Dir II- HR

Job Description

Ready to make a difference? Our employees design, integrate, and test the world's next generation communication and electronic warfare systems for the United States DoD and international customers. You will be among the brightest minds, working on the aerospace and defense industry's most difficult problems. Drawing strength from our differences, we're innovating for the future. We put our customers first - exemplified by our mission: "We Protect Those Who Protect Us®." Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come build your career with us

The Director II, HR - Central Functions is a strategic executive partner responsible for driving the human capital strategy across the Electronic Systems (ES) business segment. This role serves as a catalyst for organizational effectiveness, providing critical HR leadership and oversight for a diverse portfolio of customer groups, including: Business Development, Strategy & Planning, Contracts, Finance, Legal, IT, Security, Communications, Facilities, SHE, and the Program Management Office.


The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor, aligning talent strategies with business imperatives to attract, develop, and retain a world-class workforce in a high-compliance, matrixed environment. This role also leads and mentors a team of HR Partners, fostering a culture of excellence, regional expertise, and continuous professional development.


This HR leader will need to work 50 percent or more on site near one of our major BAE locations and local talent is highly desired.


Locations: Nashua, NH; Cedar Rapids, IA; Austin, TX; Endicott, NY; or Fort Wayne, IN.


Strategic Responsibilities

Executive Partnership & Organizational Design

• Strategic Counsel: Serve as a trusted advisor to Central Functions Vice Presidents, providing high-level coaching on leadership effectiveness, organizational health, and business scaling.
• Org Effectiveness: Lead the evaluation of organizational structures to ensure alignment with business goals. Facilitate strategic workshops to redesign workflows, optimize reporting lines, and implement change management frameworks.
• Change Leadership: Direct the assimilation of new leadership and lead complex organizational transitions, including functional reorganizations, to maintain stability and productivity during periods of growth.

Talent Strategy & Lifecycle Management

• Agile People Strategy: Develop and execute a forward-looking people strategy that anticipates the "future of work," ensuring the business remains competitive in attracting and retaining top-tier functional talent.
• Talent Orchestration: Partner with Centers of Excellence (COEs) to drive sophisticated strategies in talent acquisition, succession planning, and total rewards.
• Capability Building: Drive initiatives that enhance the professional development and agility of the functional workforce to meet evolving segment requirements.

Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of HR Partners, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous professional development.
• ES HR Integration: Collaborate with the Electronic Systems HR leadership team to ensure consistency in people strategies across the segment while tailoring approaches to meet specific functional needs.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize advanced analytics to identify talent trends, anticipate second- and third-order effects of organizational changes, and present data-backed solutions to senior executives.

About BAE Systems Electronic Systems

BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Required Skills and Education

• Education/Experience: Bachelor's Degree and 14 years of relevant experience OR Advanced Degree and 12 years of relevant experience OR 18 years of relevant experience in the absence of a degree.
• Strategic HR Business Partnering: Proven track record of aligning human capital initiatives with overarching business goals in a corporate or industrial setting, specifically supporting diverse functional portfolios.
• Executive Presence: Ability to communicate with confidence and credibility at the VP and Executive level, providing challenging yet constructive feedback to senior functional leaders.
• Organizational Design: Proficiency in workforce planning and the ability to design structures that optimize efficiency and scalability across a matrixed organization.
• Conflict Resolution: Advanced skills in managing complex employee relations issues and facilitating resolution between senior stakeholders across different functional boundaries.
• Change Management: Experience leading large-scale organizational shifts, including mergers, acquisitions, or complex functional reorganizations.
• Analytical Acumen: Ability to draw appropriate conclusions from data and anticipate second- and third-order effects when making strategic recommendations.
• Project Management: Strong prioritization skills with proven attention to detail in executing enterprise-wide HR initiatives.

Preferred Skills and Education

• Experience in an HR Business Partner role supporting a highly matrixed organization.
• Location preference: Nashua, NH; Cedar Rapids, IA; Austin, TX; Endicott, NY; or Fort Wayne, IN.
• Proven experience serving as a coach to senior leaders on HR matters relating to organizational strategies and business imperatives.
• Previous experience working for a government defense contractor.

Benefits Information

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

Intern Benefits: Temporary employees generally are not eligible for BAE Systems benefits, but can elect to participate in the 401(k) savings plan. Temporary employees working 20+ hours per week are eligible for medical benefits, the employee assistance program, and business travel accident insurance.

Please note: Some benefits may be different for union employees that are governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or for positions covered by a wage law called the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).