Manager, People Operations Business Partner

Great People Making Lifesaving Products

We are currently seeking an experienced Manager, People Operations Business Partner to join our highly skilled, dynamic team in Bemidji, MN.

Nortech Systems is a leading provider of engineering and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical and electromechanical products. We proudly serve mission critical markets, including medical imaging, medical devices, industrial, and aerospace & defense. Nortech delivers exceptional value by solving complex challenges through innovative, customized engineering, design, manufacturing, and data management solutions. Our expertise is in complex cable, PCBA and integrated higher-level assemblies.

Our team is focused on delivering lifesaving products from medical devices which detect and treat cancer to mission-critical components for airplanes and submarines.  Nortech’s customers include some of the biggest names in industry, medical devices and aerospace and defense. We take pride in our team’s role in making products that make a difference.

Pay Range: $80,000 - $100,000 annually, based on experience, skills, and certifications.

What Nortech Offers:

• Competitive compensation
• Outstanding benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance for employee & family, including a 100% company-paid base medical plan for employees; 401k with company match; tuition reimbursement and PTO
• A diverse and inclusive workplace fostering responsible social engagement
• Training and opportunity for advancement

Opportunity for Impact

Reporting to the Director of People Operations, this role is responsible for designing, leading, and executing people strategies both locally and across the enterprise. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for a strategic People Operations professional who regularly engages with employees and leaders while also driving complex initiatives end-to-end and partnering closely with leaders to solve workforce challenges. 

 Please note, this is an individual contributor role.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with business leaders to understand business strategy and translate it into clear, measurable people strategies related to culture and engagement, employee development, organizational design, and site-level workforce changes.
• Analyze internal and external workforce data to inform practical, data‑driven talent decisions, including turnover and retention trends, recruitment effectiveness, employee experience insights, and organizational health indicators.
• Own end‑to‑end, large‑scale People Operations initiatives from problem definition and design through execution, change management, and post‑implementation evaluation.
• Lead and continuously improve key components of the employee lifecycle (including talent acquisition, onboarding, development, performance management, and offboarding) to ensure consistency, scalability, and alignment with business priorities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees on employee relations matters, including performance management, coaching, corrective action, investigations, and terminations, ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance with company policy and employment law.
• Facilitate, develop, and lead local employee communications in alignment with enterprise messaging, including organizational changes, people programs, and key initiatives.
• Ensure alignment with local, state, and federal employment laws and regulations, proactively identifying risk and partnering with leaders to implement compliant, practical solutions.

This role requires:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or closely related field of study.
• Six (6)+ years in progressively complex People Operations or HR roles, including hands-on generalist responsibility and direct ownership of large‑scale strategic initiatives (e.g., organizational change, workforce transformations, new employee experience roll-outs etc.).
• One (1)+ years in a manufacturing environment.
• One (1)+ years project management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and professionally through written materials, presentations, and executive‑level discussions.

Candidates with the following background are preferred:

• Master’s degree in related subject area and/or advanced professional training with certification.
• Eight years’ experience working in a human resources function as described above including leadership and organizational development.
• Experience working in a high-tech manufacturing environment.

Certain positions at Nortech require access to information, or technology that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and other US government security regulations. These laws do not permit access rights to non-US citizens, or to other unauthorized individuals. Therefore, presently, all applicants must be US Citizens, or US Permanent Residents (“green card holders”), and/or otherwise comply with ITAR requirements for access rights, to be considered for a position.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.