Head of Human Resources

Vaco; Plainfield (IN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Head of Human Resources to build and lead its HR function in a growing motorsports environment. This on-site role in Plainfield, Indiana focuses on shaping strategy, establishing practical HR practices, and partnering with leadership and employees to support rapid growth.

You will own the people agenda, develop scalable policies and processes, and align HR with compliance, benefits, and performance management.

Qualifications

• Broad-based HR experience in roles such as HR Manager, Senior HR Generalist, HRBP, HR Director, or Head of HR.
• Experience building or significantly improving HR function, programs, processes, or infrastructure.
• Hands-on knowledge across employee relations, compliance, benefits, onboarding, performance management, recruiting, engagement, retention, and HR administration.
• Experience documenting HR policies, procedures, SOPs, and employee-facing practices.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the HR function from the ground up with policies, processes, and infrastructure.
• Serve as the primary HR contact for leadership and employees.
• Develop and continuously improve HR policies, SOPs, onboarding/offboarding processes.
• Lead HR compliance and employment practices alignment with requirements.
• Manage benefits administration and employee questions.
• Oversee talent acquisition, workforce planning, and hiring processes.
• Partner with leadership on compensation benchmarking and retention strategies.
• Support payroll, HR data governance, and reporting.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Compliance

Recruiting

Payroll coordination

Policies & SOPs

Communication

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP or PHR or SPHR (certification preferred)

Job description

A smaller, rapidly growing organization in the motorsports and racing industry is seeking a Head of Human Resources to build and lead its HR function from the ground up. This is a highly visible opportunity for an experienced, hands‑on HR professional who enjoys creating structure, establishing practical best practices, and partnering closely with employees and leadership.

As the organization’s primary HR resource, you will shape the people strategy while personally executing the work needed to support growth. You will assess current needs, establish priorities, recommend scalable systems and programs, and create the policies, processes, and documentation that will serve as the foundation for the company's future.

Head of Human Resources

Plainfield, Indiana (fully on site)

Salary: $75,000-$95,000

The Opportunity

A smaller, rapidly growing organization in the motorsports and racing industry is seeking a Head of Human Resources to build and lead its HR function from the ground up. This is a highly visible opportunity for an experienced, hands‑on HR professional who enjoys creating structure, establishing practical best practices, and partnering closely with employees and leadership.

As the organization’s primary HR resource, you will shape the people strategy while personally executing the work needed to support growth. You will assess current needs, establish priorities, recommend scalable systems and programs, and create the policies, processes, and documentation that will serve as the foundation for the company's future.

What You Will Own

• Build the HR function from the ground up, including the policies, processes, documentation, systems, and infrastructure needed to support a growing organization.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for day‑to‑day HR matters and provide practical guidance to leadership and employees.
• Develop, document, implement, and continuously improve HR policies, procedures, employee‑facing practices, and standard operating procedures.
• Lead HR compliance efforts and help ensure employment practices, employee records, policies, and documentation remain aligned with applicable requirements.
• Create consistent onboarding and offboarding processes that support a positive employee experience.
• Evaluate benefit options, make recommendations to leadership, and coordinate benefits administration, enrollment, changes, employee questions, and communication.
• Establish performance‑management practices, including goal setting, reviews, manager support, coaching, and documentation.
• Lead talent acquisition, including workforce planning, job postings, sourcing strategy, screening, interview coordination, offers, and hiring processes.
• Partner with leadership on compensation benchmarking, total‑rewards considerations, employee retention, and engagement strategies.
• Support employee relations and help managers navigate performance, communication, policy, and workplace concerns.
• Partner with Accounting on payroll‑related processes so employee changes, compensation updates, and supporting documentation are communicated accurately and consistently.
• Evaluate and recommend HR technology, reporting, and tracking tools that improve organization, data visibility, and scalability.
• Maintain accurate employee records and develop useful workforce reporting for leadership.
• Help shape company culture and employee communication as the organization expands.
• Potentially support DOT‑related compliance or fleet‑administration activities, depending on experience and the final division of responsibilities.

What We Are Looking For

• Progressive, broad‑based Human Resources experience in an HR Manager, Senior HR Generalist, HR Business Partner, HR Director, Head of HR, or similar role.
• Demonstrated experience building, standing up, or significantly improving an HR function, program, process, or infrastructure.
• Hands‑on knowledge across employee relations, compliance, benefits, onboarding, performance management, recruiting, engagement, retention, and HR administration.
• Experience developing and documenting HR policies, procedures, SOPs, and employee‑facing practices.
• Working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local employment requirements.
• Experience partnering with payroll and managing employee‑data and compensation changes.
• Strong judgment and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with detailed administrative execution.
• Proven ability to work independently, prioritize competing needs, research unfamiliar issues, and create solutions without extensive existing infrastructure.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to influence, explain recommendations, and work effectively at all levels.
• Comfort operating in an entrepreneurial, rapidly changing environment where processes often need to be created rather than simply followed.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• Motorsports, automotive, mechanical, manufacturing, or DOT‑compliance experience is helpful but not required.

What Will Make You Successful

You will be energized by the opportunity to build rather than inherit. The strongest candidate can look at an evolving organization and ask, "What do we need, what is the priority, and how do I put it in place?" You will bring enough HR experience to recognize gaps and risks, along with the humility and resilience to research, test, adjust, and keep moving forward when there is no established playbook.

This role requires a leader who can advise the business on long‑term priorities and then roll up their sleeves to write the SOP, recruit the next employee, answer a benefits question, support payroll, coach a manager, or organize employee records. Success will come from pairing sound HR judgment with practicality, follow‑through, and a collaborative approach.

Why This Role

• Build and shape an HR function with meaningful autonomy and direct access to company leadership.
• Join a smaller organization during an important period of growth, with the opportunity to create processes that will scale with the business.
• Work in a distinctive motorsports and racing environment where pace, teamwork, and adaptability matter.
• Influence future decisions related to benefits, compensation, recruiting, employee experience, HR systems, compliance, and workforce planning.
• Optional opportunities to attend racing events around the country; travel is not required, and approved event travel expenses are covered.

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations; and
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).