Company: Wells Enterprises (a Ferrero Company)
Functional Area: P&O
The Role
The Senior P&O Operations & Compliance Manager provides leadership for P&O operations and enterprise-wide P&O compliance programs, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws while driving operational excellence across the P&O function. This role partners with Legal, Payroll, Benefits, People Business Partners, business leaders, and external vendors to develop compliant P&O policies, mitigate organizational risk, oversee audits, manage P&O Shared Services, and implement process improvements. The position serves as a trusted advisor on employment law, P&O governance, and regulatory compliance while leading initiatives that enhance the employee experience and strengthen operational effectiveness.
What You’ll Do
P&O Compliance & Governance
Lead enterprise P&O compliance initiatives to ensure adherence to employment laws, regulations, and company policies.
Monitor changes in employment legislation and regulatory requirements, assess organizational impact, and recommend appropriate actions.
Develop implementation strategies for new regulatory requirements and guide cross-functional teams through execution.
Maintain P&O governance standards, compliance frameworks, and operational controls.
Coordinate the organization's Affirmative Action Program (AAP) in partnership with external consultants.
Oversee employee records management and records retention practices to ensure legal compliance.
Policy Management
Partner with Legal to develop, review, and update employee handbook policies and P&O procedures.
Maintain and update P&O toolkits, standard operating procedures, and policy documentation.
Ensure consistent application of P&O policies across the organization.
Training & Organizational Compliance
Design and implement P&O compliance education programs.
Develop and maintain required compliance training, including Respect in the Workplace and Employee Handbook training.
Monitor completion of mandatory compliance training and implement corrective actions where necessary.
Recommend new learning initiatives based on legislative and regulatory changes.
Employment Law & Employee Relations
Partner with Legal to manage responses to EEOC, state agency, and other government employment claims.
Manage P&O -related Ethics Hotline investigations and coordinate appropriate resolutions.
Participate in ADA accommodation discussions with Benefits and business leadership, ensuring compliance with applicable laws.
Track accommodation requests and monitor case outcomes.
Immigration & Employment Authorization
Serve as the P&O subject matter expert for employment authorization and immigration compliance.
Partner with external immigration vendors to manage non-sponsored work authorization processes.
Ensure timely completion, documentation, and tracking of employment authorization requirements.
Provide guidance to leaders and employees regarding work authorization compliance.
P&O Operations & Shared Services
Lead P&O Service Center operations to ensure efficient, high-quality service delivery.
Develop operational metrics, dashboards, and reporting, including P&O Service Center call log analytics.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance P&O processes, service delivery, and operational efficiency.
Support payroll and retirement plan compliance activities, including Nonresident Alien (NRA) reporting.
Expat compliance, including but not limited to assistance with work authorizations/VISA, understand, interpret the Expat guidelines and answer questions from posed by the expat employees.
Audit & Risk Management
Lead internal P&O compliance audits, including I-9 audits and personnel file reviews.
Facilitate customer social compliance audits, including Walmart and Costco assessments.
Coordinate audit preparation, corrective action planning, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
Identify organizational compliance risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Leadership & Strategic Partnership
Partner with P&O leadership, Legal, Payroll, Benefits, and business leaders to align P&O operations with organizational objectives.
Provide expert guidance on P&O compliance, employment law, and operational best practices.
Lead cross-functional projects that improve governance, reduce risk, and strengthen P&O service delivery.
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What You’ll Bring
The base pay range for this position is $107,176 to $171,0336 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on location, experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This pay range represents the anticipated salary for this position at this time.
Wells Enterprises is an EEO/AA employer M/F/Vet/Dis
Headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, Wells Enterprises, Inc. is the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1913 by Fred H. Wells and run by the Wells family for generations, the company is an independent operating company of the Ferrero Group, one of the global leaders in sweet packaged foods. We produce more than 900 ice cream and frozen novelties treats. Wells produces Blue Bunny® ice cream, frozen novelties and specialty frozen desserts along with the iconic Bomb Pop® brand. So much ice cream is produced in Le Mars by Wells that the city was designated as the Ice Cream Capital of the World® by the Iowa legislature!
Blue Bunny branded items are distributed across the nation. Ice cream enthusiasts can find their favorite Blue Bunny products in grocery, convenience and club stores, on mobile vending trucks and in foodservice settings (such as educational institutions, hospitals and restaurants). The company’s corporate office and two ice cream plants are located in Le Mars. Our two other ice cream plants, one in Henderson, NV and the other in Dunkirk, NY help supply our frozen treats across the United States.
Over 4,000 production, sales, office, and support personnel make up the Wells family. With its state-of-the-art production facilities the company is cited by many industry experts as one of the most technically advanced in the industry.
