Manager, People & Culture (Manufacturing)

Stratus • San Antonio, TX

37d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, People & Culture (Manufacturing) serves as the primary People & Culture leader for Stratus' manufacturing operations in San Antonio, TX, Lexington, SC, and Elmhurst, IL. Partnering closely with plant leadership, this role helps build a high-performing and engaged workforce while aligning People & Culture strategies with operational goals. As a visible member of each plant's leadership team, the Manager maintains a regular presence on the production floor through Gemba walks, production meetings, and employee interactions to strengthen culture, develop leaders, resolve employee concerns, and improve the overall employee experience. The role also leads the Manufacturing People & Culture Specialist and Receptionist in San Antonio, TX and serves as a trusted advisor throughout the employee lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or equivalent work experience preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience required.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, industrial, distribution, or production environments required.
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
• Strong understanding of employee relations principles, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution practices.
• Working knowledge of performance management, talent development, organizational development, and change management methodologies.
• Understanding of workforce planning, succession planning, and employee engagement strategies.
• Familiarity with HR metrics, workforce analytics, and data-driven decision making.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building, and consultative partnership skills.
• Proven ability to coach and influence leaders at all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing HR professionals in manufacturing setting preferred.
• Multi-site HR experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary People & Culture Business Partner for all manufacturing operations.
• Build trusted partnerships with EVP, Manufacturing, and other Plant leaders to align workforce strategies with business objectives.
• Participate as an active member of plant leadership teams and attend regular production, staffing, and operational meetings.
• Provide coaching and guidance to leaders on organizational effectiveness, leadership development, workforce planning, and employee engagement.
• Lead complex employee relations matters including investigations, conflict resolution, corrective action, performance management, and policy design and interpretation.
• Conduct objective and timely workplace investigations while ensuring appropriate documentation.
• Coach managers on employee conversations and employment decisions.
• Partner with leaders on employee offboarding decisions and processes.
• Maintain a positive employee relations climate while balancing business needs and compliance requirements.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor through regular Gemba walks, shift meetings, and employee interactions to strengthen relationships, identify workforce trends, and support operational excellence.
• Conduct ongoing pulse sensing with production employees to identify questions, concerns, barriers, and engagement opportunities.
• Develop action plans from employee feedback and partner with plant leadership on implementation.
• Plan and execute employee engagement activities, recognition programs, celebrations, communication meetings, and plant events.
• Partner with leadership to strengthen employee morale, retention, teamwork, and overall workplace culture.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to support hourly and salaried manufacturing hiring.
• Participate in interviews and selection activities for key manufacturing positions.
• Support onboarding activities to ensure successful employee integration.
• In partnership with Learning & Development team, oversee, facilitate, and enhance manufacturing New Hire Orientation as needed.
• Partner with Learning & Development to identify training needs across manufacturing operations.
• Assist in coordinating and delivering onboarding, compliance, leadership, and operational training.
• Support implementation of structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) programs in partnership with Operations and Learning & Development.
• Help develop career progression and internal promotion pathways within manufacturing.
• Coach leaders on goal setting, performance feedback, coaching conversations, and performance improvement planning.
• Support annual performance review and mid-year check-in processes in partnership with Talent Management.
• Identify high-potential talent and partner on succession planning efforts.
• Support workforce planning initiatives and organizational design discussions.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple states.
• Partner with Safety and Operations on workplace accommodations, FMLA, state leave of absence, workers' compensation, and return-to-work programs.
• Maintain compliance with company policies and employment practices.
• Conduct periodic audits of People & Culture processes and documentation.
• Recommend policy improvements based on changing legislation and business needs.
• Analyze workforce metrics including: Turnover, Retention, Attendance, Overtime, Engagement, Vacancies, Performance trends, etc.
• Present insights and recommendations to manufacturing leadership.
• Develop and recommend action plans based on workforce data.
• Lead and develop the People & Culture Specialist and Receptionist, San Antonio.
• Provide coaching, task prioritization, performance feedback, and professional development.
• Foster collaboration between the People & Culture team and manufacturing leadership.
• Promote consistency of People & Culture practices across all manufacturing locations.
• Identify opportunities to improve People & Culture processes that enhance the employee experience and operational efficiency.
• Standardize P&C processes across all manufacturing facilities.
• Support Lean Manufacturing initiatives through effective change management and employee communication.
• Participate in cross-functional improvement initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Health Savings Accounts with employer contributions
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Weekly pay schedule
• 401(k) with employer match
• Company-paid life insurance
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability coverage
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Volunteer Time Off
• Paid parental leave

What This Job Offers

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