Human Resources Director

John H. Carter Company, Inc.; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

John H. Carter Company, Inc. seeks a Director of Human Resources to lead U.S.-based HR, payroll and benefits, and talent acquisition, and to govern payroll activities at international subsidiaries.

The role advises senior leadership, translates business priorities into practical HR strategies, and ensures regulatory compliance across multiple states. The ideal candidate will bring 10+ years in senior HR roles, strong leadership, and experience managing complex, geographically dispersed

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible HR experience with leadership responsibility.
• Experience leading a multi-functional HR organization incl. payroll, benefits, HRIS and talent acquisition.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial services, distribution or complex, geographically dispersed environments preferred.
• Experience advising senior leadership on compliance, organizational and change matters.
• Multi-state operations experience; governance/oversight of international subsidiaries is a plus.
• SPHR/SHRM-SCP or comparable senior-level certification preferred.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and contemporary payroll, HRIS, recruiting, reporting and self-service technologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for HR, payroll, benefits, HRIS and talent acquisition.
• Serve as trusted advisor to executive leadership translating priorities into practical HR strategies.
• Govern HR and payroll activities for international subsidiaries; local teams handle day-to-day administration.
• Develop enterprise people strategy and coordinate with executive team.
• Oversee HR Operations, Payroll, Benefits and HRIS with governance and controls.
• Lead recruiting strategy, workforce pipelines and hiring metrics.
• Prepare executive analyses and communications on workforce, compensation, and compliance matters.
• Manage outside partners (counsel, brokers, consultants, payroll/HR technology, auditors, recruiters).
• Oversee 401k audit and prepare 5500 for 401k and Cafeteria Plan.
• Maintain documentation of HR, payroll, benefits, HRIS, recruiting and compliance procedures.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Payroll oversight

Benefits oversight

HRIS

Recruiting

Policy governance

Compliance

Change management

Executive advisory

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS software

Payroll systems

Job description

The Director of Human Resources provides strategic and operational leadership for the Company’s U.S.-based Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits, and Talent Acquisition functions. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and managers, translating business priorities into practical strategies that support workforce capability, employee engagement, compliance, operational effectiveness, and growth. The Director also provides governance and oversight for human resources and payroll activities at international subsidiaries while local teams retain responsibility for day-to-day administration and local compliance.

The position requires sound judgment, discretion, business acumen, and the ability to lead through competing priorities while protecting confidential and sensitive information.

Develops and recommends enterprise people strategy and priorities for consideration and approval by the executive team, develops the HR team, advises leadership, and ensures coordination across all three pillars.

Pillar 1: HR Operations

Employee relations, manager support, policies, performance management, workforce planning, compliance, investigations, and employee experience.

Pillar 2: Payroll, Benefits & HRIS

Payroll governance, benefits strategy and administration, HRIS integrity, reporting, controls, audits, and employee data.

Recruiting strategy, workforce pipelines, selection processes, candidate experience, hiring metrics, and coordination with onboarding.

General Management Responsibilities

• Maintain current documentation of critical HR, payroll, benefits, HRIS, recruiting, and compliance procedures and ensure appropriate backup coverage.
• Prepare executive-level analyses, recommendations, and communications for workforce, benefits, compensation, organizational, and compliance matters.
• Manage outside partners such as employment counsel, benefits brokers, consultants, payroll and HR technology providers, auditors, recruiters, and training resources.
• Manage 401k audit. Prepare 5500 for 401k and Cafeteria Plan.
• Perform other responsibilities and special projects reasonably related to the role and the Company’s needs.
• Expertise of Microsoft Office applications and contemporary payroll, HRIS, recruiting, reporting, and employee self-service technologies.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, organizational leadership, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible human resources experience, including meaningful leadership responsibility, preferred.
• Experience leading a multi-functional HR organization that includes employee relations, payroll and benefits oversight, HRIS, and talent acquisition.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial services, distribution, engineering, field services, or another operationally complex and geographically dispersed environment preferred.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leadership and managing complex employee relations, compliance, organizational, and change matters.
• Experience with multi-state operations preferred; experience providing governance or oversight to international subsidiaries is a plus.
• SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or comparable senior-level professional certification preferred.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and contemporary payroll, HRIS, recruiting, reporting, and employee self-service technologies.

**Please note that this role is not eligible for Visa sponsorship/assistance at this time.**