Director Human Resources — Manufacturing Operations

The Director of Human Resources, Manufacturing Operations, will lead the people and labor strategy for our Wisconsin-based manufacturing operations. Based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, this role supports a complex, multi-plant manufacturing environment of approximately 2,200 employees and serves as a key member of the operations leadership team. Reporting to the Senior Human Resources Director, Global Operations with a strong matrixed partnership to the Vice President of Global Manufacturing, this leader will provide executive HR counsel, operational partnership, and deep labor relations expertise across a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Translate operational priorities into people strategies that support safety, quality, productivity, engagement, retention, and business performance; Lead HR strategy and execution across a complex, multi-site manufacturing environment, ensuring alignment with enterprise HR priorities and site-specific operational needs; Provide counsel on organizational design, workforce planning, leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, succession planning, and change management; Use workforce data, employee insights, and operational metrics to identify trends, diagnose root causes, and recommend practical solutions that improve business outcomes; Provide guidance on complex employee relations matters, investigations, corrective action, performance management, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation; Ensure consistent and compliant execution of HR policies, employment practices, labor agreements, and applicable federal, state, and local employment laws; Support employee welfare, engagement, and retention initiatives that enhance the employee experience and improve operational continuity; Maintain current knowledge of labor law, employment law, collective bargaining trends, and emerging labor relations practices; Lead labor strategy, collective bargaining preparation, contract negotiation support, implementation planning, and ongoing collective bargaining agreement administration for unionized worksites; Provide expert guidance to leaders on contract interpretation, past practice, labor obligations, work rules, and consistent application of collective bargaining agreements; Coach plant leaders and HR team members on managing in a unionized environment, including contract administration, documentation, discipline, investigations, and dispute resolution; Partner with operations leaders to build talent pipelines for hourly, salaried, skilled trades, supervisory, and leadership roles; Strengthen succession planning, leadership development, and talent review processes across the manufacturing organization; Support organizational design and capability-building efforts that improve speed, accountability, consistency, and operational effectiveness; Champion a culture of continuous improvement, inclusion, engagement, accountability, and high performance; Partner with Talent Acquisition and site leaders to improve recruitment, onboarding, retention, and workforce readiness; Use employee engagement insights, absenteeism trends, turnover data, and other workforce metrics to identify opportunities and develop targeted action plans; Lead, coach, and develop a team of HR professionals supporting manufacturing operations; Set clear priorities, expectations, and standards for HR service delivery, business partnership, labor relations support, and employee experience; Build HR capability in labor relations, investigations, leader coaching, data analysis, change management, and manufacturing partnership; Foster a collaborative, accountable, responsive, and high-performing HR team culture; Ensure the HR team operates with integrity, confidentiality, sound judgment, business acumen, and credibility with leaders and employees at all levels

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business, or a related field; 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience in a manufacturing, industrial, supply chain, or operations environment; Significant labor relations experience supporting a unionized workforce in a manufacturing or production setting; Demonstrated experience administering collective bargaining agreements and advising leaders on contract interpretation, grievances, investigations, discipline, and dispute resolution; Prior experience leading or materially supporting collective bargaining negotiations; first- or second-chair negotiation experience strongly preferred; Experience managing arbitration, mediation, employment charges, labor disputes, and other complex employee/labor relations matters in partnership with legal counsel; Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop HR professionals; Strong knowledge of employment and labor law, including practical application in complex operational environments; Strong business acumen with the ability to connect people strategies to operational priorities and business outcomes; Proven ability to influence senior leaders, build trust across a matrixed organization, and communicate effectively with executives, plant leaders, HR teams, employees, and union representatives; Strong analytical, problem-solving, prioritization, and decision-making skills; Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, multi-site manufacturing environment with competing priorities and sensitive employee/labor matters

Nice to have

Advanced degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, Business, Organizational Development, or related field; HR or labor relations certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable credential; Experience supporting large-scale manufacturing operations, multi-site operations, or global operations; Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, continuous improvement, or other manufacturing operating systems; Bilingual English/Spanish capability; Experience using HR analytics, workforce metrics, HRIS platforms, and data-driven insights to support decision-making

Benefits

Annual discretionary bonus; Medical; Dental; Vision; Paid vacation; 401k up to 4% match; Health Savings Account with company contribution; Well-being program; Product purchase discounts; Relocation