HR Manager (Part Time) - R.W. LaPine

R.W. LaPine Part Time HR Manager Role Description

R.W. LaPine is a fourth generation Mechanical Contractor currently covering Mid & Southwest lower Michigan with our headquarters located in Kalamazoo. As an established leader in the Plumbing, Piping, HVAC Commercial Service and Custom Metal products businesses, R.W. LaPine continues to experience significant growth in the markets we serve. We are looking for an experienced HR professional to build and lead our HR function on a part-time basis as the company continues to grow.

Role Summary:

The HR Manager is responsible for leading the human resources function at R.W. LaPine providing strategic and hands-on HR leadership in a construction-industry environment. This role partners closely with the CFO and operational leadership to develop and administer HR policies, ensure compliance with federal and Michigan employment law, and build consistent, well-documented HR practices across a workforce that includes office and field staff. This is an ideal role for an experienced HR professional who wants a meaningful leadership role without a full-time commitment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary HR point of contact for both Kalamazoo and St. Joseph locations, ensuring consistent policy application across sites.
• Partner with the CFO and leadership team on workforce planning, compensation structure, and organizational design (org charts, reporting lines, job descriptions).
• Develop, maintain, and administer HR policies, the employee handbook, and standardized documentation (e.g., corrective action reports, onboarding checklists, offboarding procedures).
• Ensure ongoing compliance with federal, state, and local employment law, including Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), FLSA, FMLA, ADA, and OSHA recordkeeping requirements as they apply to office and field personnel.
• Lead recruiting and onboarding for office personnel in partnership with hiring managers.
• Own performance management processes, including corrective action documentation, performance reviews, and manager coaching on employee relations issues.
• Administer employee benefits programs, open enrollment, and leave management in coordination with brokers/vendors.
• Manage HR data and recordkeeping (personnel files, I-9s, certifications, licensing) with an eye toward improving data quality and consistency.
• Evaluate and help select HR, HRIS, and organizational chart tools to reduce manual processes and improve reporting accuracy.
• Investigate and help resolve employee relations issues, escalating and documenting appropriately.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive HR experience. Construction, skilled trades, or industrial services experience a plus.
• Working knowledge of Michigan employment law, including ESTA, and federal employment law (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, OSHA).
• Comfortable building policies, templates, and workflows or improving existing ones.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word) and Adobe Acrobat.
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred, not required.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and communication skills; ability to work independently and manage competing priorities within a limited weekly schedule.
• Ability and willingness to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Physical Demands:

• Requires standing, walking, stair climbing, and lifting up to 15 pounds.
• This position requires the ability to use a computer for extended periods of time.

R.W. LaPine is an equal opportunity employer and for this role offers:

• Paid Time Off
• 401K with 100% match up to 3% and 50% match for next 2% after 1,000 hours worked