Plant HR Business Partner

Position Summary

The Plant HR Business Partner is the on-site, hands-on HR resource for our Totowa manufacturing facility. This role owns the day-to-day execution of HR programs on the plant floor, including employee relations, attendance and timekeeping, workforce planning, leave administration, and policy compliance across all shifts.

The ideal candidate is highly visible on the production floor, responsive to the daily needs of supervisors and hourly associates, and comfortable resolving issues in real time. This individual will partner closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, and EHS leaders to keep the plant staffed, compliant, and running smoothly in a fast-paced CPG manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Plant HR Operations & Floor Support

• Serve as the first point of contact for HR questions and issues from hourly associates, supervisors, and plant leadership.

• Maintain a consistent presence on the production floor to build trust and address concerns early.

• Participate in daily production and shift start-up meetings to stay ahead of staffing, attendance, and employee issues.

• Track and report plant workforce metrics, including headcount, turnover, absenteeism, and overtime, and flag trends to plant leadership.

• Maintain accurate employee records and process HRIS transactions such as new hires, transfers, pay changes, shift changes, and terminations.

Employee Relations & Policy Administration

• Respond to and resolve employee concerns promptly, escalating complex matters to the Sr. Manager, HR as appropriate.

• Conduct timely, objective workplace investigations and document findings and outcomes.

• Guide supervisors through the progressive discipline process, including preparing documentation and participating in corrective action and termination meetings.

• Interpret and consistently apply the employee handbook, work rules, and plant policies across all shifts.

• Coach frontline supervisors and team leads on day-to-day people issues, performance conversations, and conflict resolution.

Attendance, Timekeeping & Leave Administration

• Administer the plant attendance policy, including tracking occurrences and partnering with supervisors on follow-up.

• Partner with Payroll to review timekeeping records, resolve missed punches and exceptions, and ensure accurate weekly pay for hourly associates.

• Administer leaves of absence and accommodations, including FMLA, NJ Family Leave, NJ Earned Sick Leave, short-term disability, and ADA requests.

• Support the return-to-work process for associates coming back from leave or injury.

Staffing, Hiring & Onboarding

• Partner with Talent Acquisition and plant leadership to fill open hourly and skilled positions, including screening candidates and coordinating interviews.

• Conduct 30/60/90-day check-ins with new hires and exit interviews with departing associates to identify retention issues.

Safety, Compliance & Training

• Partner with EHS to support a strong safety culture, including participation in safety committee meetings and incident follow-up.

• Ensure required postings, recordkeeping, and training documentation are current and audit-ready.

• Coordinate plant training such as harassment prevention, policy rollouts, and supervisor skill-building sessions.

• Support plant engagement and recognition activities, such as associate appreciation events, service awards, and shift communication meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent work experience.

• 4–7 years of HR experience, with at least 2 years supporting hourly associates in a manufacturing, distribution, or production environment. CPG experience is a plus.

• Hands-on experience with employee relations, investigations, progressive discipline, and attendance management.

• Working knowledge of federal and New Jersey employment laws, including FMLA, NJ Family Leave, ADA, FLSA, and wage-and-hour requirements.

• Experience with HRIS and timekeeping systems (e.g., UKG/Kronos, ADP, Workday).

• Experience working with temporary staffing agencies preferred.

• Bilingual English/Spanish required

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities with a sense of urgency.

• Approachable, credible, and comfortable interacting with associates at every level of the plant.

Work Environment

• This is an on-site role based at the Totowa manufacturing facility.

• Flexible schedule required to support all shifts, including occasional early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

• Regular time spent on the production floor; must follow all plant safety requirements and wear required PPE.