HR Director (Manufacturing & Defense)

Page Executive; Fatih; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unique opportunity to shape HR transformation

Direct exposure to CEO and leadership team

Dynamic and entrepreneurial environment

Job summary

Page Executive is seeking an HR Director in Turkey to lead the people strategy and HR infrastructure of a growing industrial manufacturer. This role involves building HR processes, managing talent acquisition, and improving employee engagement.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree, proven HR leadership experience, and expertise across various HR disciplines, including Performance Management and Employee Relations. This position offers direct exposure to the executive leadership team and a unique opportunity to shape HR transformation.

Qualifications

• Proven HR leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial, automotive, defense, engineering, or complex operational environments.
• Strong expertise across the full spectrum of HR disciplines including Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development.
• Hands-on, execution-oriented leadership style with the ability to build capabilities in developing environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and improvement of the company's people strategy.
• Act as strategic HR partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Manage compensation, benefits, payroll, and workforce cost analysis processes.

Skills

HR Leadership Experience

Change Management

Talent Acquisition

Performance Management

Employee Relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Psychology, or related field

Job description

• Lead a company-wide transformation and institutionalization journey.
• Build the HR function of a growing industrial and defence player.

About Our Client

Our client is one of Turkey's leading industrial manufacturers with over 45 years of heritage, operating across vehicle solutions, defense industry projects, and advanced engineering applications. The company is recognized as a market leader in several product categories and collaborates with prominent defense organizations and industry stakeholders.

Following a comprehensive ownership and governance transformation, the organization has entered a new growth phase under professional executive leadership and the support of a diversified holding group. With ambitious plans to strengthen its R&D capabilities, invest in talent, and further institutionalize its operations, the company is building a high-performance environment designed for sustainable growth and innovation.

Job Description

Reporting directly to the CEO, the HR Director will lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the company's people strategy and HR infrastructure.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as a strategic HR business partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Building and institutionalizing core HR processes, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Establishing performance management systems, KPI structures, job descriptions, and succession planning processes.
• Leading talent acquisition activities to attract and retain critical technical and leadership talent.
• Developing learning, leadership development, and employee growth programs.
• Driving organizational development, workforce planning, and cultural transformation initiatives.
• Strengthening employer branding and employee engagement across the organization.
• Managing compensation, benefits, payroll, and workforce cost analysis processes.
• Building and mentoring the HR team while improving HR operational excellence.
• Supporting change management initiatives associated with organizational growth and the company's evolving structure.
• Working closely with both headquarters and manufacturing operations to ensure strong employee relations and effective communication.

The Successful Applicant

A successful HR Director should have:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Psychology, or a related field; postgraduate education is preferred.
• Proven HR leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial, automotive, defense, engineering, or similarly complex operational environments.
• Strong expertise across the full spectrum of HR disciplines, including Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Performance Management, Compensation & Benefits, Employee Relations, Organization Development, and HR Operations.
• Demonstrated experience building HR systems, policies, and organizational structures from a developing or transformation-stage environment.
• Experience partnering with senior executives and influencing business decisions through people strategies.
• Hands‑on, execution‑oriented leadership style with the ability to roll up sleeves and build capabilities where infrastructure is still developing.
• Strong change management, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• High levels of empathy and employee‑centric leadership.
• Fluency in English is preferred.
• Willingness to work closely with multiple sites, including regular interaction with manufacturing operations.

What's on Offer

• A unique opportunity to shape and lead the HR transformation of a growing market‑leading organization.
• Direct exposure to the CEO and executive leadership team with significant influence on business strategy.
• The chance to build an HR function, team, and systems from the ground up.
• A dynamic and entrepreneurial environment where impactful decisions can be implemented quickly.
• Opportunity to contribute to the growth of a company serving strategically important industrial and defense sectors.