A leading global provider of self-service solutions is seeking a Operations Manager to lead a critical hub of warehouse, assembly, and logistics operations. This role sits at the center of execution, directly impacting customer delivery, cost performance, and operational scalability.
You’ll oversee a dynamic, project-based environment, not a traditional high-volume manufacturing line, where adaptability, systems thinking, and leadership from the floor are essential. This is an opportunity to bring structure, improve workflows, and elevate performance across a growing operation.
I’m partnering exclusively with my PE-owned client to fill an Accounting Manager role. This organization is growing organically and through acquisition and is proud of their 100% client retention. This person will lead and review operational accounting, reporting, and payroll. This person will have direct contact with C-Suite and the PE group.
Director of Learning & Development Location: Lakeville, MN or Detroit Lakes, MN (Hybrid/Onsite) Travel: Multi-site (4 locations across 3 states; heavier in year one) Compensation: Competitive base salary (midpoint ~$170K) + annual bonus
About the Opportunity We are partnering with a growing, multi-site manufacturing organization to identify a Director of Learning & Development to build and lead enterprise-wide L&D strategy. This is a highly visible role with executive exposure and the opportunity to shape leadership capability, workforce development, and organizational effectiveness across a complex, operationally driven environment.
This leader will play a critical role in elevating how learning shows up across the business, supporting frontline employees, developing leaders at all levels, and aligning talent strategy to business performance.
The Role The Director of Learning & Development will design, implement, and scale learning strategies that drive capability, leadership effectiveness, and operational excellence across multiple manufacturing sites.
This role partners closely with operations, safety, and HR leadership to ensure learning solutions are practical, relevant, and accessible across multi-shift environments.
Key Responsibilities
Build and execute an enterprise L&D strategy aligned to business and operational priorities
Partner with manufacturing and operations leaders to support safety, productivity, quality, and leadership effectiveness
Lead and evolve leadership development programs for frontline leaders through senior leadership
Ensure learning is accessible and effective across all shifts, including nights and weekends
Develop career pathways, succession planning frameworks, and high-potential programs
Lead, coach, and grow the L&D team, with the opportunity to hire additional team members over time
Oversee L&D systems, budget, and external vendor partnerships
Establish metrics to measure learning effectiveness and business impact
Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on workforce capability and development
What We’re Looking For
7–10+ years of progressive Learning & Development experience
Strong background in manufacturing or similarly operational environments
Proven experience supporting multi-shift, frontline and hourly workforces
Demonstrated success building and delivering leadership development programs
Ability to translate business needs into practical, scalable learning solutions
Strong executive presence, facilitation, and stakeholder partnership skills
Experience leading teams and building L&D functions
Why This Role
High visibility with executive leadership
Opportunity to build and shape L&D strategy, delivery, and a team from the ground up
Direct impact on leadership capability and organizational performance
Multi-site exposure with meaningful influence across the business
Our client is local to Minneapolis, under 50 employees, and growing – even during a time of recession. They have been around over 35 years and continue to offer solutions and services that help the betterment of society.
Today, they are looking to hire a Technical Business Analyst to join their Agile team of 6. To be a fit, this person will have experience gathering requirements, data analysis, assisting with QA work, software documentation, and resolving problems with the team among other things. Ultimately, a lot of hats will be worn and will be great exposure to some modern technology (they build software using MVC, Blazor, C#.NET, SQL etc.)
Soft skills are very important as this is a close-knit team, so an outgoing personality will be helpful.
SkyWater Search Partners is looking to add a Director of Architecture, Engineering & Construction Recruiting to our largest and fastest-growing Engineering & Operations practice.
This is a unique opportunity to step into an established and evolving market with an existing book of business, while also having the autonomy to build, grow, and shape your own niche within the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) space. This role will focus on partnering with commercial construction companies, homebuilders, utilities organizations, and residential construction firms to deliver high-level talent solutions.
You will play a key role in driving growth through a combination of client development (50%) and referral-based business (50%), while also helping expand and eventually lead a team within this specialty area.
About SkyWater Search Partners
SkyWater Search Partners has been consistently ranked the #1 Executive Search firm in Minnesota by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and Forbes. We place more professionals in full-time positions than any other Minnesota-based search firm.
We have also earned multiple Best Place to Work awards, as voted by our employees, and pride ourselves on offering a high-performance, relationship-driven culture. Every individual runs a full desk with a focus on results—not activity metrics. We believe in autonomy, accountability, and being true talent partners to our clients.
What Sets Us Apart
Unlimited Earning Potential– We offer one of the most competitive compensation structures in the market, including a strong base salary and uncapped commission—giving you the opportunity to earn as much as you’re driven to achieve.
Technology & Marketing Tools – Every recruiter is equipped with a LinkedIn Recruiter license and a fully integrated Bullhorn ATS. Our in-house marketing team supports personal branding and provides professional-grade pitch materials to elevate your outreach.
Training & Mentorship – We invest heavily in your success through hands-on training with your manager and team, a structured onboarding program, assigned mentors, monthly company-wide trainings, and an open-door policy for ongoing support.
Referred Revenue Opportunities– Collaboration is core to our success. You’ll be eligible to earn commission on revenue you refer across the organization.
Flexibility– We offer a hybrid work model with coordinated in-office days, unlimited PTO, and a high-trust environment that promotes autonomy and accountability.
Culture– Our culture is authentic, collaborative, and fun. From quarterly meetings and happy hours to holiday parties, summer boat cruises, and family events, we prioritize connection. We also give back through community initiatives such as Feed My Starving Children, Adopt a Highway, and Smile Network.
Location: Twin Cities Area Compensation: $70,000 – $80,000 base Schedule: 100% onsite (5 days/week)
About the Opportunity
We’re partnering with a well-established, family-owned manufacturing organization to hire a hands-on HR Generalist. This role is open due to a long-tenured employee retirement and is critical in maintaining the day-to-day HR function.
This is a true HR operations role, ideal for someone who enjoys being close to the business, supporting employees and leaders directly, and owning execution across the employee lifecycle.
What You’ll Do
You’ll serve as the primary operational resource for HR, ensuring processes are executed accurately, consistently, and in compliance.
Key responsibilities include:
Own full-cycle recruiting (job postings, scheduling, offers, onboarding coordination)
Serve as the first point of contact for employee and manager HR questions
Support employee relations and frontline supervisor guidance
Administer benefits processes (enrollments, changes, open enrollment support)
Maintain HRIS data, employee records, and compliance documentation
Support reporting and compliance (EEO-1, OSHA, unemployment, audits, etc.)
Partner closely with payroll on employee changes and leave tracking
Help bring structure to HR operations by documenting processes and creating SOPs
What Success Looks Like (First 3–6 Months)
Independently managing day-to-day HR operations
Confidently handling FMLA/PFML and leave-related questions
Keeping recruiting moving with minimal oversight
Building trust with employees and leaders across the organization
Bringing organization and structure to existing HR processes
What You Bring
5+ years of broad HR Generalist experience
Strong end-to-end recruiting ownership
Deep knowledge of FMLA, PFML, and leave administration
Experience supporting employee relations in a hands-on environment
Ability to manage a high-volume, transactional workload with strong follow-through
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
Experience with HRIS systems (ADP preferred) and Excel
Manufacturing or similar environment experience strongly preferred
Work Environment
100% onsite, this is a highly employee-facing role
Manufacturing setting with both office and production floor interaction
Occasional flexibility needed to support different shifts
Collaborative, team-oriented, and non-corporate culture
What Makes This Role Unique
High visibility within a small HR team (HR Leader + Payroll + this role)
Opportunity to own and stabilize HR operations
Work in a values-driven, family-owned environment where relationships matter
Ideal for someone who prefers hands-on execution over strategy
Who This Role Is (and Isn’t) For
You enjoy being in the details and making HR run smoothly You like being onsite, building relationships, and solving issues in real time You take ownership and don’t need heavy structure to be successful
*Not a fit for someone seeking a remote or hybrid, highly strategic, or heavily resourced HR role
SkyWater has recently partnered with a growing, Minneapolis-based organization that has been around for over 40 years and continued to hire strong technical talent. This organization is a certified B-corp that offers solutions and services that help with the betterment of society.
We are looking to find and hire a Senior Software Developer to join their Agile team of 6. To be a fit, this person will have experience writing production-level software in a C#.NET environment, assisting with QA work, software documentation, and resolving problems with the team. Ultimately, a lot of hats will be worn and will be great exposure to current technologies (i.e. MVC, Blazor, C#.NET, SQL, Entity Framework, etc.)
Soft skills are very important as this is a close-knit team and we’re looking for someone that isn’t afraid to problem solve with minimal direction. Must be local to MN, and cannot require sponsorship.
I have been retained by one of my industry leading industrial manufacturing clients to help them find their next Chief Human Resources Officer. The company is private equity backed and an event will take place over the next couple of years. Reporting to the CEO, this person may be based either in the Twin Cities or Milwaukee, WI. The company measures its sales in the hundreds of millions and is in a significant growth period…they expect a 70% increase in revenue over the next two years based upon current booked business. This role is critical to the company’s success, and this person will own both the strategy and execution of aggressive hiring plans including 50+ direct labor positions by midsummer, that are necessary to keep up with growth. This person will have responsibility for delivering full-scope HR services and for leading the development and execution of the human resource strategic and tactical/operating plans that supports the company’s strategic plans, growth objectives, and leadership principles. This position is an integral and highly visible member of the company’s senior leadership team, building a strong and inclusive culture and human resource capability to make the company an employer of choice and highly successful growth enterprise.
The Chief Human Resources Officer directs overall HR functions in accordance with the objectives and practices of the company and has essential accountabilities for Human Resource Planning and Strategy; Executive and Manager Partnership; Recruitment and On-boarding; Talent Management; Employee Development; Legal; Payroll and Benefits; and Compensation. Together with the leadership team, this person will work tirelessly to make the organization a great place to work.
This job requires a person who is willing to roll up their sleeves and be hands on with their approach providing coaching and leadership to their team. Travel will be roughly one trip per quarter to various facilities. The position offers a base salary of $225K along with a 30% target bonus + LTIP (equity that is tied to an event).
We are thrilled to be partnering with a well-established, family office-backed organization to hire a Tax Manager to join their internal tax team. This is a high-impact role offering the opportunity to step into a leadership position while working on complex tax matters across a diverse and sophisticated portfolio.
This team operates as an in-house tax function supporting real estate investments, operating companies, private equity partnerships, trusts, and foundations.
What you’ll be doing:
Manage tax compliance workflow across a large volume of pass-through entities
Review tax returns and workpapers prepared by staff
Serve as a key point of contact for assigned entities and stakeholders
Oversee tax projections, estimates, and planning initiatives
Conduct technical tax research and communicate findings clearly
Support process improvements and help drive efficiency across the team
Strong project management skills and ability to take ownership
Interest in both compliance and tax planning
What sets this apart:
Leadership role within an in-house tax team
Complex and varied work across multiple industries and entity types
Stable environment with strong visibility and impact
Hybrid schedule (3 days in office, 2 remote)
This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to move out of public accounting into a role that still offers technical depth, but with more balance and long-term stability. Please reach out to hear more – CRabon@skywatersearch.com | 952.767.9025
We are excited to be partnering with a highly stable, family office-backed organization to hire a Senior Tax Accountant to join their in-house tax team. This is a unique opportunity to step out of traditional public accounting while still working on complex, interesting tax matters across a diverse portfolio.
This team supports a wide range of entities including real estate, investment partnerships, operating businesses, trusts, and foundations. The environment is collaborative, steady, and focused on long-term growth.
What you’ll be doing:
Prepare federal, state, and local tax returns across partnerships, S-corps, trusts, and individuals
Support tax projections, estimates, and planning initiatives
Assist with tax research and documentation
Partner with internal stakeholders to understand business activity and tax implications
Contribute to process improvements and ongoing team initiatives
What they’re looking for:
2+ years of tax experience
Strong exposure to pass-through entities (partnerships, S-corps)
Public accounting background preferred
Solid understanding of tax compliance and willingness to grow into planning and research
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines
What sets this apart:
In-house tax role with better work-life balance than public accounting
Exposure to a wide variety of entities and complex structures
Stable, team-oriented environment with long-term growth potential
Hybrid schedule (3 days in office, 2 remote)
If you’re looking to take your public accounting foundation into an in-house role without sacrificing interesting work, this is a great opportunity to explore and I want to talk to you!
CRabon@skywatersearch.com | 952.767.9025
visit us
601 Carlson Parkway | Suite 900
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55305
