Human Resources Generalist

The Human Resources Generalist serves as the primary HR business partner for the Albert Lea, MN facility, providing strategic and day-to-day HR support to leaders and employees while ensuring compliance with employment laws, company policies, and organizational objectives. This role partners with leaders to drive employee engagement, performance, talent initiatives, and organizational effectiveness. Working closely with the onsite HR Coordinator, the HR Generalist supports onboarding, orientation, employee events, and other HR initiatives to deliver a seamless employee experience. This position requires an experienced HR professional who can confidently navigate complex employee situations, coach leaders through difficult conversations, and balance employee advocacy with sound business judgment. **Core Competencies:** Business Partnership, Employee Relations, Professionalism & Integrity, Continuous Learning, Courageous Conversations, Adaptability **Key Responsibilities** **HR Business Partnership** - Serve as the primary HR resource for the Albert Lea facility, building trusted relationships with leaders and employees. - Partner with leaders on employee relations, performance management, attendance, corrective action, organizational changes, and workforce planning. - Coach leaders through complex employee situations while ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance. - Support leadership development and reinforce company culture. - Analyze timekeeping and workforce data to identify attendance trends and labor concerns. **Employee Relations** - Investigate employee concerns and recommend practical, legally compliant solutions. - Facilitate conflict resolution and difficult conversations with professionalism, discretion, and empathy. - Interpret and consistently apply company policies and employment practices. - Maintain confidentiality while exercising sound judgment. **Talent Management** - Partner with hiring managers throughout the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding process. - Support performance management, employee development, succession planning, and retention initiatives. - Identify trends impacting engagement and organizational effectiveness. - Recommend innovative recruiting strategies and build community partnerships to strengthen talent pipelines. **Compliance & Risk Management** - Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. - Maintain accurate personnel records and HR documentation. - Support HR audits, reporting, and policy administration. - Partner with Operations, Facilities, and HR leadership on workforce compliance initiatives. **Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement** - Collaborate with the HR Coordinator to ensure a consistent employee experience from onboarding through employment. - Partner with Payroll, Safety, Operations, and other departments to resolve employee matters and improve processes. - Participate in HR projects, process improvements, and organizational initiatives. - Stay current on employment laws, HR best practices, and workplace trends through ongoing professional development. - Support incident reporting, workers' compensation, reasonable suspicion, work restrictions, ADA accommodations, and leave administration. **Education & Experience** - Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience required. In lieu of a degree, 5+ years of progressive HR Generalist experience is preferred. - SHRM-CP, PHR, or related HR certification preferred. - Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices. - Demonstrated experience managing employee relations and coaching leaders through complex workplace situations. - Manufacturing or multi-site HR experience preferred. **Skills & Qualifications** - Ability to build credibility and trusted relationships at all levels. - Strong emotional intelligence, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills…