Senior Director of People

Dawn Food Products • Jackson, MI

45d • Hybrid

About The Position

Dawn Foods is a global leader in bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution. As the partner of choice for inspiring bakery success, we help customers grow their business through meaningful partnerships, research-driven insights and innovations, and products and expertise they can depend on. As a family-owned company, our commitments to our people, products, customers, and corporate values, are all part of our recipe for success.

Dawn Foods, North America is seeking an accomplished and strategic Senior Director of People. Reporting to the Vice President of People, North America, this position will contribute to the overall North America People strategy (US & Canada), planning, executing, and deploying initiatives with best impact and results. This role will support North America Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain & Procurement, and Canada operations, leading a team of People Business Partners. This role is accountable for talent management, performance management, succession planning and employee & labor relations. The ideal candidate is a highly experienced HR professional with a deep understanding of operational environments, change leadership, and talent development in complex, geographically dispersed organizations.

The normal setting for this job is hybrid- with a strong preference for candidates located in or willing to relocate to the Jackson, MI area. This position also requires up to 30% travel.

Requirements

• A minimum of a High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive HR experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or similar operational environments.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in an HR leadership role managing a team.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field strongly preferred, and an MBA or master's degree in an HR-related field is preferred.
• Understanding and experience with labor relations, union contract administration, grievance handling, and union engagement required. Experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements is preferred.
• Proven track record in leading HR strategy in multi-site, matrixed organizations with competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing HR teams.
• Ability to manage multiple HR and business projects and to consistently meet deadlines, while still meeting the demanding expectations of a senior HR leadership role.
• Proven track record of leading through change and transformation, with knowledge in change management principles, tools, and methodologies.
• Strong business acumen, advanced relationship-management experience and consulting skills, with ability to influence, engage and build consensus among senior leaders.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience and success in creating and sustaining inclusive environments where employees feel a strong sense of belonging, respect, and engagement.
• Demonstrated success in leading significant cross-functional initiatives for which there wasn't an existing playbook.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary People/HR leader partnering with the North America Senior Vice President - Manufacturing Operations, and the North America Senior Vice President - Supply Chain & Procurement.
• Partner closely with senior business leaders to define and execute workforce strategies that drive business performance, improve productivity, and foster a high-performance culture.
• Lead, develop, and coach a team of People Business Partners, fostering collaboration and continuous growth.
• Collaborate with Centers of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Talent Management, etc.) to deliver integrated HR solutions.
• Drive organizational design, change management, and workforce planning initiatives across the region.
• Implement talent and succession planning strategies to ensure strong leadership pipelines at all levels.
• Provide operational and technical support for ongoing People programs such as performance and compensation reviews, engagement surveys, learning programs and DEI efforts, as well as milestone events such as M&A and expansion into new geographies.
• Assess existing People and programs, processes, and practices to identify gaps and inefficiencies and drive innovative solutions to enhance the employee experience.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable employment laws and labor practices across multiple jurisdictions.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and embed inclusive practices in all people processes.
• Oversee employee relations strategies and engagement programs to build trust and improve retention.
• Utilize HR metrics and data-driven insights to inform decisions and improve outcomes.

Benefits

• Industry-leading health insurance on Day 1!
• Competitive Pay
• 401(K) + company match
• 10 Paid Company Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Professional training
• Family-owned business over 100 years in service
• An opportunity for career advancement, working as part of an empowering workforce

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Food Manufacturing
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees