Director Human Resources

generac; Belvidere (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Generac is seeking a Director of Human Resources to lead HR strategy, provide high-quality HR services, and partner with leaders to build a high-performing culture.

The role oversees HR partners, drives workforce planning, performance management, and leadership development across regional groups and union sites.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience including leadership experience
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• Master's degree in HR or MBA preferred
• SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification preferred
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations and union environments

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic HR leadership and business partnership to designated functions or plants
• Lead talent management, leadership development, and succession planning initiatives
• Oversee employee relations, policy compliance, and labor relations across sites with unions
• Support M&A activities including onboarding and organizational integration
• Champion change management and workforce planning with senior leadership

Skills

HR operations

Employee relations

Talent management

Change management

HRIS knowledge

Policy interpretation

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources

Master's degree in Human Resources

MBA

SPHR or SHRM-SCP

Tools

HRIS

AI-enabled HR tools

Job description

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most.

For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future.

Ready to Power a Smarter World with us?

The Director, Human Resources is a key leader responsible for operationalizing HR strategy, ensuring high-quality HR services, and partnering with business leaders to develop a high-performing culture. This role manages a HR team that supports regional or functional business groups and provides guidance on employee relations, leadership development, talent acquisition, performance management, and workforce planning.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership

• Leads HR business partners supporting designed functions, locations, or plants
• Provides strategic HR consultation to leaders on organizational effectiveness, employee relations, performance management and workforce planning
• Partners with business leadership to improve engagement, retention and productivity

Talent Management & Leadership Development

• Develops and coaches leadership teams to strengthen managerial capability
• Leads or supports major HR initiatives including compensation cycles, talent reviews, and succession planning

Employee & Labor Relations

• Ensures HR policy compliance and risk mitigations
• Union sites - Manages labor relations, contract administration, grievance processes, and union partnership activities

Mergers , Acquisitions & Organizational Integration

• Supports M&A activities, including onboarding, culture integration, and organizational alignment

Leadership

• Selects, trains, coaches and develops staff, setting clear expectations to inspire, motivate, and engage the team
• Manages performance, recognizes achievement, provides feedback, and administers progressive discipline when necessary

Minimum Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, related discipline, or equivalent work experience

Work Experience

• 8 years of progressive HR experience, including 5 years in a leadership role

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of HR operations, employee relations, and talent processes
• Understanding of compensation cycles, performance management, and talent reviews
• Working knowledge of HRIS systems
• Knowledge of change management practices at team or functional level
• Understanding of compliance, employment law, and policy interpretation
• Strong consultation skills with leaders
• Skilled in employee relations investigations and resolution
• Ability to coach leaders on performance, engagement, and team development
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Skilled in applying analytics to site- or function-level workforce trends
• Process management and HR program execution
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills
• Cross-functional collaboration

Preferred Job Requirements

Education

• Master's degree in Human Resources, MBA, or related discipline

Certification / License

• SPHR or SHRM-SCP

Work Experience

• Experience supporting manufacturing operations
• Exposure to union environments
• Mergers and acquisitions experience, particularly integration support

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Working knowledge of HR systems and AI‑enhanced HR tools
• Knowledge of change management practices at team or functional level
• Project management skills
• Understanding of compliance, employment law, and policy interpretation
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI-enabled HR tools - such as talent analytics or automation platforms - to enhance workforce planning and operational efficiency

"We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law."