Senior Human Resources Generalist

company

About Us

Ampersand Brands is a growing portfolio of beloved confectionery brands, including Hammond’s Candies, the iconic hand-crafted candy maker, and Lolli & Pops, a premium retail and gifting brand with a national presence. The company is backed by strong growth ambitions, combining innovation, brand storytelling, and operational excellence to expand its reach and solidify its position as a leading player in the U.S. confections industry.

role

We are looking for an experienced, bilingual Senior HR Generalist to support our production operations in a fast-paced candy manufacturing environment. In this role, you will be a trusted HR partner to our production employees and frontline leaders, helping create a positive, productive workplace while supporting the full employee lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding to employee relations, investigations, performance management, and terminations.

The ideal candidate is approachable, proactive, and comfortable working directly on the production floor to build relationships with a diverse workforce. You will bring strong judgment, professionalism, and a people-first mindset, along with the ability to coach frontline managers and partner with senior leadership on employee matters and business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Onboarding

- Partner with production leaders to identify staffing needs across production, packaging, warehouse, and other operational positions.
- Coordinate hiring activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interviews, and onboarding.
- Ensure new hires complete required employment documentation, orientation, and company policies and procedures.

Employee Relations & Performance Management

- Serve as a trusted resource for employees, addressing workplace concerns, conflicts, and HR-related questions.
- Conduct timely, objective workplace investigations, document findings, and recommend appropriate resolutions.
- Coach supervisors and managers on performance management, attendance, corrective action, and consistent policy application.
- Support disciplinary actions and terminations in accordance with company policies and applicable employment laws.
- Escalate sensitive or complex employee matters to HR leadership as appropriate.

Production Floor Support & Employee Engagement

- Maintain a visible presence on the production floor to build trust, understand employee needs, and address concerns proactively.
- Communicate company policies, expectations, and workplace updates clearly in both English and Spanish.
- Support employee engagement, recognition, retention, and workforce communication initiatives, such as monthly birthday celebrations, work anniversaries, and team milestones.
- Plan and coordinate company holiday events and seasonal gatherings, including vendors, budgets, and bilingual communications to production teams.
- Identify trends in turnover, absenteeism, and employee morale, and recommend practical solutions.

Leadership Partnership & HR Compliance

- Assist with board meeting preparation and logistics, including scheduling, materials, room setup, and catering, as well as other leadership meetings and company events as needed.
- Build strong working relationships with production supervisors, managers, and senior leaders.
- Provide HR guidance on staffing, employee relations, workforce planning, and operational challenges.
- Maintain accurate employee records, investigation documentation, and personnel files.
- Support compliance with applicable employment laws, company policies, and internal procedures.
- Track workforce metrics and identify opportunities to improve HR processes and consistency.

Qualifications & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
- 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in manufacturing, food production, distribution, or a similar hourly workforce environment.
- Fluency in English and Spanish, with the ability to communicate effectively with employees and leaders at all levels.
- Experience supporting hourly employees and frontline managers in a hands-on operational setting.
- Demonstrated experience in employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, and disciplinary actions.
- Knowledge of recruitment, onboarding, HR practices, and employment law compliance.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- Ability to handle confidential matters with discretion, exercise sound judgment, and build credibility with employees and leadership.
- Experience with Rippling preferred and Microsoft Office.