Director of Human Resources - Manufacturing - Central MA

Director of Human Resources

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Human Resources will lead the HR function and serve as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team. This individual will be responsible for developing and executing organizational strategies that support growth, performance, employee engagement, and long-term business success. Business operations are mainly in the US, but also with smaller employee activities in Europe and Asia. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role requiring equal comfort in the boardroom and on the manufacturing floor. The successful candidate will play a critical role in building scalable HR infrastructure while fostering a high-performance, employee-focused culture. Main duties and responsibilities include:

• Lead all aspects of Human Resources across a multi-site manufacturing organization.
• Partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership team on workforce planning, organizational design, succession planning, and talent strategy.
• Build scalable HR processes, policies, systems, and infrastructure to support growth.
• Drive employee engagement, retention, leadership development, and performance management initiatives.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, compensation, workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and talent acquisition.
• Establish meaningful people metrics and workforce KPIs to support data-driven decision-making.
• Support recruiting initiatives across manufacturing, technical, engineering, commercial, and leadership functions.
• Oversee international HR activities while partnering with local advisors to ensure compliance with country-specific employment requirements.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and employee ownership.
• Partner with operational leadership to maintain a safe, productive, and engaged manufacturing environment.
• No current direct line management, but open to adding additional resource at an appropriate time in the future.

In return for a competitive remuneration package, the successful candidate will possess the following:

• 15+ years of progressive Human Resources experience
• Significant experience within manufacturing, industrial, engineered products, or related operational environments
• Experience supporting a substantial hourly and direct-labor workforce
• Appetite to roll up sleeves and get involved at grass roots level
• Strong employee relations and leadership coaching capabilities
• Experience building HR systems, policies, processes, and organizational infrastructure
• Demonstrated success partnering with executive leadership teams and influencing business strategy
• Exposure to multi-site, international, or global operations.
• Strong business judgment combined with a practical, hands-on leadership style.

Preferred qualifications include:

• SHRM or SPHR certification.
• Experience within an employee-owned or ESOP environment.
• Experience supporting periods of growth, transformation, or organizational scaling.

$150,000 to $ 160,000 base salary, dependent upon experience, 10% performance related annual bonus, 401K plan with company contributions, exposure to global operations across North America, Europe, and Asia, employee ownership participation, healthcare benefits, with large proportion paid for by employer for spouse and family, opportunity to lead Human Resources for a growing international manufacturing organization, direct partnership with the CEO and executive leadership team, significant influence on business transformation, workforce development, and organizational growth, long-term career growth within a stable and expanding organization.