Human Resources Generalist

The Human Resources Generalist serves as the primary on-site HR partner for Lifeway Foods’ Waukesha operation, partnering with employees and leaders to address employee relations matters with consistency and timeliness. This role also leads recruiting and onboarding for hourly manufacturing positions and acts as the first point of contact for leaves, accommodations, and HR support.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the first and most accessible HR contact for employees, supervisors, and managers.
• Maintain a consistent presence on the production floor and build trusted relationships across shifts.
• Address employee concerns and conduct prompt, fair, and well-documented workplace investigations.
• Coach supervisors and managers on attendance, performance, conduct, communication, conflict resolution, and corrective action.
• Support consistent application of company policies.
• Partner with plant leadership and Corporate HR on employee complaints, workplace conduct, retention concerns, and organizational changes.
• Identify employee relations trends and recommend practical solutions to improve communication, accountability, and retention.
• Support a respectful workplace free from harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and inconsistent treatment through daily engagement activities.
• Manage day-to-day recruiting for hourly manufacturing, warehouse, maintenance, and skilled operations roles.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing priorities, schedules, qualifications, and hiring timelines.
• Source and screen candidates, coordinate interviews, support selection decisions, and maintain timely candidate communication.
• Build relationships with staffing agencies, community organizations, schools, job fairs, and other local recruiting resources.
• Coordinate new hire orientation and onboarding requirements, including new hire follow-ups and stay interviews to identify and address retention concerns.
• Monitor vacancies, recruiting activity, time to fill, early turnover, agency usage, and other workforce trends.
• Recognize when an employee’s situation may involve FMLA, another leave of absence, workplace accommodation, or similar needs, and provide initial guidance.
• Connect employees promptly with Corporate HR for next steps, including follow-up to ensure referrals are completed.
• Coordinate with Corporate HR and plant leadership regarding attendance coding, scheduling, work restrictions, temporary adjustments, and return-to-work requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality of medical, leave, and accommodation information.
• Back up efforts to support accurate employee records and HR system transactions managed by Corporate HR.
• Assist employees with routine questions involving payroll, benefits, policies, and HR processes.
• Support attendance administration, unemployment responses, audits, employee communications, and policy acknowledgments managed by Corporate HR.
• Partner with Corporate HR, EHS and Safety, payroll, and plant leadership regarding workplace injuries, investigations, and return-to-work coordination.
• Communicate concerns early and escalate significant employee relations or compliance risks appropriately.
• Participate in HR projects, employee engagement activities, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform duties according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Sanitization Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) aligned to HACCP, FDA, EPA, OSHA, USDA, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture (WDA), and customer requirements.
• Conduct work in compliance with the Lifeway Employee Policy.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least five years of progressive HR generalist experience, including substantial employee relations and recruiting responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations and coaching supervisors through performance and conduct issues.
• Experience supporting hourly employees in a manufacturing, food production, distribution, warehouse, or similarly fast paced environment.
• Working knowledge of employment laws and HR practices including FMLA, ADA, EEO, wage and hour, and Wisconsin employment requirements.
• Strong written communication, documentation, judgment, organization, and follow through.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion, remain neutral, and escalate risk appropriately.
• Experience using an HRIS and applicant tracking system.
• Ability to work primarily onsite and adjust hours periodically to support employees and leaders across multiple shifts.
• Professional fluency in English and Spanish strongly preferred.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now or a comparable HR platform.
• SHRM CP, SHRM SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.

Technologies

• HRIS
• Applicant tracking system
• ADP Workforce Now

Key Competencies

• Employee relations judgment and credibility
• Approachability and strong floor presence
• Objective investigation and documentation skills
• Urgency, ownership, and dependable follow through
• Recruiting discipline and candidate care
• Manager coaching and constructive conflict resolution
• Confidentiality and sound risk escalation
• Cross-functional collaboration and practical problem solving

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Operates in both office and food manufacturing environments.
• Must be able to move throughout the facility, use required personal protective equipment, and comply with food safety and workplace safety requirements.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform essential functions.

Location and Work Arrangement

• Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin
• Work Arrangement: Primarily onsite (hybrid with one day remote)
• Schedule: Monday-Friday with flexibility to support employees working across multiple shifts