Heather Coate
Shelbyville,KY
Summary
Human Resources professional with 3 years of progressive experience serving as a strategic advisor to leadership in complex manufacturing environments. Trusted to lead employee relations, workplace investigations, union labor relations, FMLA/ADA/Workers’ Compensation administration, OSHA compliance, payroll compliance, 401(k) audits, and leadership development while supporting workforces of up to 200 employees. Recognized for improving HR processes, reducing organizational risk, delivering over $50K in annual cost savings, and building strong partnerships between employees, leadership, and union representatives.
Overview
1
1
Certification
1
1
year of post-secondary education
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Human Resources Generalist
Owens Illinois Glass
07.2025 - Current
- Serve as the primary HR partner for a 200-employee unionized manufacturing site, driving workforce strategy, training front-line leaders, and ensuring compliance across three collective bargaining agreements.
- Train and coach supervisors on payroll compliance procedures across three separate union contracts, improving accuracy, reducing disputes, and strengthening payroll integrity.
- Support grievance handling and employee investigations in a union environment, preparing documentation and advising leadership on resolution steps consistent with CBA terms.
- Oversaw leave programs (FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Comp), coordinating with production schedules and return-to-work policies to minimize disruptions.
- Delivered targeted training sessions to supervisors on union rules, disciplinary procedures, and contract interpretation, increasing management confidence and reducing grievance escalations.
- Facilitated monthly labor-management meetings, proactively addressing workplace concerns and strengthening relationships with union stewards.
- Acted as primary contact for union representatives on employee issues, disciplinary matters, and contract clarifications, ensuring clear communication and compliance.
- Contributed to the development of HR policies and procedures by collaborating with leadership and staff.
- Investigated employee complaints or grievances related to workplace issues or violations of policy.
Human Resources Generalist
POLARIS Laboratories
Indianapolis, IN
09.2024 - 07.2025
- Partnered with front-line leadership and department heads to align people strategies with business goals, facilitating effective HR solutions in a fast-paced environment.
- Oversaw recruitment and onboarding processes, collaborating with department managers on staffing needs while ensuring HRIS data accuracy and regulatory compliance.
- Improved onboarding efficiency by streamlining systems and aligning hiring processes with workforce planning and regulatory requirements.
- Resolved complex employee relations issues through thorough investigations, coaching, and policy enforcement, promoting a positive and compliant work culture.
- Led process improvement initiatives that reduced administrative inefficiencies and minimized payroll and onboarding errors, resulting in over $50,000 in annual cost savings.
- Optimized payroll workflows for U.S. and international locations, enhancing accuracy and compliance through effective use of ADP WFN and external vendors.
- Delivered quarterly leadership training on key compliance areas (FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, Workers’ Comp, PWFA), increasing managerial readiness and legal awareness.
- Led company-wide 401(k) audits, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and minimizing risk.
- Partnered with managers to align HR support with business objectives and served as a trusted advisor to front-line leaders.
Human Resources Generalist
Roller Die + Forming
Green Cove Springs, FL
02.2023 - 02.2024
- Led end-to-end recruitment and onboarding processes in partnership with department managers, reducing time-to-fill for key production roles and improving new hire retention.
- Managed employee leave cases (FMLA, Workers’ Comp) and benefits administration, ensuring compliance and a seamless employee lifecycle.
- Oversaw performance appraisal cycles, guiding supervisors on best practices for evaluations and documentation to enhance coaching and talent development.
- Advised managers on HR compliance, ensuring consistent policy application and effective navigation of sensitive employee relations.
- Conducted workplace investigations and advised managers on corrective action, contributing to improved documentation and reduced risk of legal exposure.
- Designed and launched employee engagement and recognition programs, improving morale and strengthening retention during a period of operational change.
- Delivered annual OSHA compliance training and safety briefings, supporting a culture of workplace safety and meeting all regulatory audit requirements.
- Acted as the on-site HR lead for a multi-department manufacturing facility, supporting leadership and employees in areas of staffing, compliance, and performance.
Education
MSHR - Human Resources Management
University Of Southern New Hampshire
02.2026 - 02.2027
B.S - Health Services Administration
University of Central Florida
Skills
- ADP Workforce NowADP retirement
- Ceridian Dayforce
- SAP,SuccessFactors
- HRN Performance Pro
- Turnover
- Time-to-Fill
- Engagement Metrics
- 401(k) Audits
- I-9 compliance
- Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, PivotTables), Word PowerPoint, SharePoint
Certification
SHRM – CP, Society of Human Resources Management
Skills
ADP Workforce Now, ADP retirement, Ceridian Dayforce, SAP, SuccessFactors, HRN Performance Pro, Turnover, Time-to-Fill, Engagement Metrics, 401(k) Audits, Payroll Accuracy, I-9, EEOC, OSHA, Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, PivotTables), Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint
Timeline
MSHR - Human Resources Management
University Of Southern New Hampshire
02.2026 - 02.2027
Human Resources Generalist
Owens Illinois Glass
07.2025 - Current
Human Resources Generalist
POLARIS Laboratories
09.2024 - 07.2025
Human Resources Generalist
Roller Die + Forming
02.2023 - 02.2024
B.S - Health Services Administration
University of Central Florida