Position Summary:

Develop and implement human resources policies, programs and services including recruitment, selection, retention, legal compliance, negotiations with unions, employee relations, employee benefits, employment practices and procedures and employee communications. Serve as an internal consultant to facility management team, supervisors and employees on personnel issues that affect performance and business relationships while fostering a workplace environment consistent with the values and mission outlined by leadership of Ventura Foods.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works with operations manager and other members of management in recommending new approaches, policies and procedures to effect continual improvements in efficiency of various departments and services performed.
• Ensures uniform compliance with personnel policies by managing and reviewing all discipline, investigations and worker’s compensation claims while reporting findings to operations manager and involving Vice President Field Human Resources when necessary.
• Responsible for managing overall performance, management and people planning and employee engagement efforts.
• Conducts recruitment effort for all exempt and nonexempt personnel to fill various job openings. Reviews job applications and interviews applicants to match experience with specific job related requirements.
• Responsible for compliance with federal and state legislation pertaining to all personnel and payroll matters and communicating those changes to appropriate staff.
• Develops and administers various human resources procedures for facility; monitoring to ensure proper implementation and interpretation. Represents management in investigating, answering and settling grievances by arranging and scheduling grievance hearings between union personnel, supervisor and the management team.
• Maintains working relationship with union officials and adheres to terms of labor contract by ensuring day-to-day implementation of policies concerning wages, hours and working conditions.
• Oversees personnel record keeping related to new hire, employee review, promotions, transfers, employee benefits, separations and exit interviews.
• Responsible for assuring compliance with all food safety policies, procedures and regulatory criteria including the current SQF code, Good Manufacturing Practices GMPs), and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and associated preventive controls.
• Other duties as assigned; travel may be required.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience.
• 5 - 10 years experience in the Human Resources field.
• Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification preferred.
• Experience in negotiations with Union representatives and Union contracts.
• Experience in administering employee benefits & knowledge of payroll procedures.
• Experience in labor relations.
• Experience coordinating and administering employee training.
• Experience with talent assessment & succession planning.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to objectively coach employees and management through complex, difficult, and emotional issues.
• Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of personnel administration, payroll, employee benefits.
• Effective oral and written communication skills; excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to observe confidentiality.
• Ability to make recommendations to effectively resolve problems or issues by using judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures and regulation or government law.
• Knowledge of employment law and other government compliance regulations.