Culture & HR Manager

Overview

Arena Staffing has partnered with a growing hospitality manufacturer in the Vernon, CA area (Los Angeles) that is looking for an HR & Culture Manager to help lead their HR function and drive a floor-first culture refresh. This is a newly created, high-impact role with direct access to executive leadership, real ownership, and the mandate to move quickly. If you are the kind of HR leader who can run clean payroll in Paychex Flex
, coach leaders through the hard stuff, and still bring the energy to rebuild morale and connection across teams, this role will feel like a win.

Why you will want this role (the sizzle)

• Industry growth: The hospitality sector continues to expand, and hotels are actively upgrading.
• Stable and resilient: Established business with a long track record in a recession-resistant niche.
• Big impact, high visibility: You will partner directly with executive leadership and influence the entire organization.
• Culture rebuild ownership: Not a “keep the lights on HR” role, you will lead the culture transformation with budget and support.
• Hands-on, fast-paced environment: Entrepreneurial mindset, practical decision-making, new ideas welcomed.
• Supportive team: Tight-knit, professional workplace where relationships and trust matter.
• Real HR scope: Payroll, benefits, compliance, safety, employee relations, internal communications, engagement, all in one seat.
• Business size where you matter: Approximately 100 employees in a manufacturing setting.

Role snapshot

Title: Culture and HR Manager (Bilingual English/Spanish)

Location: Near DTLA CA area, on-site 5 days per week

Schedule: Full-time, exempt

Compensation: $80,000 to $110,000 base (DOE), may stretch for the right candidate

Benefits: Medical (50% employer paid), dental, vision, PTO, paid holidays

Pre-employment checks: Background check and drug screen

You will lead a floor-first culture rebuild while running excellent HR operations. You will be a visible, trusted presence in the plant and a steady operator behind the scenes.

A strong first 90 days includes:

• Building trust through listening tours, consistent floor presence, and clear bilingual communication
• Stabilizing HR fundamentals (payroll accuracy, files, audits, compliance cadence)
• Launching quick culture wins (recognition, manager rhythms, events)
• Delivering a practical Culture Refresh Plan with actions, owners, budget, and KPIs

Culture, engagement, and communications

• Plan and run inclusive engagement moments and recognition programs
• Build manager routines (1:1 cadence, coaching tools, feedback practices)
• Drive bilingual internal communications (floor communications, huddles, town halls)

Payroll and HRIS (Paychex Flex)

• Own end-to-end payroll including off-cycles, audits, year-end, reporting
• Manage timekeeping imports and payroll exports (including GL mapping and audit support where applicable)
• Maintain HRIS data integrity and clean processes

Benefits and leaves

• Manage CFRA, FMLA, PDL, PFL leaves from start to finish with timely notices and documentation
• Educate employees and managers with bilingual materials

Safety and workers’ comp

• Incident response, claims coordination, modified duty and return-to-work
• Maintain OSHA logs and support WVPP documentation and training cadence

Compliance and employee relations

• CA-focused handbook and policy updates, postings, training cadence, recordkeeping
• Investigations, corrective action coaching, conflict resolution with consistent documentation
• I-9 and personnel file audits and ongoing compliance calendar ownership

• Bilingual English/Spanish
  , strong floor presence, clear written communication
• 5 to 7+ years HR generalist or HR manager experience in manufacturing or light industrial (or closely similar)
• Hands-on Paychex Flex payroll ownership (1 to 2+ years), including off-cycles, audits, year-end, reporting, and timekeeping inputs
• Working knowledge of California employment law (wage and hour, meal and rest, leaves, separations)
• Safety and workers’ comp experience (incident response, modified duty and return-to-work, carrier coordination)
• Proven ability to run clean HR operations (payroll accuracy, benefits admin, I-9 and files,…