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Rural King

Family-owned retail chain offering rural goods

Human Resources Business Partner

Full-TimeDeadline 10/6/27
$67k - $85k/yr+ Bonus eligible
Junior
Mattoon, IL, USA
HybridTravel to locations within the assigned area, including multiple overnight stays as business dictates.
People & HRHR Generalist & Employee Relations

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 2 years of human resources experience, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
  • Professional Human Resources Certification, or the ability to obtain certification within a year.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of current employment and compliance laws.
  • Experience with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Experience evaluating information to determine compliance with standards, laws, and regulations.
  • Ability to adapt communication style and tone to interact effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and at various organizational levels.
  • Verbal and written communication skills to convey ideas, instructions, and information clearly and concisely.
  • Ability to adapt to changing priorities, unexpected challenges, and evolving business needs.
  • Ability to review and analyze information meticulously, identifying errors or inconsistencies to maintain accuracy.
  • Experience making sound decisions in a professional context by evaluating options, considering relevant factors, and achieving desired outcomes.
  • Time-management skills, including planning, scheduling, and allocating resources to meet objectives.
  • Ability to maintain a seated or standing position for extended durations.
  • Ability to lift 15 pounds periodically.
  • Ability to navigate and access all facilities.
  • Ability to communicate verbally with others in person and via electronic devices.
  • Close vision for computer-related activities.
Responsibilities
  • Cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with district leaders and human resources leads, providing expert guidance on human resources processes, policies, and support within assigned districts.
  • Guide district leadership in conducting associate investigations and making recommendations on next steps; consult with the human resources director and legal department on escalated associate relations matters.
  • Maintain positive scorecard results across the district and provide targeted development where needed.
  • Partner with human resources partners to stay current on policy changes and labor laws.
  • Partner with store teams to ensure compliance with federal and state employment regulations, including I-9 forms and employment of minors.
  • Conduct audits, communicate findings, and collaborate with district human resources leads, store managers, and district managers on areas for improvement.
  • Partner with risk management and store leadership to ensure safety and training objectives are met.
  • Partner with the district on company initiatives, including Rural King Visa, RK Rewards, and RK Plus Protection.
  • Lead initiatives to increase associate engagement, decrease turnover, and promote internal promotions.
  • Collaborate with store management, district managers, human resources leads, and the talent acquisition team on staffing and on attracting, retaining, and promoting associates aligned with company culture and values.
  • Partner with store management, district managers, human resources leads, and the organizational and leadership development team on succession planning and talent development initiatives.
  • Use discretion and independent judgment in daily decisions while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
  • Participate in learning initiatives, including training programs, workshops, and webinars, to acquire knowledge, refine skills, and stay current on developments.
  • Provide proactive, professional support to internal and external contacts by addressing inquiries, concerns, and issues promptly and effectively.
  • Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the company’s stated values.
  • Travel to locations within the assigned area as needed, including multiple overnight stays as business dictates.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

About the company

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Rural King

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Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

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Founded

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Get referred to Rural King

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • June 2026 Mattoon expansion commits $75 million and retains 719 existing jobs.
  • Virginia approved $40 million for Henry County, signaling regional logistics demand and confidence.
  • September 2026 openings in Brunswick, Lincoln, and Elmira prove ongoing geographic expansion momentum.

What critics are saying

  • Clearfield lawsuit attacks firearms sales practices after a 2024 gun purchase and 2024 murder.
  • Henry County must deliver $40 million investment and 150 jobs by 2029 or lose incentives.
  • The new headquarters and distribution buildout strains execution across Illinois, Virginia, and multiple store openings.

What makes Rural King unique

  • Mattoon-founded since 1960, Rural King targets rural America with farm-to-home assortments.
  • The 2026 Mattoon campus centralizes leadership, merchandising, IT, and a 1,500-seat event center.
  • Rural King pairs stores with rewards, self-checkout, and tractor-to-guns category breadth.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Mental Health Support
  • Wellness Program

Company News

WBOC
Oct 15th, 2026
Rural King potentially coming to Salisbury Mall.

Rural King potentially coming to Salisbury Mall. * colby moore * oct 15, 2026 updated 45 mins ago. SALISBURY, Md. - Officials announced that Rural King, a farm and home retailer, is tentatively planning to open a new location at the Salisbury Mall. The joint announcement comes from Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano, Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor, and the Maryland Department of Commerce. Leaders say the plan is pending final agreements and necessary approvals. No final opening date has been established. Rural King has more than 150 locations. The store offers agricultural supplies, tools, hardware, lawn and garden products, livestock and pet supplies, outdoor equipment, clothing, and household essentials. County Executive Giordano says this marks an exciting step in the ongoing effort to revitalize the mall. "For years, our residents have wanted to see something positive happen at the Salisbury Mall," Giordano added. "We heard those concerns, and collaboratively we have been actively working to attract businesses that will invest in our community. While there are still steps to be completed before anything is finalized, this is real progress and a direct result of our economic development efforts. Rural King would be a tremendous fit for Wicomico County, and we will continue working to help turn this opportunity into a reality." The announcement follows economic development outreach at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) convention in Las Vegas in May 2026, where County Executive Giordano and local economic development representatives met directly with Rural King representatives to discuss opportunities for expansion into Wicomico County.

Star-Gazette
Sep 29th, 2026
City of Elmira 'susceptible to fiscal stress,' state comptroller says.

City of Elmira 'susceptible to fiscal stress,' state comptroller says. Elmira Star-Gazette Sept. 29, 2026, 5:07 a.m. ET * The New York State Comptroller's Office has again identified the City of Elmira as being susceptible to fiscal stress. * Factors contributing to the city's financial strain include rising health insurance and retirement costs. * The city's 2026 budget included a 6% property tax increase and used over $900,000 from surplus funds to balance. The state Comptroller's Office is sending up red flags about the City of Elmira's financial health - again. The Comptroller's Office released its annual list of municipalities statewide that are under fiscal stress or at risk for financial difficulty, and the City of Elmira is among them. The report breaks down the municipalities into three categories, those facing significant fiscal stress, those experiencing moderate stress, and those susceptible to fiscal stress. Elmira is in the latter category, as it was last year, and is among eight municipalities ranked as being susceptible to fiscal stress. The ranking is based on a fiscal score greater than 45, calculated using both financial indicators such as fund balances, operating surpluses or deficits, and fixed costs, and environmental indicators such as population, poverty and employment. Using those guidelines, Elmira's overall score for the fiscal year 2025 was 53.8, compared to 47.1 for 2024. It's environmental rating in last year's report was moderate, while this year's designation was significant. "Every year we have to file a budget report. They're looking at expenditures, revenues, fund balances," said Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell. "Ours (fund balance) is dwindling. The smaller it gets the more stress the city will experience." The City Council in January approved a nearly $46.7 million 2026 budget that included a 6% property tax increase and more than $900,000 taken out of surplus funds to balance the spending plan. There are several reasons the city has had to dip into its fund balance, Mandell said. Among the factors were increases in health insurance costs and retirement benefits, and changes Chemung County made in the way sales tax revenue is distributed, he said. "The state cut (pension) contributions by employees. That's $1 million more a year we have to pay," Mandell said. "That's a big impact on us." The new Rural King retail outlet that opened last week on Elmira's Southside will provide a boost to sales tax revenue, Mandell said, as will a planned new travel center on Church Street when it opens. Otherwise, the city is trying to cut corners wherever it can, he added. Despite its struggles, Elmira is in better shape than the municipalities on the significant stress list, including the Village of New Hempstead in Rockland County with a fiscal score of 86.7, or the City of Albany with an 85.0 fiscal score. But Mandell said the outlook doesn't look promising for most communities unless some changes are made. "New York has got to change the way it does business," he said. "Otherwise all upstate municipalities will go down the tubes." The full fiscal stress report is available online at osc.ny.gov.

Nexstar Media Inc.
Sep 25th, 2026
Rural King celebrates official grand opening in Elmira.

Rural King celebrates official grand opening in Elmira. Posted: Sep 25, 2026 / 04:29 PM EDT Updated: Sep 25, 2026 / 04:29 PM EDT ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) - Elmiras' new Rural King store has been up and running for a few weeks but officially had its grand opening. There were a variety of local vendors, elected officials, and the owner of Rural King. Rural King sells a variety of items that include guns, ammunition, dog food, clothes, tools, and much more. "Well, it's awesome because it's got everything you wanna have in one place," said Marie Baunan, a Rural King customer. "From food to clothes to dog supplies I'm excited because it's very busy it makes you really wanna check everything out and we love it." "Oh, mercy they got a lot of stuff I don't know how to explain it they just got a lot of stuff it's fun," said Judy Eberle, a Rural King customer. "They got stuff I never knew they had its fun its gonna take a while to get used to it." The owner of Rural King said the company picked Elmira for a reason, and it hires local. "A lot of rural customers and just a great area you know all of our numbers said we could do great business here and serve a lot of customers so that's why," said Alex Melvin, the Owner of Rural King. "To join into the community and not be a part of it that would be crazy right, so I think it's just common sense we always try to use local folks." The new Rural King is the first store in New York State. It operated more than 150 stores throughout the Midwest and Southern United States. According to the City of Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell, the store is expected to bring in $20 million in revenue each year.

Star-Gazette
Sep 25th, 2026
'Awesome prices.' Rural King opens first New York location in Elmira.

'Awesome prices.' Rural King opens first New York location in Elmira. Illinois-based retailer Rural King held a grand opening ceremony Friday, Sept. 25 for its new store at the former Tops Friendly Market site in Elmira. Elmira Star-Gazette Sept. 25, 2026, 3:02 p.m. ET An Illinois-based farm and home retailer chose Elmira to make its New York state debut, and when its new store officially opened Friday, people couldn't wait to see what all the buzz was about. Rural King Farm and Home Store, founded in 1960 in Matoon, Illinois and still headquartered there, held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25 for its latest outlet at 299 S. Main St. in Elmira, the former Tops Friendly Markets plaza. Local officials, business leaders and others gathered in front of the building - vacant since Tops closed that location in 2018 - for the occasion, which featured third-generation Rural King owner and Chairman Alex Melvin. Rural King has more than 160 outlets in 18 states, including Pennsylvania. When looking for new areas to expand, Elmira looked like a perfect fit, Melvin said. "We saw an opportunity with the building here, and we plugged the numbers into our data, and it said that we could do really good business in this market, and you know they didn't lie," he said. "The numbers were right and we got a lot of great rural Americans that need our supplies, and response has been great." Rural King isn't just a farm store, Melvin said. It carries everything from sporting goods and power tools to products for livestock and pets, he said. "We've got everything that you could imagine. Even for those that live in town, we've got a great lawn and garden section for the springtime," Melvin said. "We've got birdseed, we've got guns and ammo, we've got dog food, we've got feed, we've got workwear and clothing. "It's a rural America store for not just those that live in the country but those that live in rural America in towns," he said. "So come on down. We've got awesome prices." While Melvin believes Rural King is a perfect fit for Elmira, local officials enthusiastically agree. "They came right in and cleaned this place up. I've been inside. It's amazing," said Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell, who said the new store is expected to have at least 60 employees. "Taking a building that's been vacant for years and putting it back online, it's huge for our community," added Joseph Roman, president of Southern Tier Economic Growth. "Everybody lined up to help this project." Hundreds of shoppers poured into the new Rural King outlet after the grand opening ceremony to check out the wide variety of items. Among the consumers was Dave Miller, of Waverly, who was excited to hear Rural King was coming to Elmira. "We've been to them before. They have some stores in Pa. We were in one a while ago," Miller said. "It's good they're coming in here. Their prices are good. They do have a lot of good things."

Mass Market Retailers
Sep 21st, 2026
Rural King to open first New York store in Elmira.

Rural King to open first New York store in Elmira. With a legacy spanning more than six decades, Rural King has established itself as a cornerstone of the communities it serves September 21, 2026. 8:01 AM MATTOON, Ill.- Rural King, a family-owned retailer dedicated to the rural lifestyle, announced the opening of its first New York store in Elmira, marking the company's entry into the state. Grand opening festivities will take place Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27, featuring Rural King specials and competitive prices on items throughout the store. New customers who enroll in RK Rewards at the Elmira store during grand opening weekend will be automatically entered to win one of four $500 Rural King gift cards. Customers can also enjoy a complimentary bottle of Rural King water during their visit. With a legacy spanning more than six decades, Rural King has established itself as a cornerstone of the communities it serves. The new Elmira location at 299 S. Main St. includes updates designed to enhance the shopping experience, including mobile and self-checkout options, while maintaining the personal touch that defines Rural King's customer service. "Opening our first store in New York is an exciting milestone for Rural King, and we're proud to become part of the Elmira community," said Rural King Senior Vice President of Merchandising Susan Samuelson. "We look forward to introducing customers throughout the area to the wide selection, everyday value and friendly service Rural King has been known for more than 65 years." The Elmira store carries brands including Carhartt, Stihl, Ariat, Wrangler, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Walnut Creek Foods and Henry Rifles. To serve a wide range of customer needs, Rural King offers products for livestock, pets, birds, automotive needs, power equipment, power tools, grilling, food and snacks, and cleaning products. As the seasons change, customers can find heating and cooling items, outdoor patio décor, pools, toys, home décor and sporting goods. As a community-oriented retailer, Rural King is committed to supporting its communities, including youth organizations such as 4-H and FFA, as well as veterans and first responders through partnerships with organizations such as the Gary Sinise Foundation. The company's commitment to fostering meaningful connections extends beyond its storefronts, embodying its core values of teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement.