HR Manager – Craft Operations (On-Site)

HR Manager – Craft Operations (On-Site)

Play an integral role in leading the workforce strategies, employee experience, and People Operations activities that support the successful delivery of major industrial construction projects. As an HR Manager – Craft Operations (On-Site) , you will serve as the senior People Team leader on the project, driving workforce planning, mobilization, employee relations, compliance, talent strategies, and workforce engagement for large craft populations throughout the project lifecycle.

This is a field-based leadership role located on an active industrial construction site. The successful candidate will work closely with Project Leadership, Construction Management, Craft Leadership, Workforce Development, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Benefits, Employee Relations, client representatives, and project support teams. This is not a corporate HR position. Success in this role requires a strong site presence, the ability to build trusted relationships across a diverse workforce, and the capability to balance strategic workforce planning with day-to-day operational execution.

This highly visible role directly influences workforce productivity, employee engagement, mobilization effectiveness, retention, compliance, and overall project performance.

Purpose of the role

The HR Manager – Craft Operations is responsible for leading and managing project-based People Team activities in support of large construction and industrial operations. You will provide both strategic and operational leadership across workforce planning, talent acquisition, employee relations, compliance, workforce administration, mobilization, workforce development, and demobilization activities.

Serving as the senior on-site People Team representative, you will act as a trusted advisor to Project Leadership, Construction Management, Craft Leadership, home-office People functions, and client stakeholders. You will ensure the consistent execution of People policies, workforce practices, and employment processes while supporting project objectives, workforce stability, and employee engagement.

Working across all phases of the project lifecycle, you will help ensure the project attracts, develops, retains, and mobilizes the workforce required to support safe and successful project execution.

You will be responsible for

People Team Leadership

- Leading, coaching, and developing project-based People Team personnel, including Lead People Advisors, Craft Recruiters, People Advisors, and People Administrators.
- Providing guidance on workforce planning, employee relations matters, project requirements, and People processes.
- Ensuring consistent application of company policies, procedures, standards, and workforce practices.
- Conducting regular People Team meetings, performance reviews, workload assessments, and workforce planning discussions.
- Assessing staffing requirements and allocating People Team resources to support project growth, peak workforce activity, and demobilization phases.
- Promoting collaboration between Construction, Workforce Development, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Benefits, Employee Relations, HSE, and other support functions.

Workforce Planning and Mobilization

- Partnering with Project Leadership and Construction Management to forecast workforce demand, labor requirements, and mobilization schedules.
- Developing workforce strategies aligned with project execution plans and operational priorities.
- Monitoring staffing levels, labor availability, turnover, retention, workforce demographics, and hiring trends.
- Coordinating recruiting strategies and workforce plans with Talent Acquisition and operational stakeholders.
- Overseeing onboarding, orientation coordination, employee documentation, and workforce mobilization processes.
- Identifying workforce risks and implementing practical mitigation plans to reduce project staffing challenges.

Employee Relations and Workforce Support

- Serving as the primary on-site escalation point for employee relations concerns and complex workforce matters.
- Advising supervisors and managers regarding attendance, conduct, performance management, corrective actions, conflict resolution, and workforce concerns.
- Coordinating with Employee Relations, Legal, Ethics, Security, and other specialist functions as appropriate.
- Leading or supporting workplace investigations and ensuring concerns are addressed promptly, professionally, and consistently.
- Promoting a respectful, inclusive, and productive work environment.
- Reviewing workforce trends and recurring issues to identify opportunities for proactive support and improved retention.

Compliance and Governance

- Ensuring compliance with company policies, standards, client requirements, and applicable employment laws.
- Overseeing employee records, documentation, file integrity, confidentiality controls, and audit readiness.
- Monitoring hiring practices, onboarding activities, employment eligibility processes, payroll coordination, and workforce compliance requirements.
- Supporting audits, client reviews, compliance assessments, and regulatory inquiries.
- Ensuring workforce decisions are supported by consistent criteria, appropriate review, and defensible documentation.
- Safeguarding confidential employee, project, and company information.

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

- Serving as the primary People Team contact for project leadership and client workforce matters.
- Participating in project leadership meetings, workforce planning sessions, and operational reviews.
- Providing workforce metrics, staffing updates, risk assessments, and recommendations to project leadership.
- Maintaining effective relationships with client representatives, workforce agencies, labor organizations, educational institutions, trade schools, and community partners.
- Representing the project in workforce-related meetings, recruiting initiatives, outreach efforts, and stakeholder engagements.

Workforce Metrics and Reporting

- Overseeing workforce reporting related to headcount, mobilization, demobilization, turnover, retention, vacancies, recruiting activity, workforce demographics, and employee relations trends.
- Analyzing workforce data to identify risks, emerging needs, and opportunities for improved project support.
- Providing project leadership with clear workforce insights and actionable recommendations.
- Supporting workforce planning through forecasting, trend analysis, and reporting.

Talent and Workforce Development

- Supporting workforce development initiatives, apprenticeship programs, veteran recruiting efforts, internships, and community outreach activities.
- Encouraging employee development, career progression, and long-term workforce sustainability.
- Partnering with Workforce Development and project leadership to support craft workforce development initiatives.
- Supporting succession planning and continuity planning for critical workforce and People Team positions.

Demobilization and Workforce Transition

- Leading workforce reduction and demobilization planning in accordance with project requirements and company standards.
- Ensuring workforce actions are implemented fairly, consistently, respectfully, and in compliance with applicable requirements.
- Coordinating workforce transition activities, redeployment efforts, communications, and employee separation processes.
- Supporting retention strategies and workforce redeployment initiatives during project transitions.

About us

Worley is a global company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia. We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their assets. We specialize in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction across the project lifecycle, with services extending through to operations and decommissioning. Leveraging extensive experience and AI-enabled delivery, we support customers in navigating complexity as they meet today's needs and transition to more sustainable solutions.

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What you’ll bring to the role

You bring a strong combination of workforce leadership, employee relations expertise, project support experience, and People Operations knowledge gained through supporting construction, industrial, or project-based organizations.

Required

- Minimum 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in Human Resources, People Operations, Employee Relations, workforce management, or construction workforce support.
- Minimum 5+ years of experience supporting construction, industrial, manufacturing, energy, petrochemical, infrastructure, or project-based environments.
- Minimum 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
- Strong knowledge of employment laws, workforce compliance requirements, employee relations practices, workforce planning, and records management.
- Experience supporting large project-based workforces and dynamic staffing environments.
- Proficiency with HR information systems, applicant tracking systems, workforce management tools, and Microsoft Office applications.
- Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to influence managers, supervisors, and project stakeholders.
- Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Preferred

- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience supporting large craft populations and major capital construction projects.
- Experience leading project-based People Teams in field construction environments.
- Professional certifications such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PMP, or comparable credentials.
- Professional written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish.
- Experience supporting workforce development initiatives, apprenticeship programs, community outreach efforts, and workforce sustainability programs.

Benefits

Feel the energy at Worley with access to a range of benefits including: paid-time off, holiday pay (usually 8 per year in the US), and eligibility to participate in the medical, life, dental, and vision insurance plans, as well as 401K plan.

Apply today

If you are a people-focused leader who thrives in dynamic construction environments and enjoys building strong workforces, supporting project leaders, and helping employees succeed, we encourage you to apply. Join Worley and play a key role in supporting the people and workforce strategies that deliver some of the industry's most important projects.

Moving forward together

We want our people to be energized and empowered to drive sustainable impact. So, our focus is on a values-inspired culture that unlocks brilliance through belonging, connection and innovation. We're building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. Creating a space where everyone feels they belong, can be themselves, and are heard.

And we're not just talking about it; we're doing it. We're reskilling our people, leveraging transferable skills, and supporting the transition of our workforce to become experts in today's low carbon energy infrastructure and technology. Whatever your ambition, there's a path for you here.

And there's no barrier to your potential career success. Join us to broaden your horizons, explore diverse opportunities, and be part of delivering sustainable change.

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