The work we do matters.

Every day, the equipment built inside our 250,000-square-foot Oklahoma City facility goes to work in some of the toughest environments on earth — mobile and stationary generators, blenders, and switchgears. 

Behind every piece of that equipment is a team of 280+ welders, machinists, engineers, assemblers, and leaders who take fierce pride in building things that last. We're part of Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) a publicly traded industrial leader with a century-long legacy of operational excellence, safety, and doing right by our people.

That's where you come in.

About the role

We're looking for a Senior HR Business Partner who wants to do the best HR work of their career — not from behind a desk, but on the shop floor, in the leadership huddle, and at the strategy table.

This isn't a policy-and-paperwork job. You'll be the trusted right hand to our manufacturing leaders, the voice employees know they can count on, and a builder of the culture that turns a great company into a legendary one. If you've ever felt like your HR seat should come with more influence, more visibility, and more chances to actually move the needle — pull up a chair.

What you'll own

Be the partner leaders can't run the business without
You'll sit shoulder-to-shoulder with our plant leadership, helping them think bigger about their people, coach harder on performance, and navigate the messy middle of running a fast-paced manufacturing operation. When a leader has a tough call to make, you're the first call they make.

Build the workforce that builds the equipment
From sourcing and onboarding to apprenticeships, upskilling, and succession — you'll help us attract the next generation of skilled trades talent and develop the frontline supervisors and future leaders who will run this place for the next 20 years.

Champion a culture employees brag about
You'll be visible. Boots on the floor, hard hat on, hearing what's really going on. You'll shape engagement, recognition, and the everyday moments that make people want to stay. When tough conversations or investigations are needed, you'll handle them with judgment, fairness, and care.

Turn data into decisions
Turnover trends, safety signals, engagement scores, staffing risk — you'll translate the numbers into clear, actionable insights that help leaders run smarter. You don't just report what happened; you tell us what to do next.

Keep us strong on the fundamentals
You'll make sure we're rock-solid on compliance, leave programs, ADA, FMLA, workers' comp, attendance, and the HR operational backbone that lets everything else work. The basics are done brilliantly.

What success looks like in your first year
• Leaders describe you as "essential”, not "helpful."
• Frontline supervisors are measurably stronger at coaching, accountability, and engagement.
• We see the right talent moving up, and the right risks getting addressed early.
• Turnover and engagement trends are moving in the right direction — and you can prove it with data.
• The culture on the floor feels a little more like the one we aspire to every day.

What you bring

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, OD, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience — bonus points if it's in manufacturing, energy, distribution, or another operationally intense environment
• Real fluency in employee relations, investigations, performance, talent, and org effectiveness
• An analytical brain and a coach's heart
• Experience supporting hourly/skilled trades workforces and frontline leaders
• Comfort with AI, workforce analytics and modern HR tech

Why UE Manufacturing
• Safety first, always. Every employee, every shift — safety is non-negotiable and built into how we work.
• Real impact. Our facility is one of the largest of its kind — three 60-foot paint booths, 38 bays, 16 overhead cranes, and 280+ teammates who build to spec for customers worldwide.
• A seat at the table. You'll partner directly with senior operations leaders and have a line of sight to the business decisions that matter.
• Room to grow. Kirby is a place where careers — not just jobs — get built.

Ready to build something that lasts?
If you want to do HR work that shows up in safer plants, stronger leaders, prouder employees, and a healthier business, we'd love to meet you.
Apply today and help us build the workforce that builds the equipment that powers America.