Senior Human Resources Generalist

Build Your Future at NWPX At NWPX Infrastructure, we manufacture welded steel pipe and precast products that form the backbone of America's water infrastructure. It's work you can be proud of-and an opportunity to advance your career with a company committed to your professional growth and well-being. Our brands-Northwest Pipe Company, NWPX Park, and NWPX Geneva-set the standard for safety, quality, innovation, and performance. Guided by our core values of Accountability, Commitment, and Teamwork, our people work collaboratively to deliver reliable products and trusted service to our customers-while building stable, rewarding careers along the way. For over 50 years, NWPX has been a leader in reliable water infrastructure solutions, and our people are the foundation of our success. Build your future with us and be part of a legacy grounded in water. WHAT NWPX OFFERS YOU: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D Insurance Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match On-Demand Pay (Access Your Earned Wages Before Payday) Bonus Potential Up to $5,000 per year Tuition Reimbursement Safety Footwear and Eyewear Voucher (Day 1 of Employment) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Opportunities for Career Advancement Values-Driven Culture Committed to Equal Opportunities and Safety ABOUT THE JOB: The Senior Human Resources Generalist serves as the on-site HR leader for the Portland manufacturing facility, providing strategic and hands-on support to ensure operational continuity, regulatory compliance, and a strong employee experience. As the primary HR partner to plant leadership and employees, this role leads complex employee relations matters, oversees compliant leave and benefits coordination in partnership with corporate and third-party providers, supports workers' compensation processes, and coaches managers to strengthen performance, retention, and workplace culture. Serves as the plant subject-matter expert on Oregon Paid Family & Medical Leave and California Paid Leave. The role provides guidance on complex leave coordination, including the integration of statutory leave requirements with FMLA and CFRA. This is a full-time, on-site role based in Portland, with periodic travel to the assigned California location, including occasional short-notice travel as business needs require. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: Serve as the senior HR advisor to plant leadership, coaching managers on performance management, progressive discipline, investigations, conflict resolution, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness. Lead and document complex and sensitive employee relations matters, ensuring timely, consistent, and legally defensible outcomes; escalate risk as appropriate. Ensure plant compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and company policies; advise leadership on corrective actions, required postings, and policy interpretation. Oversee and audit employee records (personnel files, HRIS data, I-9s) to ensure accuracy, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance. Lead onboarding, orientation, and offboarding processes to ensure a consistent and compliant employee experience. Maintain oversight of plant leave, benefits, and workers' compensation activities in coordination with corporate and third-party administrators, ensuring proper documentation, manager guidance, and workforce continuity. Maintain subject-matter expertise in Oregon and California employment regulations impacting plant operations, advising managers on compliance implications. Manage and support full-cycle recruitment for exempt, non-exempt, and temporary employees, including job description development, interviewing, selection, and partnership with staffing agencies. Administer compensation actions in alignment with company policy and coordinate approvals with Corporate HR. Research and respond to unemployment claims and support regulatory reporting requirements. Partner with the Talent Acquisition team and plant leadership to support workforce staffing needs, including managing open requisitions, support with coordinating interviews, facilitating candidate selection discussions, and guiding supervisors through the pre-hire and onboarding process to ensure timely and effective hiring decisions Produce and analyze HR metrics and site-level reports (e.g., turnover, headcount, absenteeism), providing actionable recommendations to plant and corporate leadership. Support payroll accuracy through oversight of timekeeping practices and coordination with corporate payroll partners. Deploy required HR training initiatives and coach supervisors to strengthen leadership capability, engagement, and retention. Partner with plant leadership to implement HR strategies and process improvements that reduce risk and improve operational effectiveness. Provide guidance and direction to the HR Assistant supporting plant operations. Participate in plant and HR leadership meetings and professional development activities. Travel to assigned facilities as required, occasionally on short notice. Perform other related duties as assigned. SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist with plant celebrations i.e., picnics, holiday parties, etc. Performs other related duties as required and assigned. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:• HR AssistantINTERPERSONAL CONTACTS: This position may interact within all levels of the Northwest Pipe organization. Additionally, this position may have contact with business partners, customers, vendors, visitors and/or government agencies. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES: Deep expertise in employment law and HR best practices, with demonstrated ability to navigate complex employee relations matters in a manufacturing or plant environment. Proven ability to serve as a trusted advisor to operational leaders, influencing decision-making and driving performance through coaching and practical HR solutions. Strong business acumen with the ability to balance regulatory compliance, workforce needs, and operational priorities. Demonstrated experience handling sensitive investigations and high-risk situations with sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism. Advanced interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build credibility at all levels of the organization. Analytical mindset with experience leveraging HR metrics and workforce data to inform recommendations and improve outcomes. Proficiency with HRIS systems (Dayforce preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite; comfort working with data, reporting, and process improvement initiatives. Agile, resilient, and adaptable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred but not required. Ability to work full-time on-site and travel to assigned out of state facility as business needs require. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent progressive experience. 10+years of progressive HR experience, including senior-level responsibility in a manufacturing, industrial, or multi-site environment. Demonstrated success leading complex employee relations initiatives and partnering closely with plant leadership. Experience collaborating with corporate HR functions and external vendors in a matrixed organization. Prior supervisory or lead experience. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification and/or SHRM-CP or equivalent preferred. PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT: Project timelines and work volume / deadlines may often require working outside of standard office hours weekend or evening work. Regular, reliable and predictable attendance is necessary in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Physical Activity Over 2/3 of the time Standing/Sit: Remaining upright in a stationary position, particularly for sustained periods. Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling to complete computer work. Up to 2/3 of the time: Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas and information accurately, in written or diagram form. Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound. Less than 1/3 of the time: Reaching: Grabbing things from a distance above or from the side. Walking: Moving about to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another. Physical Requirements Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, including the human body Visual Acuity The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and visual inspection involving small defects at distances close to the eyes. For up to 2/3 of the amount of time, the worker is required to have close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less). For less than 1/3 of the amount of time, the worker is required to have color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors). Weather Conditions The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (as in typical office or administrative work) Noise Levels Over 2/3 of the time Quiet conditions (examples: library, private office) Moderate noise (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic) Less than 1/3 of the time: Loud noise (examples: metal can manufacturing department, large earth-moving equipment) Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Except where prohibited by state law, offers of employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, drug test, and/or physical examination, as determined by the essential functions and physical requirements of the position. NWPX Infrastructure is committed to equal employment opportunity. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NWPX Infrastructure reserves the right to close the position, with or without notice, if a qualified candidate is identified prior to the close date.

Created: 2026-03-10