Are you ready to make an impact? Wow Baois seeking a dedicated and organized Human Resources Manager for our new production facility in Forest City, NC. This isn’t just another HR role, it’s a chance to help build a brand-new manufacturing facility from the ground up! We’re looking for a Human Resources Manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves working with people, and is excited to shape the future of our food manufacturing operations. The Human Resources Manager will be responsible recruitment, onboarding, creating a positive culture, payroll, benefits, training and compliance. You’ll play a critical role in shaping the future of our facility, our team, and our company culture.
ABOUT WOW BAO
At Wow Bao, we believe that life is too short for uninspired food. We’re here to transform the Asian Street Food experience from every day and expected to extraordinary and inventive. Wow Bao is the fastest growing Frozen Asian Snack brand in the United States growing retail sales over 370% in 2024. Through strategic relationships with retail partners Wow Bao is now available in over 15,000 grocery stores nationwide!
Wow Bao has a long history of manufacturing restaurant quality food, that started in 2003 when the first Wow Bao restaurant location was opened. Today, our omni-channel brand operates several Chicago restaurants, airports, virtual kitchens, and universities. Wow Bao is poised for continued growth within all its verticals, as well as in the corporate setting.
Wow Bao is the only brand to be recognized three times by Fast Casual magazine as a Top 100 Movers & Shaker. Ranked no. 1 in 2019 and 2022 and no. 4 in 2023, we are the only brand to have the honor more than once.
WE FOSTER A CULTURE OF CARING
At Wow Bao, every team member leads from a place of care. Whether it’s our guests or employees, we put people first. We strive to inspire, motivate, and appreciate one another every day. We live by the golden rule and treat everyone with kindness, empathy, respect, and a healthy dose of humor. We take our work, not ourselves, seriously.
RESPONSIBILITIES (Other duties will be assigned as needed)
1. Recruitment & Hiring:
- Lead the recruitment process for production associates, quality associates, material handlers, maintenance staff, and other facility roles at the Forest City location, including posting job openings, screening resumes, conducting interviews, and coordinating hiring events.
- Build relationships with local job boards, job fairs, community organizations, and staffing agencies to create a pipeline of qualified candidates for hourly and specialized positions.
- Collaborate with department leads to understand staffing needs and ensure timely hiring to meet production demands.
2. Onboarding & Orientation:
- Manage the onboarding process for new hires, including preparing offer letters, conducting orientation sessions, and ensuring completion of necessary paperwork.
- Facilitate training on company culture, safety protocols, and job-specific requirements in coordination with relevant departments.
- Coordinate the issuance of facility access cards and systems access, ensuring secure and timely provision of necessary credentials for new employees.
- Ensure new employees are effectively integrated, providing resources and support during their initial days.
3. Payroll & Benefits:
- Assist with payroll processing by collecting and verifying timesheets, tracking attendance, and addressing payroll discrepancies for facility staff in collaboration with corporate HR team.
- Serve as the point of contact for employees regarding benefits enrollment, questions, and issues, ensuring accurate communication of health, dental, vision, and other benefits offered by Wow Bao.
- Maintain accurate employee records related to compensation, benefits, and hours worked in compliance with company and legal standards.
4. Employee Relations & Accountability:
- Address employee concerns, mediate conflicts, and provide guidance on company policies and procedures.
- Support employee engagement initiatives, such as recognition programs, morale events, team-building activities, and feedback sessions, to foster an inclusive, engaging, and positive work environment.
- Coordinate employee performance reviews and support managers with documentation.
- Manage processes related to employee promotions and demotions, ensuring fair and transparent evaluation in alignment with company policies and performance metrics.
- Facilitate the delivery of negative feedback and oversee disciplinary actions, providing guidance to managers on proper documentation and adherence to legal and company standards.
5. Compliance & Safety:
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws, including wage and hour regulations, anti-discrimination policies, and workplace safety standards (e.g., OSHA, ADA, FMLA).
- Maintain up-to-date employee records, including training certifications, safety compliance, and disciplinary actions, in accordance with company policies and legal requirements.
- Coordinate with authorities on legal and judiciary matters, including compliance with court-ordered actions.
- Coordinate response and follow-up actions in case of workplace injuries.
6. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with the Plant Manager, department supervisors, and corporate HR to align HR practices with facility goals and company-wide policies.
- Communicate effectively with employees to build trust and ensure HR processes are followed.
- Provide regular updates and reports on staffing levels, turnover rates, and HR metrics.
7. Offboarding & Exit Processes:
- Manage the offboarding process for departing employees, including conducting exit interviews, collecting company property, and processing final payroll and benefits adjustments.
- Document reasons for separation and provide feedback to management to improve retention.
- Ensure legal compliance during terminations or layoffs, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
- High School Diploma or GED
- Proven experience (typically 3+ years) in human resources, with a focus on recruitment and employee relations in an industrial food manufacturing environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to create and maintain a positive working environment
- Demonstrated ability to manage payroll processing, onboarding, and offboarding processes
- Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local labor laws and compliance requirements
- Ability to train employees and develop training materials, including creating and maintaining cross-training matrices to support workforce flexibility and development
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
- Bilingual skills (e.g., Spanish) to communicate effectively with a diverse workforce
- HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality
WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- On-site five days a week based at the Forest City, NC food manufacturing facility
- Some travel may be required for initial training purposes
- Increased workload may be required based on hiring events or employee needs during different shifts
- Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the production facility
- Use of protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection as needed
Equal Opportunity Employer
- Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)
- Voluntary disability insurance
- Paid Sick Leave
- Employee Discount Programs with Perkspot and Working Advantage
- We foster a culture of CARE