We are representing a highly respected, private equity-backed manufacturing company headquartered on Long Island. With a proud history and a strong growth trajectory, the company is seeking an experienced Vice President of Human Resources to help drive organizational success and foster a high-performance culture across all levels of the business.

Position Overview:

Reporting directly to executive leadership, the VP of HR will be responsible for leading all human resources functions, managing labor relations with a unionized workforce, and supporting the company’s growth through strategic HR initiatives. This leader will oversee a team of three (two HR professionals and one Safety Manager) and serve as a key liaison between employees, management, and private equity stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, hands-on HR executive with strong change management capabilities and a passion for building high-achieving teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage all HR functions, including employee relations, labor relations, talent acquisition, benefits administration, compliance, and employee engagement.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all union matters, including negotiations, contract administration, grievance handling, and fostering positive labor relations.
• Oversee and mentor a team of three, promoting professional growth and operational excellence.
• Drive change management initiatives that support organizational growth, cultural transformation, and operational efficiency.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with leadership, plant managers, employees on the floor, and external partners, including private equity sponsors.
• Collaborate with leadership to design and implement a best-in-class HR strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Manage and optimize the company’s HRIS (currently ADP), with openness to implementing a more robust system if needed.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable labor laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior management on HR-related matters.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree or HR certifications (SPHR/PHR, SHRM-SCP/SHRM-CP) a plus.
• 8-12+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including experience managing direct reports.
• Strong experience in manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or food and beverage industries is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing unionized workforces is required.
• Experience working in a private equity-backed environment highly preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish highly preferred.
• Strong expertise in change management and organizational development.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively engage with all levels of the organization, from the plant floor to executive leadership.
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to both think strategically and execute tactically.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.