Senior Workforce Development and Talent Acquisition Manager

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Head of Human Resources 

Job Summary

The Senior Workforce Development and Talent Acquisition Manager strengthens the company’s ability to attract, develop, and retain skilled talent in a manufacturing environment. This role focuses heavily on hourly and skilled-trade recruiting, onboarding, retention, and building long-term workforce pipelines through school, community, and agency partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

·         Recruitment & Staffing

·         Manage full-cycle recruiting for production and maintenance roles.

·         Develop sourcing strategies, job fairs, and referral programs.

·         Track and report hiring metrics (time-to-fill, turnover, applicant flow).

·         Onboarding & Retention

·         Lead onboarding programs that improve engagement and reduce early turnover.

·         Partner with supervisors to support new hires during their first 90 days.

·         Conduct exit interviews and retention analyses.

·         Workforce Planning & Development

·         Forecast workforce needs and coordinate training for job readiness and advancement.

·         Build partnerships with schools, apprenticeship programs, and workforce agencies.

·         Identify skill gaps and implement targeted training solutions.

·         Community & Employer Branding

·         Represent the company at recruiting events and workforce development meetings.

·         Promote company culture and career growth opportunities.

·         Data & Metrics

·         Maintain dashboards tracking recruiting and retention effectiveness.

·         Present workforce insights and recommendations to leadership.

Success Indicators

·         Staffing levels meet operational demand.

·         Turnover within 90 days reduced.

·         Active local workforce pipeline established.

·         Onboarding supports long-term employee development.

·         Employer brand recognized in community.

Qualifications

·         Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred).

·         10+ years in HR, Talent Acquisition, or Workforce Development within manufacturing.

·         Proven success in hourly/skilled-trade recruiting and retention programs.

·         Experience with workforce planning, data analysis, and HR systems (ATS, HRIS, LMS).

·         Preferred Certifications: SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR.

Core Competencies

Recruiting Execution • Workforce Planning • Onboarding & Retention • Community Engagement • Data-Driven Decision-Making • Communication • Adaptability • Integrity

Work Environment

·         Split between office and manufacturing floor.

·         Regular plant interaction; must follow all PPE and safety protocols.

·         Occasional travel to recruiting and training events.