HR Recruiting & Retention Specialist

Position Overview

GD Casting Group is seeking a hands-on Human Resources professional to help us attract, onboard, develop, and retain the right people for our manufacturing operations. This role is focused on building a dependable employee pipeline, improving the new-hire experience, and supporting a positive workplace culture that helps employees succeed and stay.

The ideal candidate is organized, approachable, proactive, and comfortable working directly with plant leadership, supervisors, hourly employees, schools, staffing partners, and community workforce programs. This is a practical HR role for someone who enjoys recruiting, employee communication, follow-through, and solving day-to-day people challenges in a manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Recruiting and Workforce Pipeline

· Lead recruiting efforts for hourly, skilled trade, technical, and administrative positions.

· Work with management and supervisors to identify current and future staffing needs.

· Create and maintain job postings, screen applicants, schedule interviews, and coordinate candidate communication.

· Build relationships with local schools, trade programs, workforce organizations, job fairs, and community partners.

· Coordinate with staffing agencies when temporary or contract labor is needed while supporting conversion to direct hire where appropriate.

· Track recruiting activity, candidate status, open positions, and hiring results.

Onboarding and New-Hire Success

· Coordinate the onboarding process from accepted offer through the employee’s first several months.

· Schedule and track pre-employment requirements such as drug screens, background checks, orientation paperwork, and required documentation.

· Partner with supervisors to ensure new employees receive proper introductions, expectations, training schedules, and follow-up.

· Improve the first-day and first-week experience so new employees feel welcomed, prepared, and connected to the company.

· Conduct early check-ins with new hires to identify concerns, remove obstacles, and improve retention.

Retention and Employee Engagement

· Support initiatives that improve employee retention, attendance, morale, and communication.

· Help identify turnover trends and recommend practical improvements to hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and supervision practices.

· Maintain regular communication with employees and supervisors to understand workplace concerns and opportunities for improvement.

· Coordinate employee recognition, service anniversaries, appreciation activities, and engagement programs.

· Support training, development, and advancement pathways for employees interested in growing with the company.

Employee Relations and HR Support

· Serve as an approachable HR contact for employees while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and consistency.

· Assist with attendance follow-up, corrective action documentation, employee questions, and policy communication.

· Maintain accurate employee records, recruiting files, onboarding documentation, and related HR tracking reports.

· Support compliance with company policies and applicable employment requirements.

· Partner with payroll, benefits, safety, and operations leaders as needed to support employees and supervisors.

Qualifications

· Prior HR, recruiting, onboarding, or employee relations experience required; manufacturing or industrial experience strongly preferred.

· Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively with hourly employees, supervisors, managers, schools, and outside partners.

· Highly organized with strong follow-up and attention to detail.

· Comfortable working in both office and plant environments.

· Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee matters professionally.

· Working knowledge of Microsoft Office; experience with HRIS/payroll systems is helpful.

· Knowledge of employment practices, attendance administration, onboarding procedures, and basic HR compliance is preferred.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who enjoys being visible, helpful, and accountable. The right person will not wait for problems to come to them; they will follow up with candidates, check in with new hires, communicate with supervisors, and help create a workplace where employees understand expectations and see a future with the company.

Monday - Friday
1st shift: 7am-3pm
2nd shift: 3pm-11pm
3rd shift: 11pm-7am