HR Generalist

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people, like you, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth. Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere! We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long-lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business. Are you with us?!?

Thilmany is seeking an experienced, hands-on Human Resources Generalist to support our manufacturing operation in a unionized environment. Based onsite at the Thilmany facility in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, this role serves as a key partner to leaders, employees, and union representatives. The HR Generalist will help foster positive labor-management relations, administer human resources programs and processes, support compliance with the collective bargaining agreement and employment laws, and contribute to a safe, respectful, and productive workplace.

The ideal candidate is a practical, solutions-oriented HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, builds trusted working relationships, and brings strong labor relations, employee relations, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Key Responsibilities

Labor & Employee Relations

• Serve as a primary HR resource for hourly and salaried employees and a trusted advisor to supervisors and managers.
• Administer and interpret the collective bargaining agreement, company policies, work rules, and established practices.
• Lead and support employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, performance management, corrective action, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation.
• Coordinate grievance investigations, prepare grievance responses, and participate in labor-management meetings.
• Support collective bargaining preparation through data gathering, proposal development, contract research, and administrative coordination.
• Coach supervisors and managers on labor relations practices, consistent policy application, effective communication, documentation, and employee management.
• Partner with union representatives and operational leaders to resolve workplace concerns and promote constructive labor-management relationships.
• Monitor labor and employee relations trends and recommend practical, consistent, and compliant solutions.

Human Resources Operations

• Partner with operations and safety leaders to promote a strong safety culture and reinforce compliance with safe work practices.
• Maintain a visible presence in production areas and model compliance with site safety rules and required personal protective equipment.
• Participate in safety meetings and continuous improvement efforts that support employee well-being and operational excellence.
• Administer attendance-related processes and support staffing analysis, succession planning, and short- and long-term workforce planning.
• Assist with the coordination of employee engagement, communication, retention, and culture-building initiatives that promote a respectful, inclusive, and professional work environment.
• Coordinate recruiting activities, including job postings, candidate screening, interviews, selection, and pre-employment processes, as needed.
• Coordinate onboarding and orientation processes, as needed, to help ensure an effective and welcoming employee experience.
• Administer assigned benefits, leave, and employee support processes and respond to employee questions in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain accurate employee records and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of HR information system data.
• Coordinate and support training and development programs for employees and leaders throughout the facility.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, and company requirements.
• Lead or participate in special HR projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible human resources experience, preferably at the Senior HR Generalist level or in a comparable role.
• Experience supporting employee relations matters, workplace investigations, performance management, and corrective action.
• Working knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and human resources best practices.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with employees, union representatives, supervisors, and leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and handle sensitive matters with professionalism.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and human resources information systems.
• Current authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Human resources experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working in a unionized workplace and administering a collective bargaining agreement.
• Experience supporting grievances, labor-management meetings, and collective bargaining preparation.
• Experience using ADP or SAP SuccessFactors.

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

About Us.
Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 2.9 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.

Read more at www.ahlstrom.com.