HR Director - Manufacturing - $100k-$125k

HR Director

Our client is a respected, growth-oriented manufacturer with a long-standing history, recognizable products, and an expanding global presence. Following recent strategic investment and expansion initiatives, the organization is evolving into a more modern, growth-focused enterprise. This newly created HR Director position offers the opportunity to build and elevate the HR function during a pivotal stage of its evolution. Reporting directly to the COO, the HR Director will serve as a strategic business partner to senior leadership while remaining hands-on in day-to-day HR operations. The role will lead key initiatives across organizational effectiveness, employee performance, workforce planning, labor relations, and leadership development. Candidates must have experience working with union populations. A major focus of the role will be evaluating, optimizing, and managing the company's benefits programs and HR vendors. The HR Director will own relationships with healthcare carriers, brokers, retirement plan providers, and other service partners, with responsibility for identifying cost-saving opportunities, improving vendor performance, negotiating contracts, and enhancing the employee value proposition. This individual will lead benefits-related RFPs, vendor transitions, and implementation projects while partnering closely with leadership on data-driven decisions related to healthcare, insurance, retirement plans, and HR technology investments. Candidates must have direct ownership of benefits strategy and vendor management. Hands-on experience is required; candidates whose benefits functions were primarily managed through shared services or external consultants will not be a fit.

The successful HR Director should have:

• Ability to go on-site five days a week.
• 7+ years of experience in human resources management within manufacturing or similar industry.
• Proven experience supporting unionized workforces and partnering effectively with plant leadership.
• Hands-on HR leader who is equally comfortable operating at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Demonstrated success implementing performance management programs, improving processes, and building HR infrastructure.
• Strong background in benefits strategy, including healthcare, insurance, retirement plans, broker relationships, and vendor management.
• Experience negotiating vendor contracts, leading RFPs, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and improving service delivery.
• Track record of leading organizational change, managing transformations, and influencing senior leadership teams.

What's on offer:

• Newly created HR Director role with significant visibility and influence.
• Direct partnership with the COO and senior leadership team.
• Opportunity to build and modernize HR processes from the ground up.
• Ability to make a measurable impact on a unionized manufacturing workforce.
• Lead organizational transformation during a period of growth and change.
• Competitive salary ranging from $100,000 to $125,000.
• Full health benefits.

Interested? Apply today.