Construction HR Manager

Looking for an experienced HR Manager to own and elevate all facets of Human Resources.

This role is ideal for someone who has hands-on HR experience in construction—ideally heavy civil—who understands project-based work, field crews, tight schedules, and the realities of the jobsite. You’ll be both strategic and very “in the weeds,” building scalable HR processes while staying approachable and accessible to employees at all levels.

Role Overview

The HR Manager will be responsible for the full HR lifecycle, including:

• Recruiting and onboarding field and office talent
• Employee relations and performance management
• Compliance, policies, and documentation
• Benefits administration and leave management
• HR reporting and process improvement

You’ll partner closely with ownership, operations, project managers, and field leadership to create a consistent, fair, and high-performance people environment that aligns with company culture and values.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and enforce HR policies, procedures, and employee handbook; ensure they align with federal, state, and local laws.
• Manage new hire documentation, I-9s, E-Verify, background checks, and employee records.
• Oversee compliance with wage and hour laws, job classifications, overtime, and rest/meal break requirements.
• Support compliance related to safety, workers’ compensation, and drug/alcohol policies in partnership with Safety and Operations.
• Handle leaves of absence (FMLA, ADA, personal leave, etc.) and coordinate with payroll and management.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Partner with hiring managers to define roles, job descriptions, and candidate profiles for office and field positions (superintendents, foremen, operators, laborers, project staff, etc.).
• Lead recruiting efforts using job boards, referrals, industry networks, and partnerships with trade schools/associations.
• Screen candidates, coordinate interviews, and support selection and offer processes.
• Own structured onboarding and orientation to ensure new hires understand expectations, safety, culture, and benefits.

Employee Relations & Performance Management

• Act as a trusted resource for employees and managers on HR-related questions, conflicts, and concerns.
• Coach managers on handling performance issues, corrective actions, and terminations in a fair and compliant manner.
• Support goal setting, performance reviews, and development plans for key roles.
• Help build and maintain a positive, respectful culture between office and field teams.

Compensation, Benefits & HR Administration

• Coordinate with leadership and accounting/payroll on compensation practices, job leveling, and pay adjustments.
• Administer benefits enrollment, changes, and employee questions in coordination with brokers/benefit providers.
• Assist with open enrollment planning, communication, and education for employees.
• Maintain accurate HRIS/HR tracking tools and provide reporting (headcount, turnover, open positions, etc.).

Culture, Engagement & Change Management

• Help design and support initiatives that improve retention, engagement, and communication (toolbox talks, town halls, recognition programs, etc.).
• Support training efforts for supervisors and employees on HR topics such as anti-harassment, respectful workplace, performance feedback, and basic HR skills for front-line leaders.
• Serve as a cultural ambassador, reinforcing values of safety, quality, accountability, and teamwork.

Qualifications

Required:

• 5+ years of progressive HR generalist/HR manager experience, preferably supporting construction, trades, or another blue-collar, field-based workforce.
• Strong working knowledge of employment laws (federal and state), HR best practices, and standard HR processes.
• Experience supporting both hourly and salaried employees, ideally including field staff and project-based teams.
• Demonstrated experience in employee relations, investigations, and performance management.
• Proficiency with HR systems/HRIS, Microsoft Office, and comfort working with data and spreadsheets.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to relate to everyone from laborers to executives.
• High degree of discretion, integrity, and sound judgment.

Preferred:

• HR experience in heavy civil construction, general contracting, or infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with multi-jobsite or multi-state operations.
• Experience with recruiting for skilled trades and construction professionals.
• HR certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, etc.) is a plus but not required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person