Human Resources Manager at Strong Hold – Louisville, Kentucky

Who Are We?

We build products and relationships that last a lifetime! No really, that’s what we do. We are a successful family business with a long-term record of steady growth, and we are determined to accelerate our trajectory. Our diverse team members who speak 22 languages are passionate about their company and their co-workers.

Check out our website at www.strong-hold.com.

We Are Not:

• Fancy – as manufacturers we believe practical, clean facilities are required to make quality products and retain the best team.
• Transactional - we have long-term relationships with our team members and most valuable customers.
• Satisfied - we celebrate achievement, then set our sights on new goals.

What we're looking for:

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on HR Manager to lead our human resources function. This is a high-visibility role reporting directly to the leadership team. The ideal candidate is an ambitious HR professional with a passion for servant leadership who thrives in a small-company manufacturing environment and is eager to grow into an HR Director position. You will own end-to-end HR operations, drive talent development, ensure compliance, manage vendor relationships and leverage technology (including AI) to modernize HR processes. This is an excellent opportunity for a lifetime learner ready to influence senior leaders and build scalable HR systems that support long-term company growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all HR operations, including performance management, employee relations, compensation, benefits administration, and offboarding in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
• Serve as the in-house expert for our HRIS platform (Paylocity experience strongly preferred), optimizing workflows, data integrity, reporting, and user adoption across the organization.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve talent development processes, including succession planning, leadership development, training programs, and career pathing tailored to a skilled manufacturing workforce.
• Manage vendor relationships for benefits, payroll, training, and other HR services, negotiating contracts and ensuring ROI and compliance.
• Ensure full regulatory compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (EEOC, FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, etc.), maintaining up-to-date policies and proactive risk management in a manufacturing environment.
• Leverage AI and automation tools to enhance HR functions—such as predictive analytics for turnover, intelligent recruitment screening, employee sentiment analysis, and process efficiencies—and champion their adoption across the team.
• Directly manage and develop HR team members (1–3 direct reports), fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and servant leadership.
• Partner with senior leaders to provide strategic HR guidance, influence decision-making on organizational structure and culture initiatives, and translate business goals into people strategies.
• Drive employee engagement and retention programs that align with our family-owned values while supporting a safe, high-performance manufacturing culture.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition to ensure sourcing, interviewing and onboarding efforts align with the organization's growth objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to employees at all levels, resolving complex issues with empathy and professionalism

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred with strong academic performance and evidence of intellectual rigor. Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience in a professional setting.
• 3–5 years of direct people-management experience, including hiring, coaching, and performance management of direct reports.
• Demonstrated expertise in HRIS systems, with strong preference for hands-on Paylocity administration and optimization.
• Solid knowledge of employment law compliance and best practices, with proven success in a regulated manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience creating and scaling talent development programs from the ground up.
• Proven track record managing external vendor relationships and contracts.
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools or emerging technologies to improve HR processes, analytics, or decision-making.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on manufacturing environment where you roll up your sleeves daily.

The successful candidate is:

• A lifetime learner who actively seeks out new knowledge, certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR), and industry trends.
• A practitioner of servant leadership, leading with humility, empathy, and a focus on developing others.
• Ambitious with a clear track record of career progression and the explicit desire to advance into an HR Director role within 2–4 years.
• Skilled at influencing senior stakeholders—including owners and executives—through data-driven insights, strong communication, and relationship-building.
• Energized by the opportunity to build scalable HR systems in a growing family-owned business rather than operating within a large corporate structure.

Benefits:

We value our team members and believe in providing competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Competitive wage with annual increases and a performance-based annual bonus.
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Health, dental, & vision, insurance coverage
• Company paid life, short- & long-term disability insurance coverage
• Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and personal days