Senior Director, Human Resources

JBT MAREL CORPORATION; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, life insurance

Matched 401(k) plan

Disability coverage

Job summary

JBT Marel, a global leader in food and beverage technology, seeks a Director of Human Resources to drive HR strategies across DF&H North America. This role partners with senior leaders to shape organizational excellence across Lakeland, FL; Puebla, MX; Cleveland, OH; and Stratford, WI.

The candidate will lead talent acquisition, development, employee relations, compensation, and performance management, ensuring compliance and a strong talent pipeline for rapid growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of HR experience in manufacturing or similar environments.
• Bachelor’s in HR or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Experience across multiple geographic locations with significant travel.
• Partner with leadership to drive lasting change in fast-growing org.
• Develop talent planning processes to support growth strategies.
• Strong business and people acumen with strategic mindset.
• Knowledge of employment law and HR trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead and champion people initiatives: workforce planning, engagement, PM, development, succession planning, learning programs.
• Analyze DF&H infrastructure and refine HR practices to support growth.
• Act as business partner to DF&H leaders with candid insights on decisions.
• Provide expert HR counsel to leaders on people-related matters.
• Review org structure and position the business for future success.
• Develop and implement HR goals, policies, and compensation strategies.
• Ensure recruitment plans exist for new openings and partner with external recruiters.

Skills

HR leadership

Talent acquisition

Employee relations

Compensation & benefits

Performance management

Training & development

Organizational development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At JBT Marel, what we do matters, we know that the contribution of our employees leads to the success of our business. Our purpose is to transform the future of food; this guides our vision of being the global leader in food and beverage technology, by harnessing the full power of JBT Marel to partner with our customers and pioneer sustainable innovation. Our values show who we are at our best. As we Create with Collaboration, Serve with Integrity, Grow with Excellence, and Advance with Innovation. As a member of the Diversified Food & Health (DF&H) North America management team, the Director of Human Resources provides HR leadership and direction to support JBT Marel’s growth plans within its DF&H North America business. This leader will establish HR strategies, initiatives, processes and policies to drive organizational excellence and will ensure alignment of the full spectrum of HR services including talent acquisition & development, organizational development, employee relations, compensation, performance management and training in multiple sites across the region. The Director Human Resources will serve as a critical business partner to the President and will plan and execute organizational initiatives and formulate internal communication to support JBT Marel’s growth. The Director Human Resources will support JBT Marel’s DF&H business unit with primary locations in Lakeland, FL- Puebla, MX- Cleveland, OH - Stratford, WI. The total employee population across the U.S. is 1,100 people.

WHY IS THIS A COMPELLING POSITION FOR A HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL TO CONSIDER?

JBT Marel is a financially strong organization, well-positioned for the future; The JBT Marel culture is positive, nimble and results oriented. Business leaders at JBT Marel are given great autonomy and empowered to run their businesses; Human Resource excellence is a key area of focus for JBT Marel; There is significant room for career growth into larger leadership roles within JBT Marel.

The Director Human Resources will:

• Lead and champion "people" initiatives of the organization i.e. workforce planning, employee engagement, performance management, management and leader development, succession planning, learning and development programs and initiatives;
• Analyse existing DF&H infrastructure and develop and refine HR practices and programs to build on that infrastructure to support growth;
• Serve as business partner to the leaders of DF&H, offering candid insight and feedback regarding important decisions within the business;
• Provide expert council to business leaders on people related matters;
• Review current organizational structure and recommend ways to better position the business for success;
• Plan, develop, and implement the human resources goals and objectives for DF&H;
• Oversee the development and implementation of human resources policies, guidelines and procedures, changing/updating existing policies as required - but in conjunction with other JBT businesses;
• With the assistance of Corporate HR oversee the business’ compensation programs and rewards practices to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness;
• Ensure recruitment and talent placement plans exist for all new openings which includes assisting in interviewing candidates, choosing/working with external recruiting firms, negotiating compensation packages and providing input in the hire decision-making process;
• Provide all necessary HR support as needed in connection with DF&H merger and acquisition opportunities;
• Assure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of 10+ years of human resource experience within relevant companies, preferably manufacturing;
• Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field and preferably a Master’s degree;
• Experience managing HR across multiple geographic/international locations, and will be comfortable with significant business travel;
• Experience partnering with a leadership team to drive lasting change in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment;
• Experience developing and implementing talent planning processes to support a focused growth strategy;
• An entrepreneurial mindset, attitude and spirit cultivated in a fast-growing organization;
• Proven success in delivering customer-focused HR services, including recruiting, compensation and benefits, organizational development, performance management, and employment law compliance.
• Significant experience or knowledge in the development and implementation of staff/management training and organizational development activities.
• A comprehensive understanding of HR trends and practices;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and excellent organizational skills;
• Proficient computer skills, with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office;

Benefits:

JBT Marel offers benefits on day 1 of your employment. Including:

• Medical, Dental, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, family leave, vision coverage, and a matched 401(k) plan.

Commitment to Diversity

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is a fundamental value to JBT Marel and critical to our future success. A thoughtful, focused, and sustained effort to work towards our DEIB goals is not just a principled choice, but also a business imperative.

Use of Technology in Our Hiring Process

Marel uses technology-assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support the review of applications. These tools help our recruiting teams identify skills and experience relevant to the role based on job-related criteria. All applications are reviewed by people, and AI is not used to make hiring decisions independently. We are committed to fair, consistent, and inclusive hiring practices globally.

Equal Opportunity Employment

(only for US posted roles) JBT Marel provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and qualified applicants for employment. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. At JBT Marel, we apply this policy to all our employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. We make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit and business needs at the time. JBT Marel will reasonably accommodate applicants who need adjustments to participate in the application or interview process. If you require assistance or accommodation during the application process, please contact JBT Marel at 844-286-4524.

Welcome to our temporary careers site. While we finalize our new website, you can explore open roles and start your career journey with JBT Marel here. At JBT Marel, we’re transforming the future of food through technology, innovation, and collaboration. Our work helps make the global food system more sustainable — and it’s powered by thousands of talented people around the world. We value collaboration, integrity, innovation, and continuous growth — and we believe the best ideas come from diverse perspectives working together. If you’re looking for meaningful work and the chance to make a real impact, explore opportunities at JBT Marel and get ready to transform the future of food.