Human Resources Manager

Job Title: HR Manager
Location: Ontario, CA
Salary: $120,000 - $140,000
Skills: HR Manager, Change Management, Employee Relations, HR Compliance, Manufacturing HR, Multi-state

About the Opportunity
My client, one of the fastest-growing specialty manufacturing companies in the region, is looking to hire an HR Manager. This is a hands-on, high-visibility role for someone who wants to build HR infrastructure from the ground up rather than maintain something already in place. The company is scaling quickly and needs someone who can bring order, consistency, and credibility to the function while partnering directly with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Partner directly with executive leadership to assess the current state of the HR function, identify gaps, and build a roadmap for a more structured, process-driven organization.
• Audit existing HR practices, documentation, and policies against California and federal requirements, and lead remediation where gaps exist.
• Build out foundational HR infrastructure including job descriptions, compensation documentation, and employee handbook materials that don't currently exist in a consistent form.
• Coach and support first-time and mid-level managers on performance management, difficult conversations, and day-to-day people leadership.
• Serve as a trusted, even-keeled resource for employees and managers, handling conflict directly and consistently rather than avoiding it.
• Guide the organization through structural and process changes as the company scales, including evaluating team structure and staffing needs within HR itself.
• Evaluate and help select a more comprehensive HRIS platform to replace current systems, and support its implementation.
• Advise leadership on compliant, consistent approaches to performance-based separations and other sensitive employee matters.
• Support labor law compliance across a manufacturing environment, including wage and hour practices and required postings and disclosures.

Must-Have Skills

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally with direct manufacturing industry background.
• Strong working knowledge of California labor and employment law.
• Demonstrated change management experience, ideally having built or overhauled an HR function rather than maintained an existing one.
• Experience coaching and advising managers at all levels, including first-time managers and senior leadership.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, with limited existing process or documentation to lean on.
• Experience working within a small, privately held, entrepreneurial, or founder-led organization, with direct exposure to real conflict resolution and difficult employee conversations.
• Prior experience at a smaller or mid-sized company preferred, multi-state experience.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Experience selecting or implementing an HRIS platform.
• PHR, SPHR, or SHRM certification.
• Experience supporting a company through multi-state expansion.
• Background partnering with an outside employment attorney or legal counsel on HR matters.