HR & Labor Relations Manager - People & Culture Commercial Construction |

Chicago Area Salary:

$80,000-$110,000

+ Benefits

+ Vehicle Allowance/Gas The Opportunity A growing commercial construction contractor in the Chicago market is looking for a hands-on Human Resources & Labor Relations Manager to help build the people, culture and processes needed for its next stage of growth. This is not a desk-only HR position. The person stepping into this newly created role will work directly with ownership, management, office employees and field crews. You will be responsible for recruiting and onboarding employees, strengthening training and safety programs, supporting company culture, and taking an active role in union labor relations. The company has grown significantly over the years and is preparing for another stage of expansion. They need an HR professional who understands that growth requires more than policies—it requires finding good people, setting clear expectations, holding people accountable and creating a workplace where strong employees want to stay. What You'll Be Responsible For Recruiting & Workforce Development Recruit field and office employees as the company continues to grow Build a consistent recruiting process for roofers, service technicians and other skilled field employees Help develop a reliable pipeline of qualified tradespeople Manage onboarding and new-hire orientation Develop training programs and resources for both field and office employees Help identify, develop and retain high-performing employees Union & Labor Relations Serve as a key point of contact for union-related employee matters Understand and interpret union agreements and work rules Work directly with union representatives and business agents Manage employee grievances from initial issue through resolution Address questions involving pay, travel, working conditions and contract interpretation Maintain thorough documentation surrounding employee and labor matters Handle difficult conversations professionally while protecting both the company and its employees Help management consistently enforce company policies and standard operating procedures Experience working with Chicago-area construction unions, particularly Roofers & Waterproofers Local 11, would be highly valuable. HR, Compliance & Employee Relations Oversee day-to-day HR responsibilities for field and office employees Support benefits administration, compliance and employee documentation Handle employee relations, disciplinary matters and performance issues Partner with leadership on terminations and other sensitive employment decisions Help establish clear expectations and accountability throughout the organization Build scalable HR processes as the company grows Safety & Training Support OSHA compliance and required recordkeeping Maintain OSHA logs and related documentation Coordinate safety training and employee certifications Support onboarding and ongoing field safety education Help develop training videos, procedures and other resources for employees Reinforce company safety expectations and operating procedures in the field Culture & Employee Engagement This company places a strong emphasis on care, accountability, service and doing business with integrity . The HR & Labor Relations Manager will work closely with ownership to strengthen that culture as the organization grows. This may include employee recognition programs, company events, training initiatives, incentives and community involvement. The company is guided by Christian principles and values while employing and serving people from all backgrounds. The successful person should be comfortable working within a values-driven organization focused on treating employees and customers with respect. What We're Looking For The ideal candidate will bring: HR and employee-relations experience within commercial construction, industrial construction or another skilled-trades environment Strong experience working with union employees Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and grievance procedures Experience dealing directly with union representatives/business agents Hands-on recruiting experience, particularly skilled field labor OSHA/safety knowledge within a construction environment Experience handling disciplinary matters, employee disputes and difficult conversations The confidence to work equally well with ownership, office employees and field crews Strong documentation, communication and negotiation skills The ability to enforce company standards while maintaining positive employee relationships Experience helping a growing organization develop more structured HR processes Experience within a larger construction organization would be particularly valuable, especially for someone who understands what systems and processes need to be put in place as a contractor grows. The Right Personality This role requires someone who can earn credibility in the field. You should be comfortable walking onto a jobsite, talking with experienced tradespeople, sitting across the table from a union representative, coaching a manager, recruiting the company's next employee and then working directly with ownership on a sensitive employee issue. You need to be fair, consistent and employee-friendly without being afraid to enforce standards . This is an opportunity to build something rather than simply maintain an existing HR department. Compensation & Benefits Base salary: $80,000-$110,000 , depending on experience PTO Vehicle allowance Gas/travel support Employee benefits Long-term opportunity with a growing organization The position will support operations throughout Chicago and the surrounding region, Southern Wisconsin and Northwest Indiana , so some local travel will be required. Why Consider This Opportunity? This is a newly created and highly visible position with direct access to ownership. The company is actively investing in its people and infrastructure as it prepares to grow. The person hired will have the opportunity to shape recruiting, training, employee relations, labor relations and culture rather than inheriting a rigid corporate HR structure. For an HR professional who understands construction and union labor and wants to have a measurable impact on a growing company, this is a chance to become a key part of that growth. Job # 16818032 #LI-TS1 #TSSHP