Human Resources Specialist Jobs in Illinois

The HR Manager is the senior on-site HR leader for JohnsByrne's Niles campus, owning the full employee lifecycle across three manufacturing buildings and three shifts. This role is accountable for all HR systems, processes, and compliance at the site, partners with Operations on safety reporting and incident investigation, and serves as the primary liaison to staffing agencies supporting the site's temporary workforce. The HR Manager leads a team of two and works closely with the Director of Operations to deliver a consistent, compliant, and people-first employee experience across every shift.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Site HR Leadership

• Serve as the primary HR point of contact and site leader for all Niles buildings, ensuring HR presence and support across all three shifts
• Lead, coach, and develop two direct reports; set priorities, review work, and build team capability
• Partner with the Director of Operations and shift supervisors on workforce planning, staffing levels, and organizational needs
• Act as a trusted advisor to site leadership on employee relations, performance management, and engagement

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Conduct and document workplace investigations (harassment, discrimination, misconduct, policy violations) in a timely, thorough, and legally defensible manner
• Coach supervisors on corrective action, documentation, and consistent policy application
• Support disciplinary actions and separations in partnership with the VP of Human Resources

Safety Reporting & Investigation

• Partner with Operations and Safety on incident reporting, root-cause investigation, and corrective action follow-through
• Maintain OSHA 300/300A/301 logs and ensure timely, accurate recordkeeping and postings
• Administer workers' compensation claims from first report through return-to-work, coordinating with the carrier and Operations
• Support safety training compliance, including required training for temporary workers under the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act (DTLSA)

Temporary Workforce & Agency Liaison

• Serve as primary HR liaison to staffing agencies in partnership with Operations; manage the day-to-day relationship, onboarding flow, and issue resolution
• Ensure DTLSA compliance, including equal-pay-and-benefits obligations for temporary workers assigned 90+ days, required disclosures, and safety training documentation
• Track temporary worker headcount, assignment length, conversion pipeline, and agency performance; recommend conversions and agency changes

Compliance & HR Systems

• Own site-level compliance with federal, Illinois, and Cook County employment law, including but not limited to: FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, Illinois Human Rights Act, Illinois Equal Pay Act, Paid Leave for All Workers Act / Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance, VESSA, One Day Rest in Seven Act, Personnel Record Review Act, Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (E-Verify)
• Serve as site owner and subject-matter expert for the HRIS (Paycom): position management, onboarding, timekeeping, employee self-service, document management, and reporting; ensure data integrity, complete required audits, and train supervisors on system use
• Complete Form I-9 / E-Verify processing, maintain required postings in English and Spanish, and manage personnel files and records retention
• Administer leaves of absence (FMLA, Illinois paid leave, VESSA, ADA accommodations, workers' compensation) and coordinate benefits enrollment and questions with Corporate HR
• Prepare and submit required reporting (EEO-1 support, Illinois Equal Pay Registration Certificate data, OSHA, unemployment claims, subpoenas)
• Deliver and track required training: annual Illinois sexual harassment prevention training, safety, and supervisor training

Talent, Onboarding & Engagement

• Partner with the recruiting team on hourly and salaried hiring for the site; conduct interviews and manage offers for hourly roles
• Own new-hire orientation and onboarding across all shifts; drive 30/60/90-day check-ins and retention initiatives
• Support performance review cycles, merit planning, and job description maintenance for site roles
• Lead site engagement, recognition, and communication efforts, ensuring bilingual accessibility where needed

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR), or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum 3 years of HR management experience, including 2+ years in a manufacturing or industrial environment (required)
• HRIS experience required; Paycom strongly preferred
• Experience supporting a multi-shift, hourly workforce
• Working knowledge of federal and Illinois employment law; experience with OSHA recordkeeping and workers' compensation
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams)

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual English/Spanish (strongly preferred)
• Experience leading or supervising HR staff
• Experience managing staffing agency relationships and a temporary workforce; familiarity with Illinois DTLSA requirements
• Experience across multiple buildings or sites

Competencies

Judgment and discretion • Employee relations and conflict resolution • Coaching and influencing supervisors • Attention to compliance detail • Bias for action on the floor • Clear written and verbal communication • Team leadership

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Office environment with regular presence on the production floor across three buildings
• Ability to walk, stand, and move between buildings for extended periods; occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.
• Exposure to typical manufacturing conditions (noise, moving equipment, temperature variation); PPE required in designated areas
• Must be able to work on-site five days per week and flex hours to cover off-shift needs
• Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Equal Employment Opportunity

JohnsByrne is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, pregnancy, reproductive health decisions, family responsibilities, marital status, order of protection status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, citizenship status, genetic information, arrest record, credit history, source of income, housing status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, Illinois, or Cook County law. JohnsByrne participates in E-Verify.