Director, Human Resources

Woodward; Niles (IL); On-site; USD 171,000 - 239,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Stock contribution

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Adoption Assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Life & AD&D insurance

Referral bonus

Dependent Care Flexible Spending

Job summary

Woodward is seeking an experienced Human Resources leader to guide labor relations and strategic HR initiatives across multiple sites in the United States. The role focuses on union relations, workforce planning, and organizational design to support growth and transformation.

You will partner with senior leadership to drive HR programs, manage change, and ensure compliant, data-driven operations across global teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (MBA preferred).
• Progressive HR leadership experience in a global, multi-site organization (8+ years).
• Labor relations experience including collective bargaining negotiations and union relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead labor relations strategy and contract negotiations.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop HR strategies aligned with business goals.
• Oversee talent acquisition, succession planning, and leadership development.

Skills

Labor relations

Strategic leadership

Talent acquisition

Employee engagement

HR operations

Organizational development

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or business

MBA or HR certification preferred

Job description

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities, creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.

Woodward supports our members' wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Estimated annual base pay: $171,000(minimum) - $205,000(midpoint) - $239,000(maximum)

All Levels are eligible for the benefits below:

• All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.
• 401(k) match (4.5%)
• Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
• Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
• 12 paid holidays
• Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave.
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life
• Member referral bonus
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• Voluntary benefits, including: Home / Auto Insurance discounts
• Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

Are you ready to make your mark? If you're a Human Resources professional with strong labor experience, we have an exciting opportunity for you.

What You Will Be Doing

Labor Relations

• Built strong relationships with union representatives, resolving grievances and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
• Led labor relations strategy, including contract negotiations and compliance with labor laws.
• Guided leadership on union matters, grievance resolution, and arbitration to reduce risks.

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute HR strategies that align with the company's business objectives and growth targets.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, and change management.
• Identify and address key HR challenges in a global, multi-site environment.
• Support the continued evolution and integration of business groups

Talent Acquisition and Management

• Lead efforts to attract, retain, and develop talent in competitive markets across multiple geographies
• Establish succession planning and leadership development programs to ensure a robust pipeline of future leaders.
• Oversee performance management, employee engagement, and career development initiatives.

Culture and Employee Engagement

• Drive initiatives to foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and high performance across global sites.
• Implement strategies to improve employee satisfaction, retention, and morale while addressing workforce-related challenges.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across the organization.
• Promote consistency in employee experience across locations

HR Operations and Compliance

• Provide oversight of HR operations, including payroll, benefits, and compliance with global labor laws and regulations.
• Manage employee relations and ensure fair and consistent application of policies across all sites.
• Optimize HR processes and systems to enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making.
• Partner with legal and leadership on labor-related topics, including proactive employee relations strategies

Organizational Development

• Drive organizational effectiveness through change management, leadership coaching, and workforce development initiatives.
• Lead integration efforts for mergers, acquisitions, or business transformations as needed.
• Monitor and analyze HR metrics to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the business

What We Are Looking For

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; advanced degree (MBA or HR certification) preferred.

8+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, with a proven track record in a global, multi-site organization.

Significant, hands-on experience in labor and employee relations within unionized environments, including leading or playing a key role in collective bargaining negotiations, managing union relationships, and resolving complex labor issues.

Demonstrated ability to develop and execute labor relations strategies that support business transformation, including workforce planning, change management, and p