The Director of Human Resources is responsible for leading and managing the Human Resources function across our growing, multi-company manufacturing organization. The organization currently includes five operating locations, more than 300 employees, and over $40 million in annual revenue, with continued growth and expansion as a key strategic objective.
The companies supported by this role include:
- Elmira Stamping North
- Elmira Stamping South
- Empire Coating
- CH Thompson Finishing
- Triple Cities Metal Finishing
This is a senior-level, hands-on position requiring an experienced HR professional who can operate independently, make sound business decisions, and effectively manage both strategic HR initiatives and day-to-day employee matters. As the organization continues to grow, the HR Director will be responsible for ensuring our HR structure, processes, leadership practices, and workforce strategies are capable of supporting that growth.
The HR Director will serve as the company's senior HR resource and a trusted advisor to executive leadership and management. This individual will be expected to take ownership of the HR function, independently handle routine and complex employee matters, identify and address issues proactively, and bring significant or high-risk matters to executive leadership with clear recommendations.
This is not solely a department-management position. The HR Director will manage an HR Generalist and Recruiter while also remaining actively involved in HR activities, particularly at our Rochester-area facilities where this position will serve as the primary on-site HR resource.
A key measure of success in this role will be the company's ability to attract, retain, develop, and engage the workforce needed to support continued growth while maintaining a positive, accountable workplace culture across all locations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and take overall ownership of the Human Resources function across all company locations, ensuring HR practices, policies, and resources support current operations and continued company growth.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and managers, providing practical guidance and independently handling employee relations, performance, disciplinary, investigation, termination, and other workplace matters.
- Maintain a visible, hands-on HR presence, particularly within the Rochester facilities, and remain accessible to employees and management for day-to-day HR needs and employee concerns.
- Lead efforts to attract, retain, and engage employees, including oversight of recruiting, workforce planning, on-boarding, employee engagement, and retention initiatives.
- Take an active role in understanding and improving employee morale and workplace culture across all locations; monitor turnover and employee feedback, identify trends or concerns, and develop practical solutions to improve the employee experience and retention.
- Oversee employee compensation and benefits programs, including participation in annual benefit renewals, working with brokers and vendors, evaluating plan offerings and costs, supporting employee benefit education and enrollment, and resolving benefit issues. Provide guidance on compensation decisions, market competitiveness, and internal equity.
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws and oversee HR policies, employment practices, employee documentation, leave and accommodation matters, and other HR compliance requirements.
- Develop and strengthen on-boarding, supervisor/manager training, and other employee development initiatives that improve consistency, leadership effectiveness, and employee retention.
- Manage and develop the HR Generalist and Recruiter, establishing clear responsibilities and ensuring effective HR support across all company locations.
- Monitor staffing needs, turnover, employee relations trends, HR metrics, and organizational risks; keep executive leadership appropriately informed and proactively recommend solutions when concerns or opportunities are identified.
- Support continued organizational growth by evaluating and improving HR processes, systems, policies, and workforce strategies as the company evolves.
- Depending on experience, provide leadership and oversight of the company's Health & Safety function, including safety programs, compliance, training, incident management, and development of a strong safety culture.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and significant relevant experience will be considered.
- Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive Human Resources experience, with significant experience in an HR leadership or management role.
- Prior experience having primary responsibility for an HR function, facility, business unit, or significant employee population strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience independently handling complex employee relations matters, investigations, disciplinary actions, terminations, performance management, and employment-related risk.
- Broad, hands-on HR experience including recruiting and retention, employee benefits, compensation, employee relations, performance management, training, compliance, and policy development.
- Strong working knowledge of federal and New York employment laws.
- Manufacturing or industrial HR experience strongly preferred, including experience supporting hourly production employees and front-line supervisors.
- Experience managing and developing HR professionals.
- Multi-site and/or multi-company HR experience strongly preferred.
- Experience working directly with senior/executive leadership and providing recommendations on complex employee and organizational matters.
- Health & Safety experience in a manufacturing environment is a plus.
- SHRM-SCP, SPHR, SHRM-CP, PHR, or similar certification preferred but not required.
What We're Looking For
Above all, we are looking for an experienced HR leader with strong judgment, confidence, and a willingness to be hands-on.
The right person will be equally comfortable advising executive leadership, coaching a manager through a difficult employee situation, conducting an investigation, helping solve a recruiting or retention problem, or sitting down directly with an employee who needs HR support.
This individual should understand how to balance employee needs with the needs of the business, know when to make decisions independently and when leadership should be consulted, and be proactive in identifying and solving problems.
Our goal is to have an HR leader whom employees, managers, and executive leadership trust — and who can take true ownership of the HR function as our organization continues to grow.
Compensation & Benefits
Pay: $125,000-$155,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Benefits
Eligible employees may participate in:
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Time Off
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Company-Paid Life Insurance
- Voluntary Benefits
Zurenda is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Pay: $125,000.00 - $155,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
