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Manager Human Resources

Generac · Eagle, WI · Full time

Posted Aug 19, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you were the HR business partner for a manufacturing plant leadership team. What did that partnership actually look like day to day?

What they are checking: whether the candidate has real plant-floor HR experience versus corporate-only HR

Walk me through a tough employee relations case you handled on a production floor, from the first complaint to the resolution.

What they are checking: depth of investigation skills and comfort with conflict in a union or shift-based environment

Tell me about a time you had to discipline or terminate an employee in a way that could have created legal risk. How did you protect the company and treat the person fairly?

What they are checking: judgment under pressure and consistency with documentation and progressive discipline practice

How have you worked with talent acquisition to fix a hiring problem in a manufacturing environment, like high turnover or a hard-to-fill shift?

What they are checking: cross-functional collaboration and practical talent acquisition understanding, not just employee relations

Describe a time you led a project with a hard deadline and multiple departments involved. What went wrong, and how did you adjust?

What they are checking: project management maturity and ability to manage risk and cross-functional teams

Tell me about a time you had to coach or develop an HR team member who wasn't meeting expectations. What did you do?

What they are checking: people management and development skills for someone who will build and lead an HR team

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a plant manager or senior leader about a people decision. What happened?

What they are checking: willingness to be a trusted advisor who pushes back, not just an order-taker

What would you do

Say you need to cut headcount or reallocate labor across shifts because of a production slowdown. How would you approach that decision and the conversations that follow?

What they are checking: ability to balance cost pressure with fair, legally sound workforce planning

If plant leadership wanted to roll out a new performance management or compensation program and floor supervisors pushed back, how would you get their buy-in?

What they are checking: change management skill and credibility with frontline leaders

If you discovered a safety issue tied to a staffing or scheduling decision, what would you do first?

What they are checking: prioritization of safety and whether the candidate connects HR decisions to operational risk

About the work

What is your process for making sure a plant stays compliant with federal, state, and local employment law, and how do you catch problems before they become violations?

What they are checking: working knowledge of employment law and whether compliance is proactive or reactive

How do you think about employee engagement in a manufacturing setting where turnover and absenteeism are common problems?

What they are checking: practical understanding of engagement levers specific to plant environments versus generic HR theory

Walk me through how you would build a workforce plan for a facility that needs to scale production up or down seasonally.

What they are checking: ability to translate business demand into concrete headcount and staffing strategy

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The HR Manager serves as the strategic and operational Human Resources leader for Generac's Eagle manufacturing facility, partnering closely with plant leadership to drive business performance through effective people strategies and workforce initiatives. This role is responsible for delivering comprehensive HR support in a dynamic manufacturing environment, ensuring alignment between business objectives, workforce needs, and employee engagement. As a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, the HR Manager provides both tactical and strategic guidance across all aspects of Human Resources, including employee relations, talent acquisition, workforce planning, talent management, performance management, compensation, payroll, organizational development, training, safety, change management, and policy administration. Responsibilities • Serves as a trusted advisor with internal stakeholders. Enhances the organization’s HR team by planning, implementing, and evaluating employee relations and HR policies, programs and practices. • Partners with internal groups to manage coordination of HR programs, processes within a specific business group or core function. • Live the Leadership Principles. Partners with leadership teams and other HR (Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Benefits, Communications) business leaders to grow diverse leadership, talent and technical capability in the business. • Collaborates with Talent Acquisition to drive employment-branding initiatives to establish Generac as a leader and advocate for the industry. • Expands talent acquisition and talent management efforts across Generac. Responsible for managing workforce headcount in support achieves productivity and efficiencies. Implements standardized programs and policies that drive innovation and employee engagement. • Ensures legal compliance with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations; ensures compliance with company policies and procedures. • Provide project management leadership for projects including schedules, executing plans and integrating the activities of cross-functional team members. • Develop and lead risk and mitigation plans for projects. • Define and lead contingency option assessments when needed, then select and execute mitigation plans. Identify, evaluate and document “lessons-learned” during the project and communicate best practices and lessons learned to project team members on future projects. • Designs and directs the work of the team. Selects, coaches and develops staff. Sets clear expectations to inspire and motivate the team. • Manages performance-- recognizing achievement, providing feedback and administering progressive discipline when necessary. • Requirements Bachelor’s Degree in HR, Business or relevant equivalent experience 5 years progressive HR management experience “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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