Human Resources Director

Kelly Professional & Industrial; Eau Claire (WI); Hybrid; USD 206,309,000 - 234,963,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Professional & Industrial in Wisconsin is seeking a Senior Director of Human Resources for a 6+ month contract to lead strategic HR initiatives during a period of organizational transformation. The role combines union labor relations with enterprise-wide change management, primarily supporting Wisconsin operations while overseeing additional sites.

The ideal candidate will have extensive HR leadership experience in unionized manufacturing, advising executive leadership and partnering with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in HR, Business, Psychology, or related field.
• Master's Degree and/or SHRM or HRCI certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• 5+ years supporting unionized manufacturing environments.
• Experience partnering directly with senior leadership and executive teams.
• Demonstrated success supporting organizational change initiatives including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructures, or large-scale business transformations.
• Strong employee relations and labor relations background.
• Experience supporting both manufacturing operations and corporate functions.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and collective bargaining.
• Experience developing HR strategies that align with business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR business partner for senior operations and business leadership.
• Provide strategic guidance on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, talent strategy, succession planning, and employee engagement.
• Partner with executive leadership during organizational transformation, restructuring, acquisitions, divestitures, or other significant business initiatives.
• Lead HR initiatives that support business objectives while maintaining a positive employee experience.
• Act as the lead HR resource for employee and labor relations matters across manufacturing operations.
• Interpret and administer collective bargaining agreements.
• Partner with union leadership to foster productive labor-management relationships.
• Investigate grievances and support arbitration preparation when necessary.
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Provide guidance regarding labor law, contract interpretation, mediation, LOAs, MOAs, and unfair labor practice matters.
• Help lead HR strategy during periods of organizational change, including acquisitions, divestitures, and business transitions.
• Advise leadership on organizational design and workforce planning.
• Drive change management initiatives that improve organizational performance.
• Coach leaders through complex employee situations and organizational challenges.
• Support employee engagement initiatives by analyzing survey results and implementing action plans.
• Review and improve HR policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Monitor HR metrics and recommend improvements based on business trends.
• Partner with HR colleagues across multiple locations to ensure consistency and operational excellence.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the HR organization.

Skills

Strategic HR leadership

Employee relations

Labor relations

Change management

Executive partnership

Mergers & acquisitions experience

Manufacturing operations

Employment law

HR data analytics

Education

Bachelor's Degree in HR/Business

Master's Degree / SHRM or HRCI cert

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Director, Human Resources (Contract – 6+ Months)

Location: Wisconsin (Candidates must reside in Wisconsin or a neighboring state)

Primary Work Location: Hybrid/Remote with regular onsite meetings in Eau Claire, WI as business needs require. The majority of the work will support the Wisconsin operation.

Pay Rate: $72.00–$82.00+/hour ($150,000–$170,000 equivalent, depending on experience)

Duration: 6+ Month Contract with strong potential for extension or permanent hire

Start Date: ASAP

Highlights: This role requires a seasoned HR leader with expertise in union labor law, employee relations, and change management, including experience supporting organizations through acquisitions, divestitures, or ownership transitions in both manufacturing and corporate environments.

About the Opportunity

We are partnering with a leading manufacturing organization to identify an experienced Senior Director of Human Resources to provide strategic HR leadership during a significant period of organizational transformation.

The business is currently undergoing a strategic review that may include a divestiture or acquisition, making this a highly visible opportunity for an HR leader with experience navigating organizational change, labor relations, and complex business transitions.

This role will primarily support operations in Wisconsin, while also providing strategic oversight for additional manufacturing locations. The ideal candidate will be a trusted advisor to executive leadership, partnering closely with Operations and corporate leaders to drive talent strategy, employee relations, organizational effectiveness, and change management.

This position offers the opportunity to make an immediate impact while positioning yourself for potential long-term employment.

What You’ll Do

Strategic HR Leadership

• Serve as the primary HR business partner for senior operations and business leadership.
• Provide strategic guidance on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, talent strategy, succession planning, and employee engagement.
• Partner with executive leadership during organizational transformation, restructuring, acquisitions, divestitures, or other significant business initiatives.
• Lead HR initiatives that support business objectives while maintaining a positive employee experience.

Labor & Employee Relations

• Act as the lead HR resource for employee and labor relations matters across manufacturing operations.
• Interpret and administer collective bargaining agreements.
• Partner with union leadership to foster productive labor-management relationships.
• Investigate grievances and support arbitration preparation when necessary.
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Provide guidance regarding labor law, contract interpretation, mediation, letters of agreement (LOAs), memorandums of agreement (MOAs), and unfair labor practice matters.

Organizational Change & Business Partnership

• Help lead HR strategy during periods of organizational change, including acquisitions, divestitures, and business transitions.
• Advise leadership on organizational design and workforce planning.
• Drive change management initiatives that improve organizational performance.
• Coach leaders through complex employee situations and organizational challenges.
• Support employee engagement initiatives by analyzing survey results and implementing action plans.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Review and improve HR policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Monitor HR metrics and recommend improvements based on business trends.
• Partner with HR colleagues across multiple locations to ensure consistency and operational excellence.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the HR organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or related field required.
• Master's Degree and/or SHRM or HRCI certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• 5+ years supporting unionized manufacturing environments.
• Experience partnering directly with senior leadership and executive teams.
• Demonstrated success supporting organizational change initiatives including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructures, or large-scale business transformations.
• Strong employee relations and labor relations background.
• Experience supporting both manufacturing operations and corporate functions.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and collective bargaining.
• Experience developing HR strategies that align with business objectives.

Preferred Industry Experience

Experience within one or more of the following industries is highly preferred:

• Manufacturing
• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
• Food Manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical

Technical Skills

• HRIS experience required
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills

What We’re Looking For

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic, evolving environments and enjoys partnering with executive leadership to solve complex business challenges.

The successful candidate will have experience:

• Leading HR during acquisitions, divestitures, or organizational restructuring
• Advising executives through organizational change
• Building credibility with both leadership and frontline employees
• Balancing strategic planning with hands‑on execution
• Influencing without direct authority
• Driving employee engagement and organizational effectiveness

Although this role does not currently have direct reports, you’ll work closely with an established HR team across multiple locations and serve as a key strategic partner to senior leadership.

Why This Opportunity?

• Highly visible leadership role reporting into senior HR leadership
• Opportunity to help shape the future of a growing manufacturing organization during a transformational period
• Significant executive exposure and partnership with Operations leadership
• Strong potential for contract extension or permanent employment
• Competitive hourly compensation
• Hybrid flexibility while remaining connected to business leaders and operations

Work Arrangement

• Majority of support focused on the Wisconsin operation
• Must be able to attend onsite meetings in Eau Claire, WI as needed
• Candidates must reside in Wisconsin or a neighboring state
• Occasional travel to additional manufacturing locations as business needs require