Director, Human Resources

Akima; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) and retirement options

PTO for regular employees

Job summary

Akima is seeking an experienced HR Director to partner with senior leaders across multiple business groups. You will oversee Employee Relations, lead a team of HR professionals, and drive change management while aligning HR programs with business strategy.

Reporting to the VP of HR, you will manage risk, lead investigations, and partner with Legal and Labor Relations to resolve complex employee relations matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field.
• 10 years as an HR business partner or HR manager.
• 5+ years in the government-contracting industry.
• 5+ years leading teams of HR professionals.
• Strong knowledge of the Service Contract Act and labor relations.
• Hands-on HR support to diverse populations of 1,000+ employees.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct, implement, evaluate and manage HR activities with internal clients.
• Lead and coach a team of HR professionals; provide guidance on ER matters.
• Provide guidance on employee relations while minimizing risk.
• Drive process improvements as a change agent and own projects.
• Manage senior-level employee relations cases and ensure data integrity.
• Collaborate with VP HR, Legal, and Labor Relations on resolutions.
• Support workforce planning, onboarding, phase-ins/outs, and retention.
• Partner with Shared Services on HR operations, compliance, and payroll.
• Travel occasionally, generally less than 25%.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree

HR business partner

Government contracting

Team leadership

Service Contract Act

HR for 1000+ employees

HR leadership

Communication skills

Writing/ editing

Project management

Conflict resolution

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Akima is seeking an experienced HR Director to join its team of professionals. This position will serve as a strategic consultant and partner to senior leaders and management teams across various business groups and Shared Services. The HR Director will provide guidance on human resources matters and align human resources best practices with business strategies.

Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, the HR Director will lead a team of HR professionals and collaborate with Shared Services departments to deliver solutions that address the needs of assigned businesses. The HR Director will oversee Employee Relations, including management of the case management tool and the establishment of clear processes and guidance for handling cases to mitigate risk to the company. The successful candidate will also partner with the Vice President of Human Resources and HR Managers on projects and initiatives as needed.

Akima is experiencing a period of growth, and the HR Director will help support that growth while advancing process improvement and change management initiatives across the HR organization. The successful candidate will demonstrate a positive, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to adapt to a variety of work environments. Additional duties may be assigned, and responsibilities may be modified based on business needs. Unless otherwise specified, all assigned duties and tasks are considered essential functions of the position.

Hybrid requirements: Candidate must reside within commuting distance of Akima's HQ in Herndon, VA. 3 days / week onsite requirements.

Responsibilities

• Strategically plan, organize, direct, implement, evaluate, and manage human resources activities for assigned businesses in partnership with internal clients.
• Provide direct support to assigned business areas while leading, mentoring, and coaching a team of HR professionals who support those areas.
• Provide timely guidance and expertise on employee relations matters while minimizing risk to the business.
• Take ownership of projects and initiatives, setting clear expectations and priorities for stakeholders, and proactively drive process improvements as a change agent.
• Manage and audit senior level employee relations cases, provide feedback to ensure data integrity and accountability, and deliver regular training when updates are implemented.
• Serve as a change agent by supporting and promoting process improvements and other company initiatives.
• Partner with senior leaders and managers to provide expertise and hands‑on support in areas including workforce planning, onboarding, phase‑ins and phase‑outs, employee retention, employee relations, management coaching, performance management, terminations, and change management.
• Manage, recommend, and implement resolutions to employee‑relations matters in collaboration with the Vice President of Human Resources, Legal, and Labor Relations.
• Respond to employee and customer questions regarding the interpretation and application of company policies and procedures.
• Conduct thorough due diligence reviews for adverse employment actions; prepare documentation supporting involuntary terminations; and proactively consult with the Vice President of Human
• Resources and Legal regarding potential areas of exposure.
• Facilitate onboarding, orientation, and employee‑training programs as needed.
• Prepare reports and presentations and interpret workforce metrics to support business objectives.
• Collaborate with Shared Services teams, including Compensation, Benefits, HRIS, Recruiting,
• Payroll, Compliance, HR Operations, Talent Development, Legal, and Labor Relations, to address employee and project needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Travel occasionally, as needed, generally less than 25%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 10 years of experience as an HR business partner or HR manager.
• At least 5 years of experience in the government-contracting industry.
• At least 5 years of experience successfully managing a team.
• Strong knowledge of the Service Contract Act and labor relations.
• Demonstrated experience providing hands‑on HR support to diverse employee populations of more than 1,000 employees.
• Experience leading, engaging, and motivating teams of HR professionals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills and the ability to communicate confidently and effectively with varied audiences.
• Demonstrated professional writing, grammar, and editing skills.
• Strong consulting, negotiation, project management and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multiple departments to develop practical business solutions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to pass a comprehensive background check, including a credit check.

Job ID

2026-26018

Work Type

Hybrid

Pay Range

$155,000 - $175,000

Benefits

Regular - The company offers a comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) and a range of other voluntary benefits. Paid Time Off (PTO) is offered to regular full-time and part-time employees.

Company Description

Work Where it Matters

Akima is not just another global enterprise and federal contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose extend beyond our exciting federal projects as we support our shareholder communities in Alaska.

At Akima, the work you do every day makes a difference in the lives of our 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, a group of Alaska natives from one of the most remote and harshest environments in the United States.

For our shareholders, Akima provides support and employment opportunities and contributes to the survival of a culture that has thrived above the Arctic Circle for more than 10,000 years.

For our government customers, Akima delivers agile solutions in the core areas of facilities, maintenance, and repair; information technology; logistics; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction.

As an Akima employee, you will be surrounded by a challenging, yet supportive work environment that is committed to innovation and diversity, two of our most important values. You will also have access to our comprehensive benefits and competitive pay in addition to growth opportunities and excellent retirement options.