Our client is seeking an HR Director – Employee Relations & HR Operations who serves as a strategic and hands-on HR leader responsible for driving employee relations, HR operations excellence, workforce engagement, compliance, and benefit administration across a multi-site industrial environment. This role partners closely with executive leadership and plant operations to support business objectives, foster a positive workplace culture, and ensure consistent HR practices in a fast-paced, performance-driven organization.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience in employee relations, HR operations, and workforce management within manufacturing, chemicals, industrial, or oil & gas environments. Experience supporting private equity-backed organizations is strongly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Relations Leadership
- Lead and oversee complex employee relations matters, including investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and performance management.
- Partner with business leaders to proactively address workplace concerns and minimize employee relations risk.
- Develop and implement strategies that promote employee engagement, retention, and a positive work culture.
- Ensure consistent application of company policies, procedures, and employment practices across all locations.
- Provide coaching and guidance to managers on employee relations, performance management, and leadership effectiveness.
HR Operations & Compliance
- Direct HR operational processes including onboarding, offboarding, employee records management, HR systems, and policy administration.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
- Maintain and enhance HR policies, procedures, and controls to support organizational growth and operational efficiency.
- Monitor HR metrics and workforce analytics to identify trends and recommend actionable solutions.
- Partner with legal counsel and leadership on employment-related risk management.
- Strong benefit administration experience
Business Partnership & Organizational Effectiveness
- Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and plant management teams.
- Support organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent strategies.
- Drive change management initiatives associated with growth, acquisitions, restructurings, and business transformation efforts.
- Collaborate with operations leaders to align workforce strategies with production and business objectives.
- Support integration activities related to acquisitions and organizational changes.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop HR team members.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence within the HR function.
- Champion diversity, inclusion, employee development, and leadership development initiatives.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including significant employee relations and HR operations leadership.
- Experience supporting manufacturing, chemical processing, industrial, refinery, petrochemical, energy, or oil & gas operations.
- Strong knowledge of employment law, investigations, performance management, and workforce compliance.
- Experience supporting multi-site operations and plant-based workforces.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and partner effectively with executive leadership and operational leaders.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in private equity-backed organizations.-REQUIRED
- Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and organizational transformations.
- Professional HR certification (SPHR, PHR, SHRM-SCP, or SHRM-CP).
- Experience with HRIS systems, workforce analytics, and HR process improvement initiatives.