HR Manager, Projects

Kohler Co. • Kohler, WI

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The HR Project Leader, Global Manufacturing Transformation partners directly with the Senior HR Director, Global Manufacturing to lead the design, deployment, and execution of strategic HR transformation initiatives across manufacturing operations worldwide. The role integrates enterprise HR initiatives and aligns HR Centers of Excellence (COEs), Global Shared Services (GSS), Kohler Operating System (KOS), and plant HR teams. It also serves as the HR Business Partner for the Global EHS function, providing strategic HR leadership and partnership.

The successful candidate will drive organizational change, establish scalable operating models, implement a common Plant HR structure, and develop frameworks to enhance HR capability, effectiveness, and business impact across manufacturing sites. The role calls for project management, change leadership, stakeholder management, and strategic execution skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• 3–6 years of progressive HR, organizational effectiveness, transformation, or project leadership experience.
• Experience serving as an HR Manager, HR Business Partner, or similar strategic HR leader in a manufacturing or operations environment.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, enterprise-wide transformation initiatives.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple global workstreams simultaneously.
• Proven change management experience, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, and adoption strategies.
• Authorization to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working within global manufacturing organizations.
• Knowledge of HR operating models, shared services, and HR service delivery transformation.
• Experience with organizational design and workforce transformation initiatives.
• Certification in Project Management (PMP), Prosci Change Management, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Experience collaborating with Centers of Excellence, Shared Services, and operational excellence functions.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior HR Director, Global Manufacturing to lead the deployment and execution of HR transformation initiatives across global manufacturing operations.
• Develop and implement transformation roadmaps aligned with business strategy and operational priorities.
• Drive adoption of new HR processes, technologies, service delivery models, and ways of working.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation plans.
• Lead execution of the standardized Plant HR Organizational Structure across global manufacturing locations.
• Coordinate implementation activities, stakeholder engagement, and readiness assessments.
• Partner with regional and plant HR leaders to identify opportunities for alignment, efficiency, and organizational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with GSS, KOS, and HR Centers of Excellence to design and implement a future-state Plant HR Operating Model.
• Define roles, responsibilities, governance processes, and service delivery expectations.
• Establish assessment methodologies to evaluate execution effectiveness and organizational alignment.
• Develop and maintain a Plant HR Capability and Maturity Roadmap, including future-state expectations and progression milestones.
• Create assessment frameworks to measure plant HR effectiveness, capability development, operational excellence, and business impact.
• Recommend and prioritize initiatives to address capability gaps.
• Develop change management strategies and build partnerships with senior leaders, HR teams, COEs, GSS, and operational stakeholders.
• Facilitate workshops, leadership discussions, and governance forums to drive alignment and decision making.
• Ensure communication plans support understanding, engagement, and adoption.
• Establish governance processes, project plans, performance metrics, and reporting mechanisms.
• Identify opportunities to improve effectiveness and eliminate duplication across HR initiatives and stakeholder groups.
• Drive standardization and best-practice sharing across regions and manufacturing sites.
• Provide executive-level updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Serve as the HR Business Partner for the Global EHS function, supporting its priorities and organizational needs.

Benefits

• Applicable benefit programs available from the first day of employment, with no waiting period.
• Competitive total rewards package supporting health and wellbeing.
• Access to career growth and development opportunities.
• Performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level