Human Resources Business Partner

Senior Human Resources Manager - Manufacturing Plant

Location: Waco, Texas

Industry: Manufacturing / Industrial Operations

We are seeking a highly strategic, business-minded Senior Human Resources Manager to serve as a key member of the plant leadership team for a leading manufacturing organization. This individual will be responsible for driving the site's people strategy while serving as a trusted business partner to the Plant Manager and operational leadership.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in manufacturing HR, exceptional business acumen, and the ability to connect workforce strategies directly to operational performance and financial results. This role requires more than traditional HR management; we are looking for a proactive leader who understands the financial drivers of a manufacturing operation, leverages data to influence business decisions, and partners closely with site leadership to improve productivity, workforce effectiveness, and overall plant performance.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership opportunity for an HR professional who can balance strategic planning, operational execution, and employee engagement in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Strategic HR Leadership & Business Partnership

• Serve as a strategic advisor and trusted business partner to the Plant Manager and site leadership team, aligning people strategies with business objectives, operational priorities, and financial performance.
• Participate actively in plant leadership meetings, business reviews, strategic planning, and operational decision-making.
• Translate business objectives into actionable HR strategies that improve workforce capability, organizational effectiveness, and site performance.
• Partner with functional leaders to identify organizational challenges, assess talent needs, and develop solutions that support operational excellence.
• Provide thoughtful, data-driven recommendations and constructively challenge leadership decisions when necessary.
• Lead organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and change management initiatives to support evolving business needs.
• Establish credibility at all levels of the organization, from frontline employees to senior executives.
• Develop a strong understanding of the plant's financial performance, operating budget, labor costs, productivity expectations, and key business drivers.
• Partner with the Plant Manager, Finance, and Operations leadership to evaluate workforce costs and their impact on profitability, operating margins, and overall site performance.
• Analyze direct and indirect labor expenses, overtime, staffing levels, turnover costs, absenteeism, and workforce utilization to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support labor budgeting, headcount forecasting, workforce modeling, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Evaluate the financial implications of hiring decisions, compensation changes, organizational structures, and workforce investments.
• Partner with operational leaders to identify workforce-related opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maximize productivity without compromising safety, quality, or employee engagement.
• Use financial and operational insights to develop proactive HR solutions that support the plant's short- and long-term business objectives.

• Establish, monitor, and analyze key HR and operational metrics to evaluate workforce effectiveness and organizational health.
• Partner with site leadership to develop actionable plans addressing performance gaps and emerging workforce trends.
• Track and report on critical metrics, including:
• Labor cost as a percentage of production or revenue
• Overtime…