HR Programs Manager
Willows, CA (with remote work flexibility)

Rumiano Cheese Company (https://rumianocheese.com) is California's oldest (founded in 1919) family-owned cheese company, dedicated to the manufacture, packaging and distribution of the highest quality cheese, butter and value-added products. Products are sold across the US, Mexico, and Asia. Rumiano’s focus is providing customers with the utmost service and quality achieved by exceeding expectations in all ways. Rumiano Cheese Company’s long-lasting success is due to a highly talented team, which has included four generations of the Rumiano family. And Rumiano’s new state of the art facility in Willows provides career advancement opportunities so people can stay here and grow here. 

Position Description

We are looking for an experienced HR professional with extensive employee benefits, compensation/Total Rewards and general HR process and program development experience to join the team at Rumiano Cheese. You will be working and collaborating closely with the HR Manager, teaming up to create a “Great Place to Work” for all Rumiano team members, supporting plants in both Willows and Crescent City, CA. The HR Programs Manager will partner with the HR Manager and Rumiano leadership team to continue to build compensation, benefits and other HR processes and programs aligned with company goals to attract, retain, develop and motivate employees.

This position reports directly to the Director of Operations.

Activities and Responsibilities:

General:

• Lead HR project and program development, integrating best practices in compensation, benefits, employee policies/handbook, performance management, employee satisfaction, etc.
• Act as back-up to HR Manager, responding quickly to employees and immediately to high priority issues
• Nurture a positive working environment, building great relationships with employees and management
• Resolve employee issues by researching, analyzing, identifying root cause and communicating in a professional, timely, and compassionate manner
• Balance being a company and employee advocate – not losing sight of doing the right thing for both
• Maintains strict confidentiality in all departmental and company matters
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations

Benefits:

• Manage open enrollment, providers, administer benefits and resolve employee questions and issues
• Help new hires and all employees with enrolling, maintaining and understanding their benefits
• Administer 401(k), working with broker and carrier, and helping employees with enrollment
• Audit expenses related to benefit payouts and report on disbursement and enrollment in programs
• Serve as a liaison between employees and service providers
• Assist in development and implementation of company policies and procedures
• Monitor developments in employee benefits; evaluate and compare existing employee benefits (including vacation) with other employers, making recommendations to remain competitive
• Spearhead wellness initiatives and communications

Compensation & Performance Management/Reviews

• Review current and recommend best practices in compensation and rewards/incentive programs, facilitating positive culture change and ensuring internal equity and a pay-for-performance philosophy 
• Collaborates with HR Manager and leadership to develop and implement compensation, performance management and career planning programs
• Serve as a key resource to ensure new hire and all employee performance reviews are conducted
• Main point of contact for creating, revising, and editing job descriptions, making sure descriptions are in place and meet FLSA standards and exemption testing requirements

Other Key HR Projects & Program Development

• Employee policy handbook review and updates
• Employee & leadership development programs
• Employee satisfaction, engagement and morale
• New hire onboarding and training programs
• Additional programs as identified

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related
• 5+ years Human Resource experience, ideally in a food manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated success in developing HR programs, including compensation and employee benefits
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal & presentation); natural collaborator and team builder
• Servant leader: approachable and friendly – able to make employees feel comfortable and respected
• Excellent people, problem-solving and organization skills; Ability to prioritize tasks
• Demonstrated ability to act with integrity, professionalism and maintain confidentiality
• Relevant certifications, such as a CEBS or SHRM certification, a plus. Bilingual Spanish a big plus

Rumiano Cheese seeks diversity among our staff and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.