HR Director - Manufacturing Operations

Newbold•Charleston, SC

About The Position

The Human Resources Director leads the people strategy for a growing, multi-site manufacturing organization in the Charleston, South Carolina area. The role oversees HR operations for approximately 1,500 employees across three manufacturing plants and reports directly to the Executive Vice President. It partners with executive and operational leaders to shape organizational strategy, strengthen culture, support growth, and launch a new manufacturing facility. The director develops HR strategies aligned with manufacturing operations and business objectives; leads workforce planning, talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning, and employee training; and supports high-volume hiring and onboarding for a new facility. The role promotes employee engagement, performance, positive employee relations, and consistent workplace practices. The position oversees HR policies, employee relations, compensation, benefits, payroll processes, compliance, and HR systems across multiple locations. It also leads compensation planning and HR technology improvements, partners with operations on safety, quality, productivity, and business performance, and builds and mentors an HR leadership team.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
12+ years of progressive Human Resources experience.
At least 5 years of HR leadership experience supporting multi-site manufacturing or industrial operations with 1,000+ employees.
Proven experience leading HR initiatives in manufacturing environments, including direct partnership with plant leadership.
Strong experience in employee relations, workforce planning, talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, and organizational development.
Experience developing and implementing HR policies, processes, HRIS platforms, and payroll systems.
Strong understanding of federal and South Carolina employment laws.
Experience working in a multinational or multicultural business environment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or MBA.
SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification.
Experience implementing HR technology and using workforce analytics to guide business decisions.
Demonstrated success supporting a manufacturing plant start-up, major expansion, or significant workforce ramp-up.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute HR strategies aligned with manufacturing operations, business growth, and organizational objectives.
Partner with executive leadership and plant management on workforce planning, organizational development, and change management.
Establish measurable HR performance indicators related to retention, employee engagement, attendance, and workforce productivity.
Lead talent acquisition for production, skilled trades, technical, engineering, and leadership positions.
Build leadership development, succession planning, and employee training programs.
Strengthen frontline supervisor capabilities and establish employee development and career advancement pathways.
Support workforce expansion, including high-volume hiring and onboarding for a new manufacturing facility.
Foster a results-driven workplace culture focused on accountability, collaboration, employee recognition, and continuous improvement.
Develop and implement performance management programs aligned with operational objectives.
Promote positive employee relations and consistent, fair workplace practices.
Strengthen communication and collaboration across diverse and multicultural teams.
Oversee HR policies, employee relations, compensation, benefits, payroll processes, and regulatory compliance.
Standardize HR procedures and best practices across multiple manufacturing facilities.
Lead improvements and implementations involving HRIS, applicant tracking, payroll, and workforce management systems.
Ensure compliance with federal and state employment regulations, including FLSA, FMLA, EEO, and OSHA-related requirements.
Lead compensation planning, salary benchmarking, incentive programs, and benefits administration.
Partner with operations leadership to align workforce initiatives with safety, quality, productivity, and business performance.
Build and mentor an HR leadership team to support organizational growth.