Head of HR Partnering, Walkersville Site

Lonza•Walkersville, MD

3d•$155,700 - $181,650•Onsite

About The Position

The Head of HR Partnering serves as the senior Human Resources leader for Lonza’s Walkersville site, aligning people strategies with business objectives to support organizational growth, operational excellence, and employee engagement. The role is a trusted advisor to the Site Head, Site Leadership Team, and people managers, providing strategic guidance across Human Resources and supporting a consistent, positive employee experience. It operates within a matrixed HR model and collaborates with HR Centers of Excellence, People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and HR leadership to deliver integrated HR solutions. The position is based in the Walkersville, Maryland office, with a typical Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. The full-time base annual salary is expected to range from $155,700 to $181,650, with a performance-related bonus and benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, life and disability insurance, employee assistance programs, and paid time off. Compensation depends on the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 8 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including HR business partnering, employee relations, talent management, workforce planning, organizational development, and leadership coaching.
Demonstrated experience supporting senior leaders and leadership teams in a complex, matrixed organization.
Proven experience leading and developing HR teams while fostering a high-performance, service-oriented culture.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, compliance requirements, and HR best practices.
Demonstrated success managing employee relations issues, organizational change initiatives, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness programs.
Experience influencing and partnering with leaders at all organizational levels to drive business results and people outcomes.
Experience implementing HR programs, talent initiatives, and organizational change efforts in alignment with business objectives.
Experience using workforce analytics, talent insights, and business data to make strategic recommendations and inform decisions.
Strong business acumen and ability to translate organizational priorities into actionable people strategies.
Exceptional communication, presentation, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
Strong problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and decision-making capabilities.
Proficiency with HRIS platforms, talent management systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MBA, MS, MA, or related field).
Experience as the lead HR partner for a manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, technical, or similarly regulated environment.
Professional Human Resources certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Site Leadership Team to develop and execute workforce strategies that support business objectives, organizational effectiveness, and site performance.
Advise and coach leaders on employee relations, leadership effectiveness, performance management, talent development, and succession planning.
Lead the implementation and adoption of enterprise HR programs, policies, and initiatives, aligning them with site-specific business needs.
Drive workforce planning, talent assessment, succession planning, organizational design, and capability development.
Consult on complex employee relations matters, investigations, performance concerns, and policy interpretation while ensuring compliance with applicable employment laws and company policies.
Support organizational change and transformation through change management planning, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
Partner with business leaders to identify talent gaps and develop strategies to attract, retain, and develop talent.
Analyze workforce data, talent metrics, and organizational insights to identify trends and recommend actions that improve engagement, retention, productivity, and organizational health.
Promote accountability, inclusion, employee development, and continuous improvement to foster a high-performance culture.
Collaborate with Centers of Excellence, People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, and Learning & Development to deliver integrated HR solutions.
Lead, mentor, and develop local HR team members, ensuring alignment with company priorities and HR best practices.
Champion company culture, employee engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and maintain awareness of regulatory changes.
Support business continuity, workforce planning, and strategic growth initiatives across the site.
Perform other duties as assigned.