Senior Manager, Culture & Employee Experience - Culture & People Experience

Overview: 

The Sr. Manager, Culture & Employee Experience is responsible for developing and executing initiatives that strengthen organizational culture, employee connection, and overall employee experience. This role leads internal HR communications, employee engagement activities, culture integration, employee recognition, appreciation programs, and HQ-based employee celebrations.

Working collaboratively across the HR function and the broader organization, the Manager ensures employees are informed, connected to the company’s mission and values, and recognized for their contributions. The role translates organizational priorities and cultural values into meaningful employee communications, programs and experiences that foster a consistent sense of belonging and organizational pride.

Reporting to the Sr. Director, People Rewards & Systems, this position manages the planning, coordination, execution and evaluation of culture and employee experience initiatives, ensuring programs are aligned with organizational priorities, delivered consistently, and administered within established budgets and guidelines.

Key Responsibilities:

Culture & Employee Experience 

• Develop and execute initiatives that reinforce the company's mission, vision, values, and desired workplace culture.
• Create meaningful employee experiences that strengthen connection, belonging, organizational pride, and alignment with company values.
• Lead culture integration initiatives that help employees understand and adopt shared organizational values, practices, and expectations.
• Partner with HR team colleagues and business leaders to incorporate culture and employee experience priorities into key organizational initiatives.
• Develop strategies that ensure engagement efforts effectively reach corporate, frontline, warehouse/manufacturing, remote, and geographically dispersed employees.

HR Communications

• Develop and manage internal HR communications that keep employees informed about organizational changes, leadership updates, policies, programs, and employee initiatives.
• Manage employee-facing communication channels, including UKG announcements, emails, driver tablets, tv screens and other internal communication resources.
• Collaborate with Marketing, where applicable, to align internal messaging and visual identity with broader brand standards.

Employee Engagement & Connection 

• Design, implement, and coordinate employee engagement initiatives that encourage participation, connection, collaboration, and organizational pride.
• Develop an annual calendar of engagement activities, employee celebrations, culture-building opportunities, and company-wide initiatives.
• Partner with business leaders and People Ops Partners to identify opportunities to improve employee experience.
• Coordinate employee feedback activities, pulse surveys, engagement surveys, and related follow-up communications as assigned.
• Use employee feedback, participation data, and program outcomes to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Employee Recognition & Appreciation

• Manage employee milestone recognition, including service anniversaries, tenure milestones, and other designated employee celebrations.
• Coordinate employee appreciation initiatives and recognition campaigns throughout the year.
• Establish consistent processes, communication schedules, eligibility guidelines, and program standards for recognition activities in partnership with Business and People Ops Partners.
• Track program participation, costs, and employee feedback to evaluate effectiveness and recommend enhancements.

HQ Events & Celebrations

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of employee events, including the annual HQ holiday party, employee appreciation events, and other organizational celebrations.
• Manage event budgets, vendor relationships, venue selection, logistics, invitations, registration, communications, and post-event evaluations.
• Develop annual event plans and timelines to support effective resource allocation and execution.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure events align with company culture, business priorities, and established policies.
• Ensure events are inclusive, professionally executed, and appropriate for the organization's workforce and operating environment.
• Assess event feedback and participation to identify opportunities to improve future employee experiences.

Program Management & Administration

• Develop and maintain annual plans, program calendars, budgets, project timelines, and implementation plans for culture and employee experience initiatives.
• Manage multiple initiatives concurrently, ensuring deliverables, timelines, quality standards, and budget expectations are met.
• Establish consistent processes, templates, guidelines, and documentation to support scalable administration of employee programs.
• Coordinate vendors, external partners, and internal resources as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Communications or related field.
• 5+ years of HR culture-building experience
• Demonstrated experience delivering employee engagement programs and events.
• Expert-level program management skills.
• Spanish fluency preferred.
• Experience working in distribution, manufacturing, logistics, or similar operational environments preferred.

Work Environment:

• Regular travel to company locations is required to maintain a visible presence across the organization, engage with employees and leaders, and support culture, engagement, recognition, and employee experience initiatives. Travel frequency will vary based on business needs.
• Requires walking the floor, engaging with employees across multiple shifts and occasional early morning, late-evening or weekend support. 

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities. However, the Company reserves the right to adjust, modify, or reassign work tasks and responsibilities as needed to meet changing business needs, operational requirements, or other factors.    

Baldor Specialty Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other legally protected status.

Additional information

About Baldor

Since our beginnings as part of the iconic Greenwich Village retail store, Balducci’s, Baldor has upheld its original promise—to curate and deliver the finest ingredients from around the world. For more than 30 years, we have supported the food industry using cutting-edge logistics, a modern supply chain, and an unwavering commitment to service. Today, we are the trusted distribution partner for top hotels, restaurants, country clubs, hospitals, nursing homes, and culinary professionals across the region.

Benefits

Baldor is committed to supporting the well-being, stability, and long-term success of our employees. We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• Paid Time Off: Vacation, sick time, paid company holidays & floating holidays
• Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Company-Paid Life Insurance
• Company-Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Employee discounts on Baldor products
• Commuter Benefits
• Career growth and development opportunities

Note: Benefits may vary based on position and employment status.

EEO Statement

Baldor believes in equal employment opportunity for all. We continue to build a culture of belonging where everyone is important within a more inclusive workforce and a better world. It is our policy that there will be no discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, political ideology, ancestry, the presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disabilities, or other legally protected status. Baldor will ensure that all employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements.

Join Our Team

If you want to make an impact at a rapidly growing organization, we’d love to meet you. Apply today and help shape the future of specialty food distribution with Baldor!