McWane - Group Director, Human Resources

Who We Are……

At the McWane family of companies, we make ductile iron products, including pipe, valves, hydrants, fittings and plumbing products, and manufacture fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems and steel pressure vessels. McWane conducts business throughout North America and the world. Our major plants by industry include three pipe facilities, three valve and hydrant facilities, seven soil pipe and utility fittings facilities, three tank manufacturing facilities, and one fire suppression equipment facility. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, we’ve made our operations safe, efficient, and compliant while preserving and creating thousands of well-paying American jobs. Our foundries produce products that last for generations. Since 1920, McWane’s ductile iron products have safely delivered clean water to countries around the world. When properly installed, ductile iron pipe can last for more than a century, reducing energy consumption and costs during its long, useful life.

What We Live By……

The McWane Way is a core philosophy outlined by the founder J.R. McWane in 1920. Today it encompasses Teamwork, Excellence, Leadership, Environment, Communication, Accountability, Safety and Trust. All team members at every level are expected to know and work by these principles, values, and behaviors. Most importantly, every team member is expected to be able to answer this question, “What does this mean for me?” This is the all-important question because behavior is the best evidence of a living principle. Every position is rooted in a culture that aligns with McWane’s eight guiding principles. Our unwavering commitment to the McWane Way ensures positive outcomes for both our company and the communities we serve. Join the McWane team on the journey to The McWane Way.

We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented Group Director, Human Resources to be a business partner for a significant portion of our manufacturing organization. This role works closely with divisional leadership to drive business performance through effective talent, workforce, and organizational strategies..

As a key member of the corporate HR leadership team, the Group Director will align people strategies with operational priorities across multiple manufacturing sites. This role requires a leader who can operate at both a strategic and hands-on level—building strong relationships with senior leaders while remaining connected to plant-level realities.

The Group Director, Human Resources strategically promotes the McWane Compass culture throughout the organization. The successful candidate for this role will partner with divisions to provide guidance, collaborate with local teams to ensure solutions to HR issues, share best practices, coordinate workforce management, talent development and general compliance to regulations and laws.  This position is expected to be a key member of the corporate HR function while earning the trust and respect of those it supports.  The scope supports approximately 1,500 employees across multiple divisions.

Responsibilities

Strengths include communicating and building relationships with teams and leaders at all levels of the organization. Expertise and counsel must be provided in the areas of:

• Serve as the lead HR partner to segment leadership, aligning human capital strategies with business objectives
• Support workforce planning efforts, with a focus on skilled trades and hard-to-fill roles
• Reinforce a strong safety-first culture in partnership with operations and EHS
• Drive performance management practices that reinforce accountability and results
• Champion adoption of HR processes, tools, and systems across the group
• Driving continuous improvement within the HR function
• Leading investigations regarding employee hotline calls
• HR audit reviews; taking a partnership approach to ensure the organization and its employees are protected
• Assess the HR teams for development opportunities
• Coach HR leads and engage in facilitating training requirements as needed
• Keeping The McWane Way in the forefront of all interactions
• Building relationships with operations through a myriad of communication channels and plant visits

Why Join

• Opportunity to directly impact the performance of a critical business segment
• High visibility role partnering with senior operational leadership
• Organization committed to operational excellence, safety, and workforce investment
• Collaborative HR leadership team with enterprise-level influence

• Demonstrated success supporting multi-site, hourly workforce populations
• Proven ability to influence senior business leaders and drive results
• Experience leading HR in decentralized, complex, and operationally intensive environments
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, psychology, business, communications, or other related field or with applicable level of work experience
• Minimum 10 years of progressive HR, preferably in a manufacturing industry
• Minimum 3 years of HR team leadership experience
• Must have strategic mindset, business acumen, and ability to influence
• Proven record in providing leadership in business settings including effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience working in complex HCM systems
• Knowledge of HR employment law at state and federal levels
• Willingness to travel approximately 40% of the work time

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in manufacturing
• Union and contract negotiations experience
• Advanced degree (MBA, Master’s in HR, or related field)

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
McWane is a Federal VEVRAA contractor, and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices. McWane will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or service member status, marital status, citizenship status (In IL - sex, including same sex, ancestry, order of protection status, physical or mental disability, military status, pregnancy, unfavorable discharge status, genetic information), (In IA - gender identity), (In CA- gender identity or expression, and genetic information) or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.