Senior Manager, Human Resources

AAR; Wood Dale (IL); On-site; USD 126,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligible

Medical/dental/vision/Life/AD&D

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off & holidays

Professional development & growth

Job summary

AAR is seeking a Senior Manager, Human Resources to lead HR strategy for our Supply Chain organization, aligning people initiatives with operational and growth objectives. The role drives workforce planning, talent management, and employee relations while partnering with centers of excellence for enterprise programs.

The position requires a minimum of 8 years in HR, strong business partnership skills, and the ability to influence leaders across levels.

Qualifications

• 8 years of progressive HR experience.
• HR business partner to operational or business leaders.
• Experience with employee relations, talent management, workforce planning, performance management, and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience influencing and coaching leaders at multiple organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to Supply Chain leaders, developing and executing people strategies aligned with operational, financial, customer, and growth objectives.
• Lead short- and long-term workforce planning, including labor requirements, organizational capabilities, critical roles, succession risk, staffing strategies, and productivity considerations.
• Partner with leadership development to lead talent reviews, succession planning, leadership development, performance management, and development planning to strengthen the supply chain leadership pipeline and critical capabilities.
• Provide leadership and guidance on complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair, compliant resolution while balancing employee and business needs.
• Lead the people aspects of significant operational and organizational change, including restructuring, technology implementation, process transformation, facility changes, and evolving workforce requirements.
• Analyze workforce metrics and trends, including turnover, absenteeism, staffing, engagement, performance, talent movement, and labor costs, translating insights into actionable recommendations.
• Partner with leaders to identify opportunities to improve employee engagement, retention, communication, leadership effectiveness, and the overall employee experience.
• Partner with HR centers of excellence to deliver integrated solutions that address business and workforce priorities.
• Promote consistent application of employment policies and practices and proactively identify and address employee relations, compliance, and workforce risks.

Skills

Strategic HR

HR leadership

Employee relations

Workforce planning

Talent management

Analytics

Change management

Leadership coaching

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Job description

Title: Senior Manager, Human Resources

Location: United States-Illinois-Wood Dale

Job Number: 18893

The Senior Human Resources Manager, Supply Chain serves as a strategic HR leader and trusted advisor to Supply Chain leadership, translating business priorities into practical people strategies that improve organizational performance, workforce capability, and employee engagement.

This role leads the delivery of HR strategies across supply chain operations, including workforce planning, talent management, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, employee relations, performance management, and change management. The Senior HR Manager combines strong business and operational acumen with HR expertise and uses workforce data and insights to anticipate organizational needs, mitigate risk, and improve business outcomes.

The position also provides leadership to the HR team supporting assigned supply chain functions and/or locations and partners closely with HR Centers of Excellence to ensure consistent and effective execution of enterprise people programs.

This position is based at our Corporate Headquarters in Wood Dale, IL, with a planned relocation to the Merchandise Mart (Chicago) in early 2027.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic HR Partnership Serve as a trusted advisor to Supply Chain leaders, developing and executing people strategies aligned with operational, financial, customer, and growth objectives.

2. Workforce Planning Lead short- and long-term workforce planning, including labor requirements, organizational capabilities, critical roles, succession risk, staffing strategies, and productivity considerations.

3. Talent Management & Succession Partner with the leadership development to lead talent reviews, succession planning, leadership development, performance management, and development planning to strengthen the supply chain leadership pipeline and critical capabilities.

4. Employee Relations Provide leadership and guidance on complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, timely, and legally compliant resolution while balancing employee and business needs.

5. Change Management Lead the people aspects of significant operational and organizational change, including restructuring, technology implementation, process transformation, facility changes, and evolving workforce requirements.

6. HR Analytics & Insights Analyze workforce metrics and trends, including turnover, absenteeism, staffing, engagement, performance, talent movement, and labor costs, translating insights into actionable recommendations.

7. Employee Experience & Engagement Partner with leaders to identify opportunities to improve employee engagement, retention, communication, leadership effectiveness, and the overall employee experience.

8. HR Program Execution Partner with HR centers of excellence to deliver integrated solutions that address business and workforce priorities.

9. Compliance & Risk Management Promote consistent application of employment policies and practices and proactively identify and address employee relations, compliance, and workforce risks.

Qualifications:

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Required Experience

• 8 years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• Significant experience serving as an HR business partner to operational or business leaders.
• Demonstrated experience with employee relations, talent management, workforce planning, performance management, and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience influencing and coaching leaders at multiple organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex priorities in a fast-paced operating environment.li>

Preferred Experience

• HR leadership experience within supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, logistics, warehousing, fulfillment, transportation, or similarly complex operations.
• Experience leading HR professionals.
• Experience supporting significant organizational transformation or operational change.
• Experience using workforce analytics to influence business decisions.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $126,000 to $150,000 annually . This range reflects the base [pay / salary] for candidates who meet the requirements of the role, including experience, education, and location. In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a bonus. AAR offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan with employer match, paid time off and holiday pay, as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

• eligible for a bonus
• medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance
• 401(k) savings plan with employer match
• paid time off and holiday pay
• opportunities for professional development and growth

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.