Director, Human Resources

EMR Metal Recycling•Camden, NJ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

EMR is one of the world’s leading metal recycling companies with a history spanning decades. At EMR, our employees are the heart and soul of our organization. We are committed to creating a workplace that prioritizes the well-being and safety of everyone. Our company provides a supportive and inclusive community where everyone's ideas and contributions are valued. We believe in teamwork and collaboration. Our mission is to provide our customers with efficient and reliable metal recycling services while minimizing the environmental impact of our operations. EMR recycles ten million tons of material annually, everything from beverage cans to aircraft carriers. We work with a wide variety of metals including copper, aluminum, brass, and stainless steel and can recycle it into more than 200 different types of new sustainable raw materials. EMR offers our team a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans with company match, wellbeing benefits, employee assistance program and more. Join us and be a part of a team that puts people first! EMR is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director, HR to lead Human Resources across our Eastern business and My Auto Store operations. This role is ideal for an experienced HR leader who thrives in industrial, fast-paced environments and can successfully lead organizations through growth, transformation, and change. They will partner directly with executive and operational leadership to deliver practical HR solutions that improve workforce stability, leadership capability, and operational performance across a high-volume, blue-collar workforce. This is not a corporate-only HR role. We are looking for a visible, hands-on leader who is comfortable in scrap yard and warehouse settings, supports leaders in real time, and delivers measurable business results. This role will be worked 100% onsite in Camden, NJ. There is no opportunity for remote or hybrid. The pay for this position is $170 – 180k/yr.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field.
10+ years of progressive HR experience.
4+ years in HR leadership supporting operations or multi-site environments.
Experience in industrial, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, recycling, or similar blue-collar environments.
Proven experience working with unionized workforces and collective bargaining agreements.
Demonstrated success leading through organizational change.
Strategic thinker who executes operationally.
Comfortable leading in fast-paced, evolving environments.
Strong employee relations and conflict resolution expertise.
Ability to influence leaders at all levels.
High emotional intelligence and strong business acumen.
Data-driven decision maker with HRIS and analytics experience.
Exceptional communication and leadership presence.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or HR certification (SHRM-SCP or SPHR) preferred
Experience operating within a matrixed organization preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted business partner to executive and operational leadership.
Align HR strategy with operational priorities and business goals.
Act as the primary liaison between regional operations and the U.S. HR function.
Lead workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and change initiatives.
Coach leaders on accountability, performance management, and people leadership.
Lead employee relations strategy in a high-volume operational environment.
Manage complex investigations, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.
Interpret and administer collective bargaining agreements.
Partner with union representatives to maintain productive labor relationships.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
Oversee recruitment strategy for hourly and salaried roles.
Build strong hiring pipelines to support operational staffing demands.
Partner with Talent Acquisition to improve quality of hire and reduce vacancies.
Analyze labor market trends and staffing metrics.
Develop frontline leaders and operational managers.
Drive succession planning for critical operational roles.
Support engagement, retention, and workforce development initiatives.
Champion leadership capability in evolving operational environments.
Ensure consistent execution of HR programs and policies.
Utilize workforce analytics to drive data-based decisions.
Improve HR processes, reporting, and operational efficiency.
Translate enterprise KPIs into actionable site-level outcomes.
Support compensation strategy, benchmarking, and pay practices.
Partner with HR Centers of Excellence and Finance on benefits administration.
Help leaders understand compensation and total rewards programs.