We are building something new — a nicotine pouch manufacturing facility in Burleson, TX — and we are looking for an HR Manager who thrives in a startup-phase, hands-on environment. This is a ground-floor opportunity to shape culture, establish people practices, and serve as the primary HR presence on-site from day one.
This role is the HR foundation for our Burleson facility. You will partner closely with site leadership on everything from employee relations and performance management to onboarding, compliance, and workforce planning. You will work in close coordination with our corporate Talent Acquisition team on hiring, owning the site-level experience while TA manages sourcing and process. You will also support a two-shift operation once we are at full scale, which means occasional presence across shifts when employee relations or business needs require it.
The right person brings deep manufacturing HR experience, sharp employee relations instincts, genuine comfort on the production floor, and the ability to operate as a true solo contributor — resourceful, self-directed, and effective without a team beneath them.
Employee Relations & Performance Management
- Serve as the primary HR resource for all site employee relations matters — coaching managers, conducting investigations, and resolving workplace issues fairly and consistently
- Lead performance management processes, including goal setting, PIPs, corrective actions, and terminations, ensuring documentation and compliance at every step
- Advise site leadership on workforce decisions, organizational issues, and people risk
- Support and coach front-line supervisors and managers on HR best practices and day-to-day people management
Onboarding & Retention
- Design and execute the onboarding experience for all new hires at the Burleson facility — from pre-day-one through the first 90 days — with a focus on retention and early engagement
- Drive employee engagement initiatives that build culture, improve retention, and enhance the overall employee experience across both shifts
- Partner with corporate TA on open requisitions while owning the site-level candidate experience, coordinating interviews, and ensuring smooth hand-offs from offer to first day
Compliance & Policy
- Ensure site-level compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws, with particular attention to the requirements of a regulated manufacturing environment
- Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies and procedures aligned with company standards, GMP requirements, and regulatory expectations
- Manage leave administration including FMLA, ADA accommodations, personal leaves and coordinate workers’ compensation cases and return-to-work programs
- Maintain accurate, audit-ready employee records and HRIS data
Workforce Planning & Development
- Support workforce planning efforts as the site scales including headcount forecasting, role design, and succession thinking for key production roles
- Identify training and development needs; work with corporate HR and site leadership to address skill gaps and build internal capability
- Provide shift coverage awareness including being available to engage with 2nd shift employees and management as business needs require
Experience
- 7+ years of progressive HR experience, with demonstrated growth in scope and responsibility
- Proven, hands-on experience as the primary HR presence in a plant, production facility, or manufacturing environment — not a supporting or matrix role
- Experience in a regulated industry: food & beverage, pharma, nutraceutical, tobacco, CPG, or similar
- Strong employee relations track record — investigations, PIPs, corrective action, and terminations handled with consistency and legal compliance
- Working knowledge of federal and Texas employment law: FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, and OSHA
- Experience designing or meaningfully improving an onboarding program
- Comfortable managing leave programs (FMLA, ADA, workers’ comp) independently
- Strong written and verbal communication; able to engage credibly with hourly production employees and senior leadership alike
- Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred
- HR certification: PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP
- Experience supporting a multi-shift manufacturing operation
- Familiarity with GMP, preventive controls, or regulated consumable product environments
- Experience building or formalizing HR infrastructure in a startup or greenfield manufacturing environment
Requirements
- 100% on-site at our Burleson, TX manufacturing facility — this is not a hybrid role
- Regular presence on the production floor; must be comfortable in an active manufacturing environment
- Supports a two-shift operation (1st: 6:00 AM–2:00 PM, 2nd: 2:30 PM–11:00 PM) once we are at scale so there will be occasional off-hours availability expected for employee relations needs or shift engagement
