Director of Human Resources

The Director of Human Resources will lead and manage the HR function for Zurenda’s multi-company manufacturing organization. This is a senior, hands-on role supporting executive leadership, managers, and employees, with primary presence at Rochester-area facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Human Resources function across all company locations, ensuring HR practices, policies, and resources align to current operations and support company growth.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and managers, providing practical guidance and independently handling employee relations, performance, disciplinary actions, investigations, terminations, and other workplace matters.
• Maintain a visible, day-to-day HR presence, especially within Rochester facilities, and remain accessible to employees and management for HR needs and concerns.
• Drive efforts to attract, retain, and engage employees by overseeing recruiting, workforce planning, onboarding, employee engagement, and retention initiatives.
• Improve employee morale and workplace culture across locations by monitoring turnover and employee feedback, identifying trends or concerns, and developing practical solutions to strengthen the employee experience.
• Oversee compensation and benefits programs, including annual benefit renewals, partnership with brokers and vendors, evaluation of plan options and costs, employee benefit education and enrollment support, and resolution of benefit issues; provide guidance on compensation decisions, market competitiveness, and internal equity.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws by overseeing HR policies, employment practices, employee documentation, leave and accommodation matters, and other HR compliance requirements.
• Develop and strengthen onboarding, supervisor and manager training, and other employee development initiatives to improve consistency, leadership effectiveness, and retention.
• Manage and develop the HR Generalist and Recruiter by defining responsibilities and ensuring effective HR coverage across all locations.
• Track staffing needs, turnover, employee relations trends, HR metrics, and organizational risks; keep executive leadership informed and proactively recommend solutions based on findings.
• Support organizational growth by evaluating and improving HR processes, systems, policies, and workforce strategies as the company evolves.
• Depending on experience, provide leadership for the company’s Health and Safety function, including safety programs, compliance, training, incident management, and building a safety culture.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent education and significant relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including significant HR leadership or management experience.
• Prior experience with primary responsibility for an HR function, facility, business unit, or a significant employee population strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently handle complex employee relations matters, investigations, disciplinary actions, terminations, performance management, and employment-related risk.
• Broad, hands-on HR experience across recruiting and retention, employee benefits, compensation, employee relations, performance management, training, compliance, and policy development.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and New York employment laws.
• Experience managing and developing HR professionals.
• Multi-site and/or multi-company HR experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working directly with senior or executive leadership and providing recommendations on complex employee and organizational matters.
• Manufacturing or industrial HR experience strongly preferred, including support for hourly production employees and front-line supervisors.
• Health and Safety experience in a manufacturing environment is a plus.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, SHRM-CP, PHR, or similar certification preferred but not required.

Compensation

$125,000 to $155,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits

• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company-Paid Life Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location

Rochester, NY (in person/onsite).