Human Resources Director

Red Kite Recruiting; Melrose Park (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in manufacturing is seeking an HR Director to enhance employee engagement and support a safety-first culture. This role is pivotal in fostering an environment of trust and collaboration among employees and management. The ideal candidate is emotionally intelligent, with extensive HR experience in a plant-based setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting and coaching hourly employees.
• Working knowledge of employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Serve as HR partner for frontline employees and managers.
• Lead employee engagement surveys.
• Collaborate on updates to the employee handbook.

Skills

Emotional Intelligence

People Skills

Cross-functional Collaboration

Conflict Resolution

Policy Interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or related field

Job description

We’re not just making products—we’re building a culture. One rooted in teamwork, safety, continuous improvement, and respect for every person who walks through our doors. We believe success starts on the shop floor, and our team is the heartbeat of that success. We’re looking for an emotionally intelligent and highly approachable HR Director who thrives in a hands-on environment and connects easily with people across all levels of the organization.

Why You’ll Love This Role

• You’ll be a visible, trusted presence on the plant floor—not stuck behind a desk.
• Your voice will shape the employee handbook, engagement surveys, and key cultural initiatives.
• You’ll work cross-functionally with safety, operations, and senior leadership, serving as the bridge between employee concerns and organizational goals.
• You’ll help drive a safety-first culture by joining and influencing the safety committee.
• You’ll be empowered to drive engagement, improve morale, and strengthen retention.

Your Impact

• Serve as the day-to-day HR partner for frontline employees, supervisors, and managers across the facility.
• Lead and facilitate employee engagement surveys—from rollout to action planning and follow-up.
• Collaborate with leadership on the development and updates of the employee handbook to reflect company values, culture, and compliance.
• Participate on the Safety Committee, championing employee well-being and proactive safety initiatives.
• Help resolve employee relations matters with fairness, empathy, and professionalism.
• Assist with policy rollout, conflict resolution, performance management, and consistent policy interpretation.
• Foster a work environment built on trust, accountability, and respect.

What You Bring

• A genuine love for working with people—you’re the person who listens, connects, and lifts others up.
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in a manufacturing or plant-based environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or a related field. (HR certifications a plus!)
• Demonstrated experience supporting and coaching hourly employees and frontline leaders.
• A track record of cross-functional collaboration and bringing structure to fast-paced environments.
• High emotional intelligence—you read the room, know when to lead, and when to listen.
• Comfort navigating gray areas with discretion and integrity.
• Working knowledge of employment laws and strong documentation practices.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus but not required.