HR Director

This hands-on role is required to work onsite full-time at our newly built headquarters in Antioch, IL.

Are you a relationship-driven and skilled full-scope Human Resources leader who enjoys the variety of strategic and tactical activities found in a small growing organization? Do you enjoy being a change-agent and champion of company culture?

If you desire a top HR leadership position where you can drive HR excellence within a modern manufacturing organization – this could be a great fit.

Who We Are

With a 50-year history, Fischer Paper Products is a family company with more than three generations of experience in manufacturing and supplying high-quality, food-safe paper products to nationally recognized and respected customers.

Focused on building our future together, Fischer Paper Products is positioned for exciting growth – for the company and each of our 140 team members. We are a people-first organization with plans to grow to 200 team members over the next 3-5 years.

Our purpose is to be a trusted employer and supplier of choice, by doing what’s right for our team, our customers, and our community.

Fischer Paper Products is seeking an outgoing HR Director who brings a highly collaborative and team-focused approach. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a role blended of strategic, operational, and hands-on work while having daily interactions with employees and leaders across the business and manufacturing operations.

Position Overview

As the Human Resources Director, you will have oversight and responsibility over the HR and training functions of the organization, which include planning, coordinating, and executing. You will focus on raising the bar on talent management & acquisition, learning & development, total rewards, leadership & management development, employee experience, and building upon our status as a trusted employer within the community.

Reporting directly to the President, the HR Director will lead a team of 3 in the HR and training functions. This position will serve as a collaborative thought partner and hands-on practitioner, being an impact player and highly engaged through all levels of the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

Culture:

• Develop and implement an HR plan that aligns with the overall mission and strategy of the organization, resulting in innovative best practices and policies that will serve the full range of Fischer’s HR needs.
• Gain an understanding of the organization and participate fully in all strategic deliberations.
• Optimize the HR function/team, modernize and refine key processes and activities aligned toward achieving strategic objectives.
• Implement a vision for HR to ensure a high-performing culture of success, accountability, transparency, and collaboration and to ensure fair and consistent treatment of all employees.
• Provide HR expertise and influence on special projects, talent reviews, training, change management, organizational design and strategic human capital planning.
• Develop comprehensive approaches to employee training, development and retention by refining or expanding: compensation and benefits, career paths and employee development, succession planning, and learning opportunities as appropriate to Fischer business needs.
• Drive internal and external efforts towards establishing Fischer as an employer-of-choice within the greater Antioch community.

Talent:

• Conduct needs assessment in partnership with business leaders to identify organizational development needs; recommend tactics and learning modalities to address key opportunity areas and provide consultation to enable implementation of tactics.
• Develop short and long-term training and development strategies and corresponding execution plans aligned to overall business need.
• Own the technology, structure, and communication for the performance management process. This includes goal setting, regular one-on-one meetings, and performance calibration processes, ensuring alignment to corporate strategic goals.
• Create and implement a succession planning process for the organization. This should include replacement planning, as well as leadership readiness assessment tools for all levels of the organization. This should be in collaboration with our growth plans to ensure timing of key roles.
• Develop appropriate metrics and tracking mechanisms, service-level agreements and other planning and measurement tools to build accountability and measure results, impact and cost-effectiveness of the team.
• Design and implement meaningful and impactful employer branding initiatives; build talent pipelines and community connections; and partner with local colleges, high schools, and community organizations.

Operational:

• Expand utilization of HRIS and LMS systems and mobilize HR insights to effectuate change across the business.
• Administration of employee benefits and payroll.
• Analysis of talent needs, forecasting and planning; develop career pathways and development opportunities to support internal promotions and high-performance teams and leaders.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with other employees, working as a team player and enabling cross-team facilitation.
• Support management effectiveness of the day-to-day business while simultaneously driving HR growth and improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and requirements and keeping executive team informed of critical developments.
• Deliver HR process and service excellence to all Fischer employees.
• Prepare and manage departmental budget and performance; initiating cost savings directives where applicable.
• Exude the Fischer brand by performing in a highly responsive, collaborative, mindful, and personal manner.
• Perform other additional duties as needed and assigned by the President & Owner.

Role Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field required; Advanced degree preferred
• Professional HR Certification such as SPHR or SHRM-SCP strongly desired
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with 5+ years of functional HR leadership experience in a growing organization
• Experience within a manufacturing or production environment highly preferred
• Deep knowledge of all human resources generalist functions (e.g. compensation, benefits, compliance, operations, employee relations)
• Significant experience in working across functions and leading and delivering on complex projects
• Demonstrated success serving as a change agent and influencer of positive work culture and environment for all employees
• Must be a “hands on” leader, bringing process discipline and management effectiveness
• Expertise in growing strong relationships that inspire confidence and build trust
• Superior interpersonal communication skills are required, facilitating transparency and inclusivity
• Effective consultative skills, sound business judgment, and independent decision-making
• Strong ability to bring strategic contributions to the human resources function through professional qualifications, integrity, and leadership skills
• Knowledgeable of relevant local, state, and federal employment laws
• Accuracy, detail orientation and analytical skills needed with the ability to analyze data, communicate insights and trends, forecast and plan
• Ability to work onsite full-time at our headquarters in Antioch, IL

Our Offering

Fischer Paper Products offers employees strong potential for growth, competitive wages, an excellent benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, disability, vacation, 401(k) retirement savings matching contribution, and more. Our office is a business casual work environment and is onsite with our state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehouse operations. The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000 – $150,000 annually.

We Make it Easy

Founded in 1901, MRA is a nonprofit employer association that serves more than 4,000 employers, covering more than one million employees.

As one of the largest employer associations in the nation, MRA helps its member organizations thrive by offering the most comprehensive assortment of HR services, information, education, and resources to help build successful workplaces and a powerful workforce.

We partner with these companies working directly with their HR department and leadership to hire their talent. We are a direct line to the company, not an agency recruiter.