Senior HR Business Partner - Manufacturing
Contract Position | Wiles-Barre, Pennsylvania
Initial Contract Through December 31, 2026
Compensation: $80-$100 per hour (+access to Medical Benefits, PTO)
About the Company
Our client is a global manufacturing and materials technology company with approximately 24,000 employees and operations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Although the company's name may not be widely recognized by consumers, its products are used in many everyday and mission-critical applications, including tires, roads, power infrastructure, construction, mining equipment, and industrial lifting systems.
The Pennsylvania facilities supported by this position are part of the company's specialized wire rope business. These plants manufacture highly engineered rope products used in mining, infrastructure, energy, heavy lifting, and other demanding industrial applications. The facilities employ approximately 300 professionals across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, supply chain, quality, and plant leadership functions.
Position Overview
The company is seeking an experienced Senior HR Business Partner to provide urgent interim HR leadership and support across its manufacturing facilities in Hanover and Exeter, Pennsylvania. This individual will serve as the senior HR partner for approximately 300 employees, roughly 83% of whom are represented by the United Auto Workers.
This is a highly visible, hands-on position for an HR leader who is comfortable operating in a changing industrial environment. The organization is transitioning toward a 24/7 manufacturing model and is focused on strengthening performance, accountability, leadership effectiveness, and new ways of working across the plants.
This is not a traditional employee-engagement-only HR assignment. The successful consultant will be expected to lead through transformation, navigate complex employee and labor relations matters, influence senior stakeholders, and ensure that HR initiatives are effectively implemented at the plant level.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary Senior HR Business Partner for the Hanover and Exeter manufacturing facilities.
- Partner closely with plant managers, divisional leadership, and the Global HR Director to align people strategies with operational and business priorities.
- Help build and reinforce a high-performance culture as the organization transitions toward 24/7 plant operations.
- Lead labor and employee relations activities across a predominantly unionized workforce.
- Interpret and administer the current collective bargaining agreement, which is in place through 2028.
- Develop productive working relationships with United Auto Workers representatives and plant leadership.
- Advise leaders on employee relations matters, workplace investigations, corrective actions, performance management, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation.
- Drive new ways of working into the manufacturing facilities and support leaders and employees through organizational and operational change.
- Coach plant leaders on employee engagement, leadership effectiveness, workforce planning, talent management, and organizational performance.
- Ensure that HR programs and decisions are consistently communicated and implemented across both locations.
- Connect plant-level priorities with the broader global HR organization, Centers of Excellence, and HR services teams.
- Partner with HR service teams on payroll, compensation, benefits, and HR operational or administrative matters.
- Identify organizational risks, workforce concerns, and implementation gaps, and proactively coordinate the appropriate stakeholders to resolve them.
- Support additional HR transformation, organizational development, and plant leadership initiatives as needed.
Reporting Structure and Key Partnerships
This position reports to the Global HR Director, who is based in Europe. The Senior HR Business Partner will also work closely with:
- The Vice President of the North American business division
- Plant managers across the supported Pennsylvania operations
- Global and regional HR leadership
- HR Centers of Excellence
- HR services teams supporting payroll, compensation, benefits, and administration
- Union representatives and plant-level leadership teams
This position does not currently have direct reports. Success will depend on the consultant's ability to lead through influence, build alignment, and coordinate across a global and matrixed organization.
Required Qualifications
- Significant HR Business Partner or plant HR leadership experience within a manufacturing, industrial, heavy equipment, materials, or similarly operational environment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting employees and leaders within a manufacturing plant.
- Strong labor and employee relations experience within a unionized workforce.
- Experience interpreting and administering collective bargaining agreements.
- Proven ability to handle complex employee relations matters, investigations, performance issues, and workplace conflict.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to connect plant leadership, employees, union representatives, HR teams, and global business partners.
- Demonstrated success supporting organizational transformation, cultural change, or new operating models.
- Ability to operate independently and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, highly visible environment.
- Excellent communication, coaching, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Willingness and ability to work onsite at the Pennsylvania facilities at least three days per week.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience working with the United Auto Workers.
- Experience supporting a 24/7 manufacturing or continuous-operations environment.
- Experience with SAP SuccessFactors.
- Experience working within a global or matrixed manufacturing organization.
- Previous experience providing interim HR leadership during a period of transformation or leadership transition.
Location and Work Arrangement
This position will support manufacturing sites in Hanover and Exeter, Pennsylvania, which are approximately 20 minutes apart and located within an established manufacturing and logistics corridor near Interstate 81.
The consultant must be able to work onsite at least three days per week in Wilkes-Barree, PA, preferably selecting onsite days between Monday and Thursday. Candidates available to work onsite five days per week are strongly encouraged to apply.
Schedule
This is a full-time contract position requiring approximately 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Work will generally be performed during traditional business hours within an 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. window.
Occasional earlier-morning meetings may be required to accommodate collaboration with HR and business leaders based in Europe.
Contract Details
- Engagement type: Full-time contract
- Target start date: As soon as possible
- Initial contract term: Through December 31, 2026
- Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week
- Pay range: $80-$100 per hour (+ access to Benefits)
- Direct reports: None
Interview Process
Qualified candidates should expect an approximately 45-minute virtual interview with the Global HR Director and the Vice President of the North American business division. Depending on scheduling availability, these conversations may be conducted jointly or as two separate interviews.
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at www.Kornferry.com
