Director of Human Resources

Crawford Thomas Recruiting; City of Peekskill (NY); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Crawford Thomas Recruiting is seeking an experienced Director of Human Resources for a large, unionized operation in the New York metro area. You will lead HR strategy and day-to-day people functions for ~400 employees across multiple shifts.

The role oversees recruiting, employee relations, labor relations, payroll oversight, training, compliance, and HR analytics while balancing strategic initiatives with hands-on labor relations in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
• 7+ years of progressive HR experience with leadership exposure.
• Experience managing HR for large, unionized, multi-shift operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR operations for ~400 employees across multiple shifts.
• Oversee recruiting, labor relations, payroll oversight, and compliance.
• Develop onboarding and training programs; manage workforce analytics.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Leadership

Employee relations

Communication

Education

SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification

Tools

UKG/Kronos

Excel (pivot tables)

Job description

Compensation: $125,000-$150,000 base salary + annual bonus eligibility

• MUST BE BILINGUAL ENGLISH & SPANISH **

About The Company

Our client is an established service and operations organization supporting businesses throughout the New York metropolitan area. With a large, multi-shift workforce and a fast-paced operating environment, the company is seeking an experienced Director of Human Resources to lead HR operations and support continued organizational growth.

Position Overview

The Director of Human Resources will serve as the senior HR leader for a workforce of ~400 employees. This is a highly hands-on leadership position responsible for both developing HR strategy and managing the day-to-day people functions of the organization.

The role will oversee recruiting, employee relations, labor relations, training and development, policy administration, payroll oversight, workforce analytics, and HR compliance. A major focus will be supporting a large unionized, hourly workforce while partnering closely with operational leadership and front-line management.

The ideal candidate is a bilingual HR leader who has successfully supported high-volume, multi-shift operations and is comfortable balancing strategic initiatives with hands-on employee and labor relations.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR operations for a workforce of approximately 400 employees across multiple shifts
• Manage full-cycle recruiting and workforce planning for hourly, skilled, transportation, and professional positions
• Develop strategies to improve employee retention, attendance, engagement, and overall workforce stability
• Create and enhance onboarding and training programs for new employees and front-line supervisors
• Deliver employee training and HR communication in both English and Spanish
• Manage day-to-day labor relations, including interpretation and administration of the collective bargaining agreement
• Handle grievances, disciplinary matters, workplace investigations, and other employee relations issues
• Participate in preparation and support for collective bargaining and labor negotiations
• Develop, maintain, and consistently administer workplace policies and employee handbook requirements
• Ensure HR practices comply with applicable federal, state, and local employment regulations
• Coach managers and supervisors on performance management, employee relations, policy application, and workplace concerns
• Oversee payroll and timekeeping processes while ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Manage and develop HR support staff while establishing clear processes and accountability
• Utilize HRIS and workforce management systems to maintain accurate employee and timekeeping information
• Develop workforce reporting related to headcount, turnover, attendance, overtime, recruiting, and other key HR metrics
• Analyze workforce trends and provide recommendations to operational leadership
• Partner closely with senior leadership to align HR initiatives with business and operational objectives

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including at least 2 years in an HR leadership or supervisory capacity
• Experience supporting a large hourly workforce of 250+ employees within a multi-shift environment
• Hands-on experience working within a unionized environment, including collective bargaining agreement administration and grievance handling
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification required
• Fluency in both English and Spanish, written and verbal, required
• Strong employee relations background with experience handling investigations, disciplinary matters, and performance issues
• Experience with high-volume recruiting and workforce planning
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions, and workforce reporting
• Hands-on experience with UKG/Kronos or similar workforce management and timekeeping systems
• Experience overseeing or supporting payroll processes preferred
• Knowledge of New York employment regulations and workplace compliance requirements preferred
• Previous experience supporting manufacturing, distribution, industrial, hospitality, logistics, or another high-volume operational environment preferred
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, hands-on environment and partner with employees and leaders at all levels