, not a substitute for their leadership responsibilities. Routine decisions within the scope of the role are made independently, with manager guidance and approval for non-routine matters.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a trusted advisor to plant and operations leaders on organizational design, role definition, recruiting, compensation, development, retention, and engagement; facilitates talent calibration and succession planning.
• Coaches leaders, including frontline supervisors and shift leads, to set clear expectations, provide feedback, develop their teams, and de-escalate employee issues.
• Uses People data (e.g., turnover, absenteeism, overtime) to help leaders address root causes of recruiting, retention, performance, and process issues.
• Maintains a visible presence on the plant floor across all shifts to engage hourly employees and proactively address concerns.
• Partners with Operations and Talent Acquisition on hourly workforce planning, shift staffing, and staffing agency partnerships.
• Identifies employment risk, advises leaders on mitigation, and escalates high-risk employee relations issues to the Legal Team.
• Partners with EHS on safety culture, incident investigations, workers’ compensation, leave of absence, and return-to-work/accommodations.
• Ensures consistent application of attendance, timekeeping, and overtime policies and compliance with CA wage and hour, Cal/OSHA, and food safety training requirements.
• Connects leaders with People Team partners (Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Internal Communications, Learning, People Solutions) to improve people processes and outcomes.
• Supports implementation of People strategy initiatives and plant-level change management for new lines, equipment, schedules, and continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE)

• 5+ years of HRBP experience, including building trusted partnerships with leaders, advising on organizational design, and de-escalating employee relations issues.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Manufacturing experience supporting a multi-shift, hourly workforce required; food or CPG manufacturing preferred.
• Ability to activate and amplify our Aloha Values (Excellence, Dignity, and Telling it like it is in a way that can be heard) and Aloha Behaviors (Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Curiosity).
• Workday, ADP Workforce Now, and ADP Workforce Management experience preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged sitting and computer work.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.
• Regular time on the manufacturing floor, including walking, standing, and exposure to noise, varying temperatures, and moving equipment.
• Must follow GMPs, food safety, and safety requirements, including wearing required PPE.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (JOB SKILLS, ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE)

• Expert understanding of organizational structure, jobs, qualifications, and compensation practices.
• Expert ability to advise leadership, support plant personnel, and partner with other People functions to influence outcomes.
• Expert knowledge of CA employment law, compliance, and employee relations, with the ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies.
• Working knowledge of Cal/OSHA, workers’ compensation, and leave administration (FMLA/CFRA).
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational KPIs (safety, quality, productivity).
• Data-minded, with experience using quantitative and qualitative analytics to drive decisions.
• Strong change leadership, time management, and critical and ecosystem thinking skills.
• High emotional intelligence and curiosity; able to collaborate with employees at all levels.
• Experience with Workday HCM, including employee transactions, reporting, and dashboards, preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

Compensation Range: $130,000 - $180,000

King's Hawaiian is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our ohana.