Culture & Talent Management Specialist

Mesabi Metallics Company LLC • Nashwauk Township, MN

21h • $80,000 - $100,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Culture & Talent Management Specialist shapes organizational effectiveness, change, talent development and inclusion as Mesabi Metallics transitions its greenfield iron ore mining and pelletization operation from construction through commissioning to steady-state operations. The role supports a workforce of employees and leaders from many countries and cultural backgrounds, helping build an effective, resilient organization grounded in a strong safety culture. The specialist works closely with HR leadership, Talent Acquisition, Compensation & Benefits, department leaders and frontline supervisors.

Reporting to the General Manager – Human Resources, the position leads and supports organizational change, cross-cultural integration, talent development, employee engagement and culture initiatives. Responsibilities include advising on organizational structures and workforce planning; facilitating change, team alignment and development programs; supporting international employees’ cultural transitions; and using workforce data to recommend practical improvements. The role also maintains HR program records and metrics, supports relevant policy development and may share frameworks and practices with affiliated entities.

The role is primarily office-based, with regular presence at plant and mine site locations. It requires compliance with safety protocols and use of appropriate PPE. Some travel to affiliate locations and occasional evening or weekend availability to support shift-based employee programs may be required. Salary is USD 80,000 to 100,000 plus the Winners Circle incentive. The incentive is bi-weekly and based on the site's production of safe, quality tonnes, measured on Safety, Quality and Tons (SQT); its calculation varies by construction, ramp-up and optimization phases.

Requirements

• 4–6 years of progressive HR experience in talent management, change management, learning and development, employee engagement or organizational effectiveness.
• Proven experience leading change initiatives, team-effectiveness interventions and organizational structure projects.
• Demonstrated experience working with multinational or culturally diverse workforces and understanding of different global work cultures.
• Strong facilitation, coaching and presentation skills, with credibility from frontline employees to senior leadership.
• Analytical ability to interpret engagement, retention and workforce data and translate it into practical recommendations.
• Familiarity with change management methodologies such as Prosci/ADKAR or Kotter; assessment tools such as DiSC or Hogan; and intercultural frameworks such as Hofstede, Cultural Intelligence/CQ or IDI.
• Proficiency with HRIS/LMS platforms, survey tools and Microsoft Office.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Business Administration or a related field.
• Ability to adhere to MMCL safety protocols and use appropriate PPE at plant and mine site locations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in mining, heavy industry, manufacturing or a comparable operational environment.
• Professional certification such as SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, Prosci Change Practitioner, ATD/CPTD or an intercultural certification.
• Proficiency in one or more additional languages.
• Experience in a multinational corporation (MNC) environment.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise leaders on department structures, reporting relationships, role clarity and ways of working as the operating model is built.
• Lead change management for organizational transitions, including the shift from construction to operations, department ramp-up and introduction of systems or processes; conduct stakeholder analyses and develop communication plans and readiness assessments.
• Diagnose team and organizational effectiveness issues through interviews, focus groups and data analysis, and recommend and deliver interventions to improve collaboration, communication and accountability.
• Facilitate launch, alignment and team-building sessions for new and restructured teams, especially cross-functional teams during commissioning.
• Partner with HR leadership on workforce planning by analyzing capability gaps and recommending structural or development solutions.
• Support the development and maintenance of organization charts, role profiles and career frameworks.
• Design and deliver cross-cultural awareness and integration programs for employees and leaders from diverse countries and cultural backgrounds.
• Facilitate intercultural workshops on communication styles, decision-making norms, feedback practices and working across cultures.
• Support international employees and their families in their cultural transition to the Iron Range community, coordinating with internal teams and community resources.
• Help employees build effective working relationships with global colleagues, leadership teams and affiliated entities across locations and time zones.
• Develop and promote inclusion initiatives that foster respect, belonging and equal opportunity consistent with company values and EEO obligations.
• Advise leaders on managing diverse multinational teams fairly and effectively, and help resolve friction arising from cultural misunderstandings.
• Coordinate cultural observances, heritage events and community activities celebrating workforce diversity.
• Assess departmental training and development needs and recommend and coordinate leadership development, supervisory skills and technical upskilling programs, including partnerships with colleges, trade programs and external providers.
• Lead succession planning and talent review processes for critical and hard-to-fill roles; identify high-potential employees and leadership pipeline gaps, and advise leaders on development plans.
• Design career pathing and internal mobility programs in coordination with Talent Acquisition.
• Develop and coordinate onboarding and new-hire integration programs, including cross-cultural orientation for international hires, to provide a consistent, safety- and values-centered first-90-day experience.
• Design and lead employee engagement initiatives, including pulse and engagement surveys; analyze results, present findings to leadership and support managers in developing and executing action plans.
• Develop and manage recognition programs that reinforce company values, safety culture and operational excellence.
• Analyze retention and turnover trends, conduct stay and exit interviews, and recommend targeted retention strategies for critical skill groups.
• Champion company culture and core values through internal communications, town halls, employee events and community engagement across the Iron Range.
• Coach supervisors and managers on team leadership, feedback, employee development and building an engaged, inclusive workforce.
• Maintain development tracking, program records and workforce metrics in the HRIS; prepare talent, engagement and culture dashboards for HR leadership.
• Support development and communication of HR policies related to development, recognition, inclusion and workplace conduct in compliance with Minnesota and federal employment law.
• Support affiliated entities, as applicable, by sharing talent, culture and change frameworks and best practices.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage with an HSA option.
• 401(k) retirement plan with 4% company match.
• Lincoln short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurance coverage provided by Mesabi Metallics.
• Paid time off: 96 hours per year for employees with 0–3 years of service.
• Nine paid holidays and two floating holidays.
• Winners Circle bi-weekly incentive tied to site production of safe, quality tonnes, measured on Safety, Quality and Tons (SQT).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level