Director, Global Human Resources Operations Position Profile
ABOUT VISKASE
Viskase Companies, Inc. ("Viskase") has a long history, founded in 1925 by Erwin O. Freund, and has grown through innovation in technology, a deep understanding of its customers' products and supply chain requirements, and product innovation to reach the current position as a worldwide leader in the production and sale of cellulosic, fibrous, and plastic casings for the processed meat and poultry industry. While the company’s products are a small percent of the cost of their customers’ products, the quality of the casings and the company’s delivery performance are critical to their customers’ operating efficiency and product quality.
Viskase operates eleven manufacturing facilities, serving 120+ countries, located in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, and the Philippines. The company’s strategy is to make a step change in profitability through multiple growth paths including product mix enhancement/optimization, operational improvements (e.g., de-bottlenecking, quality, upgrading existing production facilities), new product lines, adding resources in high-growth markets through new capital investments, and M&A.
Viskase's mission is to provide a full range of artificial casing and service solutions that add value for their customers.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Director, Global Human Resources Operations will lead the HR function across the Company’s ten manufacturing locations worldwide. This position will be responsible for executing organizational and people strategies to support operations objectives and drive cost performance and productivity improvement.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage the plant HR managers and oversee the HR function at the Company’s plants in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines.
- Drive successful recruitment of manufacturing talent, and improvement in employee engagement and retention.
- Works with Viskase corporate HR to ensures that compensation and benefits programs support overall Company business strategy and are commensurate with individual markets.
- Develops strategies and programs to improve working relationships, build morale, and improve Viskase status as a desirable employer in our operating markets and thus our access to preferred talent.
- Maintain extensive knowledge of domestic and international HR policies, programs, and legislation.
- Ensures compliance with European social plans and interfaces with works councils where applicable.
- Partners with plant management to ensure alignment with Company operational and financial strategy and goals.
- Translates the Company’s strategic business plans into HR strategic and tactical operational plans.
- Identifies and drives resolution of organizational barriers to success (structure, competency, culture, communication, alignment, etc.)
- Leads collective bargaining efforts at unionized facilities and ensure effective contract management.
- Drives excellence and standardization of programs across manufacturing plants to leverage best practices in onboarding, training and development, documentation, succession planning, employee development, rewards, and communication.
- Establishes HR leader standard work in plants and hold managers accountable.
- Leads talent assessment and organizational development across the manufacturing network, utilizing a common toolkit.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.
- 10+ years of relevant HR experience.
- 5+ years of HR leadership in Manufacturing Industry.
- 2-3 years’ experience working in an international HR role required.
- 2+ years Union negotiation experience required.
- Knowledge of Labor contract negotiation, implementation, and management required.
- Working knowledge of European labor laws, practices, social plans.
- Working knowledge of Latin America labor laws, practices, social plans.
- Thorough understanding of labor relations around the world.
- Local to the Chicagoland area preferred.
- Ability to travel 50-75% of the time. (Including international)
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize time-sensitive issues.
- Ability to lead, direct, and motivate a team.
- Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, and team around the world, to create a result driven environment in which each team member is held accountable for results.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Possesses high ethical standards.
- Demonstrated success in applying independent judgment.
- Strong and effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS
Results Oriented
The Director, Global Human Resources Operations must be performance-driven and able to provide measurable results. The successful candidate will be resourceful, action-oriented, as well as a flexible and decisive leader who establishes clarity during distractions to produce results in a timely fashion. They will provide clear direction and establish achievable goals and will actively lead cross-functional teams to ensure their success.
Communication
This individual should possess very strong communication, listening, and persuasion skills, to truly partner with the leadership team. The successful candidate must be an adept writer as well as be comfortable, dynamic, and an effective presenter in front of both external and internal audiences including employees, senior management, and clients. They should be comfortable with transparency and collaboration, and be able to inspire, lead, and develop their team and others around them.
Perspective
This individual will provide a worldly perspective of macro and industry influences to assist in guiding the company. They will provide perspective coming in from outside the organization to aid in the collective leadership team’s understanding and acceptance of trends, insights, changing business perspective and management strategies. This keen perspective should be presented with patience and guidance rather than brute authority.
Mission Driven
This individual must be intellectually sharp and clearly capable of thinking on their feet while demonstrating outstanding business judgment. The Director, Global Human Resources Operations will possess the analytical skills to improve overall productivity and elevate the company’s human resources efforts as a point of differentiation in the marketplace. This person must not only embrace change, but be entrepreneurial in nature, creating and altering the road map along the way.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Title: Managing Director Email: pmeder@comharpartners.com Direct: (312) 313-8452 Mobile: (312) 203-8526
Title: Director
Email: mlayton@comharpartners.com
Direct: (312) 313-8454
Mobile: (224) 805-9369
