Akkerman, Inc., headquartered in Brownsdale, Minnesota, is a privately-owned, worldwide manufacturer of pipe jacking and tunneling equipment that accurately installs a variety of underground infrastructure. Akkerman offers a comprehensive benefit package featuring health insurance, paid vacation and holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan, competitive wages, and a safe, clean, team-oriented working environment. Akkerman Inc. is an EEO employer.
Location: Southeast Minnesota
Company Type: Mid-sized OEM Manufacturer
Reports To: President
Job Summary
Akkerman is a well-established, 50+ year-old OEM manufacturer with a strong reputation and a
people-first culture. As we continue to grow, we are creating our first dedicated Human
Resources role to better support our employees, strengthen our organization, and allow our
leadership team to focus on core operational responsibilities.
Today, HR-related responsibilities are shared across leadership—particularly within Finance
and departmental managers. While effective, this approach is not scalable and pulls key
contributors away from their primary roles.
We are seeking an experienced, hands-on HR professional to build and lead our HR function.
This individual will focus on recruiting, employee development, culture, and manager
support—helping Akkerman continue to grow while preserving and enhancing what makes it a
great place to work.
This is a high-impact role for someone who wants to build, improve, and take ownership of
people operations within a stable, growing manufacturing company.
Key Responsibilities:
HR Leadership & Strategy
- Establish and lead the HR function, aligning HR strategy with company goals
- Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on organizational development, workforce planning, and employee engagement
- Build scalable HR policies, procedures, and best practices
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development
- Develop and manage recruiting strategies for hourly and salaried roles
- Improve on-boarding processes to enhance new employee experience
- Identify training and development opportunities across the organization
- Support leadership in succession planning and workforce development
Employee Relations & Culture
- Champion and enhance the company’s strong, values-driven culture
- Serve as the primary resource for employee relations, conflict resolution, and coaching
- Promote employee engagement, retention, and communication initiatives
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
- Maintain employee records and HR documentation
- Oversee workplace policies, safety collaboration, and investigations as needed
Compensation & Benefits
- Partner with CFO/Controller to support benefits administration (health insurance, retirement plans, etc.)
- Monitor wage trends and provide insight to ensure competitive and fair compensation practices
- Assist with payroll coordination and Human Resource Information System (HRIS) improvements as needed
HR Systems & Process Development
- Evaluate, implement, and optimize HR systems (HRIS, performance management tools, etc.)
- Develop metrics and reporting to support data-driven decisions
- Streamline HR processes for efficiency and scalability
Qualifications
- 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in manufacturing or industrial environments
- Experience building or significantly improving HR processes and systems for both hourly (production) and salaried workforces
- Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally with leadership teams
- Hands-on, self-starter mindset with the ability to operate both strategically and tactically
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field
- HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR)
- Experience in small-to-mid-sized or family-owned businesses
Why This Role Matters
This position is designed to:
- Free up managers and leadership to focus on core operations
- Improve hiring, on-boarding, and employee development
- Strengthen consistency in how employees are supported and managed
- Enhance and scale Akkerman’s strong culture
- Position the company for future growth
We expect the right candidate to quickly become a key contributor—helping us build a more structured, proactive, and people-focused organization.
Ideal Candidate Profile
This role is ideal for an HR professional who:
- Wants ownership and autonomy to build something meaningful
- Thrives in a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves environment
- Values culture, people, and long-term organizational health
- Is equally comfortable setting strategy and executing day-to-day HR responsibilities
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Comprehensive benefits package (health, retirement, PTO, etc.)
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
