Interim Director of Human Resources

This six-month interim engagement (with potential to convert to permanent) is based in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area for a multi-billion dollar global industrial company. The Interim Director of Human Resources serves as the senior HR business partner to the President of a 1,000-plus employee, multi-site, unionised manufacturing business unit, with a dotted line to the SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer.

The role carries full accountability for people strategy across labour and employee relations, talent acquisition, workforce planning, leadership development, succession, performance management, employee engagement and change leadership. The position requires a regular on-site presence across multiple facilities and domestic or international travel of up to approximately 25%.

• Advise the business unit President and senior leadership team on organisation design, workforce strategy, culture and the people implications of key business decisions
• Lead labour and employee relations strategy, including union relationships, contract interpretation, negotiations, grievance management and proactive risk mitigation
• Direct integrated workforce planning, covering staffing, critical skills, recruiting, succession, talent reviews and workforce analytics
• Coach and develop senior and site leadership teams, and lead change management strategies for both incremental and transformational initiatives
• Lead, organise and develop the HR team of approximately 13 professionals, setting clear priorities, expectations and performance measures
• Contribute to company-wide HR priorities and benchmark external practices to improve decision-making and talent outcomes

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labour Relations, Business, Organisational Development or a related discipline
• 12 or more years of progressive HR experience, including significant business partnership in complex manufacturing, industrial, aerospace, defence or similarly regulated environments
• Demonstrated experience leading HR for a multi-site, unionised organisation, including labour strategy, negotiations and contract administration
• Proven success driving organisational change, culture transformation, leadership development, succession planning and performance improvement
• Strong understanding of employment law, compensation practices, talent management and risk management, with the ability to partner effectively with legal and HR centres of expertise
• Exceptional communication, coaching and relationship-building skills, with the ability to lead across boundaries and influence without direct authority

The Christopher Group is an agile HR business solutions firm that specialises in placing interim and permanent HR leaders across complex, regulated industries. The firm partners with organisations ranging from growth-stage businesses to large global enterprises requiring senior HR expertise on a flexible basis.