Senior HR Director, bilingual in Korean

Cesna Recruitment; Branchburg Township (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Cesna Recruitment seeks an HR Leader to oversee human resources across the site, driving workforce readiness, learning and development, and strategic business planning for pharmaceutical operations.

You will lead a 15+ person HR team, collaborate with specialty HR functions, and shape the site’s HR strategy to support business priorities and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 15 to 20 years of progressive HR experience, including manufacturing leadership.
• Experience in GMP-regulated environments and pharma/life sciences.
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to influence senior leaders.
• Excellent communication and data-driven decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site HR team of 15+ professionals and coach direct reports.
• Develop and oversee site HR strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Ensure payroll, benefits, learning and development, and HR processes are effective.
• Advise managers on performance management, disciplinary actions, and policy questions.
• Oversee HR systems implementation and continuous improvement to support planning and reporting.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive HR culture and workforce engagement.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and GMP standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Data-driven decision-making

Business partnership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR

Master’s degree or HR certification preferred

Job description

[Job Summary]

The HR Leader is responsible for all human resources functions across the site, including learning and development, HR processes, workforce planning, and strategic business planning. This role ensures operational excellence by enabling a highly engaged workforce equipped with the knowledge and skills required to deliver high-quality medicine safely. The HR Leader provides strategic and operational guidance, consultation, and coaching, influencing site leadership on all organization- and people-related matters critical to achieving business priorities and objectives.

This role leads a team of 15+ HR professionals, including three direct reports, and collaborates with subject matter experts across HR?compensation and benefits, recruiting and staffing, leadership development, talent management, organizational effectiveness, and employee relations?to ensure policies, programs, and initiatives effectively support the needs of the business. The HR Leader owns the site’s strategic HR plan and is accountable for shaping the HR strategy to drive operational excellence and workforce readiness.

[Job Description]

HR Leadership & Team Management

• Lead the site HR team of 15+ professionals, including three direct reports, providing coaching, guidance, and performance oversight to ensure effective delivery of all HR functions across the site.


• Foster a high-performing, collaborative HR culture that supports operational excellence and workforce engagement.


• Develop team objectives and priorities aligned with site goals, guiding workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, HR processes, and policy implementation.


• Support succession planning and career development for HR team members to build bench strength and future HR leadership.

Strategic HR Planning & Business Partnership

• Develop and oversee the site’s overall HR strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives, workforce needs, and operational priorities.


• Serve as a trusted advisor to site leadership, providing strategic guidance on workforce planning, organizational design, talent management, and employee engagement.


• Translate business priorities into actionable HR initiatives, ensuring the right talent is in the right roles at the right time.


• Monitor HR metrics and workforce analytics to proactively identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

Workforce Operations & HR Expertise

• Ensure effective delivery of all operational HR functions, including payroll administration, benefits management, employee relations, training compliance, and HR process improvements.


• Provide guidance on GMP-compliant practices, regulatory requirements, and quality-focused HR operations within a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.


• Oversee HR compliance, audits, and reporting to ensure adherence to internal policies, employment laws, and GMP standards.


• Advise managers and employees on performance management, coaching, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution in line with policies and best practices.


• Support development and oversight of site-wide training programs to ensure employees are qualified, competent, and compliant with required standards.

Employee Relations & Organizational Effectiveness

• Provide strategic guidance and oversight on employee relations issues, performance management, retention, and workforce engagement initiatives.


• Support managers in resolving workplace conflicts, performance challenges, and policy questions while maintaining consistency, fairness, and compliance.


• Identify trends in workforce data, employee feedback, and operational metrics to recommend proactive solutions that strengthen organizational effectiveness.

HR Systems, Policy & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of HR systems, tools, and processes to support workforce planning, reporting, and operational efficiency.


• Ensure HR programs, policies, and practices are compliant with employment laws and GMP regulations.


• Lead initiatives to enhance HR operations, employee experience, and organizational readiness.

Other Responsibilities

• Act as a visible HR leader and role model, fostering a positive, inclusive, and compliant workplace culture.


• Undertake ad hoc HR initiatives and site projects as assigned by site leadership or corporate HR.


• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree or HR certification (SHRM-SCP, SPHR) preferred.


• Minimum 15 to 20 years of progressive HR experience, including leadership in a manufacturing environment, preferably pharmaceutical or life sciences.


• Broad knowledge of HR functions: payroll, benefits, learning and development, employee relations, workforce planning, performance management, and compliance.


• Experience operating in a GMP-regulated environment and familiarity with regulatory and quality requirements in pharmaceutical manufacturing.


• Strong strategic thinking, leadership, and business partnership skills; ability to influence senior leaders and drive organizational change.


• Proven track record of managing large HR teams and developing HR strategies aligned with business objectives.


• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills.