Human Resources Manager

HR Manager

Peak Construction Group is seeking an experienced HR Manager to lead people operations for our office and field teams across eastern Iowa.

Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa office, with regular visits to active jobsites

Schedule: Monday–Friday office hours; occasional early-morning or evening availability for field crews

About the role

Peak Construction Group, Inc. is a commercial general contractor based in eastern Iowa, delivering a diverse mix of public and private work, from schools, municipal facilities and public infrastructure to multifamily housing and commercial tenant build-outs. We self-perform demolition, rough carpentry, finish carpentry, structural steel erection, precast erection, pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) erection and welding. Our team includes salaried project staff in the office and hourly crews in the field.

The HR Manager is the company's in-house expert on people, pay and compliance. You will run weekly payroll and HR administration in Paylocity, keep our Employee Handbook current, manage benefits and leave, and partner with leadership and project managers on hiring, performance and employee relations. You will also support our safety culture by managing drug-free workplace, injury reporting and workers' compensation processes alongside the field team.

Essential duties and responsibilities

Payroll and HRIS (Paylocity)

• Process weekly payroll in Paylocity for Friday pay dates, including field time entry, overtime, double time and PTO.
• Prepare certified payroll and track wage requirements on public and federally funded (Davis-Bacon) projects.
• Administer garnishments, deductions, direct deposit and year-end W-2 processing.
• Serve as Paylocity system administrator: employee records, onboarding workflows, timekeeping, reports and manager/employee self-service.
• Partner with accounting on job-cost labor allocation and payroll reconciliation.

Recruiting and onboarding

• Manage hiring for office and field roles: job postings, applicant tracking, interview coordination, offer letters and background checks.
• Run new-hire onboarding, including Form I-9 completion within three business days, Iowa new-hire reporting, handbook acknowledgment and orientation.
• Track the 90-day introductory period and benefit eligibility dates for each new hire.

Benefits and leave

• Administer health, dental, vision and 401(k) plans, including open enrollment, eligibility, carrier and broker coordination, and COBRA notices.
• Manage PTO accruals, carryover and milestone awards, and the holiday pay rules in the handbook.
• Administer FMLA, military (USERRA), bereavement, jury duty and personal leaves of absence.

Employee relations and performance

• Serve as the open-door contact for employee concerns; investigate complaints of harassment, discrimination or retaliation promptly and confidentially.
• Advise managers and PMs on corrective discipline, performance improvement plans, promotions and separations.
• Conduct exit interviews and manage resignations, terminations and workforce reductions.
• Maintain compensation structure and job descriptions; support annual reviews and wage adjustments.

Policy and compliance

• Own the Employee Handbook: annual review, revisions, distribution and signed acknowledgments.
• Ensure compliance with federal and Iowa employment law, including FLSA, Iowa Wage Payment Collection Law, Iowa Civil Rights Act, ADA, FMLA and EEO requirements.
• Manage the drug and alcohol testing program in line with Iowa Code 730.5 and the Drug-Free Workplace Act requirements on federal contracts.
• Maintain personnel and medical files, required postings and record retention; support EEO and contract compliance reporting requested by owners.

Safety program, training and compliance

Training

• Build and maintain the annual safety training calendar for office and field employees.
• Deliver or coordinate new-hire safety orientation before employees report to a jobsite.
• Schedule required training and certifications, including OSHA 10/30, fall protection, first aid/CPR, aerial and forklift operator training, rigging and signal person, and competent-person designations.
• Track toolbox talk completion by crew and project, and follow up on missed sessions.

Recordkeeping

• Maintain training, certification and expiration records in Paylocity, and send renewal reminders before credentials lapse.
• Maintain the OSHA 300 log, post the 300A summary each February–April, and complete 301 incident reports; submit electronic injury data when required.
• File incident reports, near-miss reports, witness statements and corrective actions, and keep them for required retention periods.
• Track experience modification rate (EMR), recordable and lost-time injury rates, and other safety metrics for leadership and bid prequalification forms.

Compliance

• Keep company safety policies current with OSHA and Iowa OSHA standards, the AISC Safety Manual and the Employee Handbook.
• Join jobsite safety walks with superintendents and help close out hazards and corrective actions.
• Coordinate responses to OSHA inspections, owner safety audits and general contractor or owner prequalification questionnaires.
• Verify that subcontractor safety documents (safety programs, insurance, training records) are on file before work starts.
• Apply the handbook's safety discipline and fine-sheet process consistently, and document each step.

Injury management

• Coordinate post-incident response, including reasonable-suspicion and post-accident drug testing under Iowa Code 730.5.
• Manage workers' compensation claims, return-to-work and light-duty programs with the carrier, medical providers and field supervisors.

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, including at least 2 years as an HR generalist or manager.
• Hands-on experience processing multi-state or weekly payroll in an HRIS/payroll system.
• Working knowledge of FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, I-9 and Iowa employment law.
• Experience administering group health and 401(k) benefits.
• Sound judgment with confidential information and sensitive employee matters.
• Strong Excel skills and comfort building reports.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to jobsites.

Preferred qualifications

• Paylocity administrator experience.
• HR or safety experience in construction, manufacturing or another field-based industry.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction card; CHST or ASP certification a plus.
• Experience running a construction safety program, including OSHA recordkeeping, training tracking and EMR management.
• Certified payroll and Davis-Bacon wage compliance experience.
• SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP or PHR/SPHR certification.
• Experience with workers' compensation claims.
• Familiarity with Iowa drug testing requirements (Iowa Code 730.5).

Physical demands and work environment

• Primarily office-based, with regular computer and phone work.
• Regular travel to active jobsites in Iowa for orientations, investigations and employee meetings.
• Jobsite visits require wearing PPE, following site safety rules, and working on uneven ground in outdoor weather.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs occasionally (files, onboarding materials, PPE).
• Subject to Peak's Drug and Alcohol Policy and background check prior to hire.

Compensation, benefits and EEO

Salary: Competitive salary, commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

• Company-paid employee premium on the base health plan; dental, vision and dependent coverage available.
• 401(k) plan.
• Paid time off.
• Six paid holidays.
• Weekly pay with direct deposit.

Peak Construction Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

This description reflects the general duties of the position and is not an exhaustive list. Peak may change duties at any time. Employment with Peak is at-will.

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person