Human Resources Generalist

Polymer Concepts Technologies PBY, Inc. KRS Division dba Kaydon Ring & Seal (“KRS”) is responsible for Aerospace and Industrial applications. KRS has a customer portfolio that includes all major players in the Aerospace and Industrial industries. Our business is fully customer focused,with products specifically designed for an engine/airframe application and then produced in small quantities and small lots on highly flexible equipment. Extreme product range fragmentation, complex product design, very high-quality standards and traceability requirements are the peculiarity of KRS.

Job Summary

The Human Resources Generalist – Illinois Operations is responsible for providing hands-on human resources support to the KRS Aerospace Elastomeric Solutions (Elgin) and ROW (Addison) Illinois sites. This role partners closely with site leadership and the Human Resources Manager to administer and execute HR programs, ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and collective bargaining agreements, and support a positive and productive work environment across union and non-union populations.

This position is operational in nature and is expected to maintain a regular on-site presence, serving as a trusted HR resource for employees and leaders while escalating complex or high-risk matters appropriately.

Essential Job Functions

- Support and comply with all facility safety rules, policies, and procedures.
- Administer day-to-day human resources programs and activities including onboarding, employee relations support, performance management assistance, and policy interpretation.
- Serve as a primary HR point of contact for employees and supervisors at the Illinois sites, providing accessible and effective support across diverse workforce populations.
- Partner with site leadership to address employee relations issues, documenting concerns and escalating complex matters to the Director of Human Resources as appropriate.
- Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including EEO, ADA, FLSA, FMLA, and Illinois-specific requirements.
- Maintain accurate and timely employee records within the HRIS (Paycor), ensuring data integrity and audit readiness.
- Coordinate recruiting and hiring activities for hourly and salaried roles, including job postings, interview scheduling, onboarding logistics, and new hire orientation support tailored to site-specific workforce needs.
- Support payroll and timekeeping processes by partnering with Payroll and HR leadership to resolve discrepancies and ensure accurate processing.
- Serve as a local resource for employee benefits questions, open enrollment support, and general HR inquiries.
- Support HR operations in both union and non-union environments, including adherence to collective bargaining agreements where applicable.
- Assist with grievance tracking, documentation, and meeting coordination in partnership with HR leadership.
- Maintain organizational charts, HR files, and documentation as required.
- Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, policies, and procedures to enhance efficiency, consistency, and employee experience.

Additional Duties

- Support employee engagement and recognition initiatives in coordination with HR leadership.
- Participate in HR projects and initiatives as assigned.
- Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with business needs.

Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited institution and a minimum of three (3) years of human resources experience; OR
- Associate degree in Business or a related field and a minimum of three (3) years of human resources experience; OR
- High school diploma or GED with a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible human resources experience.

Preferred Qualifications

- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, with the ability to effectively support and communicate within a predominantly Spanish-speaking workforce.
- Experience in a manufacturing or operations environment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
- Experience supporting hourly workforces; union experience preferred.
- Ability to administer or support collective bargaining agreement processes, including grievance and issue resolution.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive matters professionally.
- Experience working with HRIS platforms; Paycor experience preferred.
- Ability to influence and support leaders and employees through change.

Physical Requirements

- Ability to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the facility for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
- Regular on-site presence at Illinois locations (KRS Aerospace Elastomeric Solutions – Elgin, IL and ROW – Addison, IL).
- Work is performed in a manufacturing and industrial environment, including direct engagement with employees on the production floor.
- The role supports sites with diverse, multilingual workforces, including environments where Spanish is the primary language for a significant portion of the employees. The HR Generalist is expected to communicate effectively and build trust across varied employee populations.

Export Control / ITAR Compliance Statement

This position may require access to information and items subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Access to such information is restricted to U.S. persons as defined under applicable law. Employment in this position is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to comply with U.S. export control requirements and, where applicable, the company’s ability to obtain any required authorization.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Polymer Concepts Technologies is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws.

Benefits Highlights:

- Safe Harbor 401k Plan with Company match up to 3.5%
- Medical, dental, vision and voluntary benefits on the 1st of the month following hire date
- PTO
- Company paid life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability
- Temperature controlled work environment -- yes, even on the production floor

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