Director, HR Operations

The Director, HR Operations serves as a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for designing, leading, and scaling the human resources function in alignment with the company's operational and growth objectives. This role will oversee all aspects of HR operations while playing a critical leadership role in supporting mergers and acquisitions activity including due diligence, workforce integration, and cultural alignment. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on HR leader with deep experience in manufacturing environments and a proven track record of building scalable HR infrastructure in high-growth organizations

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

HR Strategy & Operations

• Support the execution of HR strategies that align with business objectives and support a growing workforce in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Ensure all core HR functions including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, compliance, and HRIS administration.
• Improve HR policies, procedures, and systems to drive operational efficiency and a high-performance culture.

M&A Integration

• Support workforce integration plans that minimize disruption, accelerate onboarding, and align acquired organizations with company culture, policies, and systems.
• Enhancing communication strategies to support employee engagement and retention throughout integration periods.
• Implement compensation structures, benefit programs, and HR policies across acquired entities.
• Partner with legal, finance, and operations leadership to ensure seamless people integration aligned with deal timelines.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Oversee talent acquisition process to support both organic growth and post-acquisition workforce needs.
• Assist in succession planning and organizational design efforts at the mid manager level to ensure the right talent is in place at every stage of growth.
• Support workforce planning models that anticipate hiring needs across departments and business units.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including OSHA requirements specific to chemical manufacturing environments.
• Maintain audit-ready HR documentation and practices, minimizing organizational risk and liability.
• Oversee leave of absence programs (FMLA, ADA, Workers' Compensation) with particular attention to manufacturing workforce needs.
• Partner with EHS (Environmental Health & Safety) leadership to align HR policies with workplace safety standards.

Compensation & Benefits

• Administer the total rewards programs, including base compensation, incentive plans, health and welfare benefits, and retirement programs.
• Lead annual benefits renewal and open enrollment processes.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Foster a workplace culture that reflects the company's core values, supports employee engagement, and drives retention.
• Lead complex employee relations investigations with objectivity, consistency, and sound judgment.
• Support leadership training and development programs that build management capability and drive performance through people.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that reflect the workforce and community.

HR Analytics & Reporting

• Oversee HR metrics and dashboards to provide executive leadership with actionable insights on turnover, engagement, hiring, and workforce productivity.

Required

• 10 years of progressive HR experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior HR leadership role
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading HR in a manufacturing environment (chemical, oil & gas, or industrial preferred)
• Proven experience with M&A HR due diligence and workforce integration
• Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local employment law and compliance requirements
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms (ADP, UKG, UltiPro, or equivalent)
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and advise at the C-suite level

Preferred

• Bilingual in Spanish and English, strongly desired
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification
• Experience scaling HR functions through significant organizational growth (300 - 700 employees)
• Familiarity with OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations in chemical manufacturing environments