Our client is seeking a strategic and collaborative Director of Benefits to lead the design, delivery, and evolution of a comprehensive U.S. and global benefits portfolio. Reporting to the senior leader of Total Rewards, this highly visible role partners closely with executive leadership to develop innovative benefits strategies that enhance employee well-being while supporting long-term business objectives.
This leader will balance strategic planning with operational excellence, leading a high-performing team while driving enterprise-wide initiatives related to healthcare, retirement, wellness, compliance, and HR technology.
Job Responsibilities
Develop and execute the organization’s long-term benefits strategy, including health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs.
Lead enterprise initiatives focused on healthcare strategy, retirement program enhancements, employee well-being, and HR technology optimization.
Oversee day-to-day administration of benefits programs across a geographically dispersed workforce, including annual enrollment and program governance.
Partner with Finance, HR, Payroll, HRIS, Legal, Communications, and executive leadership to ensure programs remain competitive, compliant, and financially sustainable.
Manage relationships with brokers, consultants, carriers, and third-party administrators, including vendor selection, contract negotiations, and performance management.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations while maintaining strong governance and audit readiness.
Develop, coach, and mentor a collaborative Benefits team while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and exceptional employee service.
Utilize data and analytics to evaluate program performance, improve the employee experience, and support executive decision-making.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an experienced benefits leader who combines strategic vision with a hands-on, practical approach to execution. They are a trusted business partner who can confidently influence senior leaders, navigate complex organizational environments, and build strong relationships across the enterprise.
Qualified candidates will bring:
8+ years of progressive benefits leadership experience, including people leadership within a complex, multi-site organization.
Deep expertise in health, welfare, retirement, and wellness program design, administration, and compliance.
Strong knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, leave regulations, and benefits governance.
Experience managing vendors, consultants, and benefit partners while balancing employee experience with financial stewardship.
Exceptional analytical, communication, and executive presentation skills.
Experience supporting manufacturing, distribution, logistics, retail, or other geographically dispersed workforces is preferred, along with exposure to Workday and global benefits programs.
Our client is a well-established Minneapolis-based organization, is seeking multiple Principal HR Business Partners to join their HR Business Partner team. These roles support a specialized technical division and Distribution/Operations, reporting to a Director of HR Business Partners. This is a high-visibility opportunity for a strategic HR leader ready to influence at the senior leadership level and help elevate an already strong team.
This isn’t an order-taking HRBP seat. With direct access to senior business leaders and a mandate to shape talent strategy rather than just execute it, this role is built for someone who wants to operate as a true consultant and change agent, not a transaction processor. Add in a collaborative, high-retention culture and real runway to influence at the executive level, and this is the kind of seat strategic HR leaders don’t often get the chance to step into.
About the Opportunity: SkyWater Search is conducting a search on behalf our client, which is a well-established, growth-oriented investment and holding company in the St. Cloud area, as they look to hire an Office Manager to be the face and operational heartbeat of their beautifully renovated 40,000 sq ft office space. This role blends reception, hospitality, event planning, and general office and tech support for a close-knit team of about 10 people on-site daily, with the space also hosting board meetings, retreats, and stakeholder events throughout the year.
The Role: This is a highly visible, relationship-driven role for someone who takes pride in creating a polished, welcoming environment. You’ll be the first point of contact for guests and team members, manage the daily rhythm of the office (lunch ordering, snack and drink stocking, catering setup), coordinate quarterly retreats and an annual stakeholder event, and serve as a champion for a local nonprofit community run. You’ll also provide general tech support and act as a steady, organized presence in a space that can be a lot to manage on your own.
SkyWater Search Partners is representing a high-impact opportunity to join a successful, growth-oriented organization as the Human Resources Site Manager supporting a high-performing manufacturing plant of approximately 400 employees. This individual will serve as the senior HR leader on-site, working closely with plant leadership to drive business results through effective people strategies.
Acting as a true strategic partner, the HR Site Manager will lead all aspects of HR while fostering a strong, engaged, and compliant workforce. This role requires a hands-on leader who can operate both strategically and tactically, partnering with corporate HR to deliver scalable solutions aligned with business objectives.
Talent Acquisition Specialist / Recruiter Manufacturing Company | Princeton, MN On-site 5 days/week $65,000 – $85,000 base + discretionary bonus *Only scheduling interviews with Minnesota-based candidates
A growing, multi-site manufacturing organization in central Minnesota is seeking a Talent Acquisition Specialist to lead full-cycle recruiting across multiple business units and help build the next chapter of its workforce.
This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible role where you’ll have direct impact on hiring strategy, employer branding, and workforce growth. The company has recently stabilized after market shifts and is now positioned for growth across diversified industries, including manufacturing, construction, energy, and industrial sectors.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a hands-on environment, enjoys building talent pipelines from the ground up, and wants to move beyond simply posting jobs into true talent sourcing and community engagement alongside a great HR leader to support their growth and development.
What you’ll own:
Full-cycle recruiting across hourly, skilled trades, engineering, operations, and professional roles
Proactive sourcing and pipeline development for manufacturing talent
Building employer brand awareness through job fairs, school partnerships, trade programs, and community outreach
Partnering closely with operations leaders and hiring managers across multiple locations
Supporting onboarding and candidate experience initiatives
Leveraging recruiting tools, AI, and process improvements to modernize talent acquisition efforts
What we’re looking for:
3+ years of recruiting experience, ideally in manufacturing, skilled trades, industrial, construction, or related industries
Proven ability to source passive talent and build pipelines proactively
Experience hiring for both hourly and salaried roles
Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills
Comfortable working onsite daily (with some flexibility over time) and engaging directly with plant leadership and employees
Experience with recruiting systems/ATS (Paycom experience is a plus)
Why consider it:
Visible, high-impact role with direct partnership to HR leadership
Opportunity to shape recruiting strategy and employer brand
Exposure to multiple business units and diverse hiring profiles
Long-term growth potential into broader HR, training, and talent development work
Strong benefits package including 401(k), PTO, and company-supported wellness and community initiatives
If you’re a recruiter in Minnesota who enjoys building, influencing, and creating momentum in a growing business, I would love to connect and meet with you.
SkyWater Search Partners has been retained by a respected, employee-owned organization to identify an HRMS Manager to serve as the organization’s Workday leader and internal subject matter expert.
This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible role following a recent Workday implementation and help shape the future of HR technology, process improvement, reporting, and employee experience across a growing national organization.
The HRMS Manager will own the day-to-day administration, optimization, configuration, and enhancement of Workday while partnering closely with HR, Payroll, IT, Finance, and business leaders to maximize system capabilities and improve organizational effectiveness.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
Newly elevated role with significant visibility and ownership
Recent Workday implementation with opportunity to stabilize, optimize, and enhance the platform
Broad Workday scope across HCM, Recruiting, Talent, Performance, Learning, Compensation, and Payroll
People-first, employee-owned culture
Opportunity to influence business processes and HR strategy through technology
Strong executive support and investment in Workday
SkyWater’s client is seeking a Payroll & HR Manager to join its leadership team at its headquarters in Jordan, Minnesota.
This is a unique opportunity to step into a highly visible role supporting a growing specialty organization that performs restoration and preservation projects across the United States. The company is known for its family-oriented culture, long-tenured employees, approachable leadership team, and commitment to investing in people, processes, and technology.
The Payroll & HR Manager will serve as the organization’s subject matter expert for payroll operations while also supporting key HR functions including onboarding, employee support, compliance, benefits administration, and HR systems.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing day-to-day execution with process improvement and wants the opportunity to help modernize systems while supporting a dynamic field-based workforce.
What You’ll Be Doing
Lead end-to-end payroll processing for a multi-state workforce
Ensure compliance with certified payroll, prevailing wage, and Davis-Bacon requirements
Manage employee records, onboarding, offboarding, and HR documentation
Serve as a resource for employees and managers regarding payroll, benefits, and HR policies
Partner with leadership to improve payroll and HR processes
Support implementation and optimization of Arcoro ATS and onboarding systems
Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations
Coordinate benefits administration and employee communications
Develop reporting and metrics to improve operational efficiency
What We’re Looking For
5+ years of payroll experience, preferably within construction, engineering, specialty trades, or project-based environments
Experience processing multi-state payroll
Exposure to certified payroll, prevailing wage, or Davis-Bacon requirements strongly preferred
Understanding of job costing, multiple pay rates, workers’ compensation classifications, and field employee payroll administration
Working knowledge of HR processes including onboarding, employee relations, benefits, and compliance
Strong attention to detail and process orientation
Ability to work onsite and collaborate with employees across the organization
Why Join?
Established and respected specialty organization with decades of success
Family-oriented culture with approachable leadership
Significant visibility and ownership within the organization
Strong transition and mentorship from current leader
Opportunity to influence systems, processes, and future growth
Investment in technology and operational improvement initiatives
Salary Midpoint: $97,500 based on experience
If you’re a payroll professional who enjoys ownership, problem-solving, and supporting a growing organization, I would love to connect with you. Please apply using the link below or send me your resume and availability to meet virtually at DSmith@skywatersearch.com
Are you a strategic HR leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment? SkyWater is partnering with a leading manufacturer in the Detroit Lakes area to hire their Human Resources Manager. In this role, you’ll partner closely with business leaders to shape talent strategies, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and foster a high-performing, engaged workforce. This is an opportunity to make a visible impact by connecting people strategies to business results while supporting both hourly and salaried employees’ day-to-day HR needs.
SkyWater is partnering with a long-standing industrial technology client who is looking for an experienced HR Business Partner to support their growing business in the north metro.
In this role, you would have the benefit of being part of a large, highly skilled, and collaborative HR team while also having the autonomy, ownership, and accountability of supporting your own client group on all talent management matters.
This role operates withing a manufacturing plant environment and required to be onsite 5 days/week.
Our client is a well-established organization with a strong operational footprint and a collaborative, team-oriented culture. The company is seeking a strategic and hands-on HR leader to oversee all aspects of Human Resources while serving as a key member of the Leadership Team.
The Director of Human Resources will lead the overall HR strategy and execution for the organization, overseeing talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, payroll oversight, workers’ compensation, return to work programs, compliance, organizational development, and HR operations.
This individual will partner closely with leadership to support business objectives while fostering a positive, high-performing, and employee-focused culture. The ideal candidate is both strategic and operational, with the ability to influence leaders, drive organizational initiatives, and remain hands-on in day-to-day HR functions.
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