Utility Operations Manager Jobs in Lenoir, NC (NOW HIRING)

Utili-Serve, LLC is a family-owned utility substation contractor based in the Greater Charlotte area (Conover, NC). We have built our reputation on doing difficult, specialized work at a high standard. We are not interested in growing for the sake of it. We are interested in being the best at what we do.

If you join us, you will work directly with company leadership, back-office staff, and field staff. You will own your role from day one and have room to grow as you earn it. The ideal candidate will embody Utili-Serve's core values of faith, family, service, and stewardship, have unwavering integrity and ethics, and be others focused.

We operate by three principles:

Be the Best — We hold ourselves to a higher standard than our competition, and we expect the same from the people on our team.

Build to Last — We build things and teams that hold up over time. We are not a revolving door. We invest in the people who invest in us.

Better Than We Found It — Whether it is an employee, job site, or process, we leave things in better shape than we found them.

Job Summary:

The Human Resources Operations Manager (HROPM) is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day HR functions, ensuring efficient and compliant HR processes across the organization. The role focuses on general HR team oversight, optimizing HR systems, managing employee lifecycle operations, and driving process improvements to enhance the overall employee experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily tactical/transactional HR operations including onboarding and offboarding (end-to-end employee lifecycle management), payroll/finance coordination, benefits administration, and employee records management.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal employment laws and regulations (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, ADA) and maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Direct and administer leave programs including FMLA, short-term and long-term disability, workers’ compensation, and other company-specific leave policies.
• Manage and optimize HR systems (HRIS), ensuring data integrity, accuracy, reporting capabilities, system efficiency, and secure record-keeping.
• Develop, implement, execute, and continuously improve HR policies, procedures, and workflows.
• Lead HR operational projects such as system implementations, process automation, and organizational initiatives.
• Partner with leadership and other departmental managers to support workforce planning and organizational effectiveness.
• Coach and counsel supervisors/managers and HR team on performance management conversations, corrective action plans, and termination process to ensure consistency and legal compliance.
• Formulate and analyze HR metrics and data to advocate data-driven decision-making and improve operational performance.
• Develop, mentor, and supervise HR team (currently comprised of an HR Generalist and Coordinator/Recruiter) to meet departmental goals and accomplish organizational objectives, fostering a high-performance and service-oriented team.
• Manage employee benefit enrollment processes (initial and open enrollment), vendor relationships, plan audits, and billing reconciliation.
• Champion employee relations by ensuring consistent application of policies, procedures and practices that promote a positive and productive employee experience.
• Advise and support employee engagement initiatives, including event planning, recognition programs, and culture-building activities.

Educational Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 5 - 8 years of progressive HR experience with depth in talent acquisition/development, employee lifecycle operations, benefits administration, leave administration, safety compliance, and employee relations
• Strong knowledge of HR practices, employment laws, and compliance requirements
• Experience with HRIS platforms (e.g., Paycom, ADP, Workday)
• Proven ability to manage projects and drive process improvements
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Prior experience in the utility power services construction sector desired

Preferred Certifications:

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP

Key Competencies:

• Operational excellence
• Attention to detail
• Strategic thinking
• Leadership and team development
• Change management
• Data-driven decision-making

Work Environment:

• Unique forty-hour (40) hour, four (4) day workweek, Monday - Thursday
• Reports to Human Resources Director and collaborates closely with all company leadership
• Typically, office-based with occasional travel to other company locations and field-based projects
• May require extended hours during peak HR cycles (e.g., staffing demands, open enrollment, audits)

Compensation/Benefits:

• Competitive annual earnings consisting of a base salary paid biweekly along with annual bonus opportunity
• Generous benefits package