Human Resources Director

About the Opportunity

RWT Consulting is conducting a confidential search on behalf of one of its clients, a well-established U.S. platform within the infrastructure, construction, and utilities sector, entering a growth phase. To support this transformation, the company is seeking a strategic and hands-on HR Director who can build and scale the HR function, strengthen organizational culture, and help drive performance across a decentralized operating model.

Role Summary

The HR Director will be a key member of the leadership team, responsible for designing and executing a scalable people strategy aligned with the company’s aggressive growth objectives.

This role requires a business-oriented HR leader with experience in mature, operationally intensive industries (e.g., construction, utilities, industrial services), where margin discipline, workforce productivity, and operational excellence are critical.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with executive leadership to define and execute a people strategy that supports rapid growth and operational scale.
• Align HR initiatives with business priorities, including expansion, integration of business units, and performance improvement.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, and talent strategy.

Organizational Development & Culture

• Build a strong, cohesive culture across multiple business units, fostering engagement, accountability, and performance.
• Lead change management initiatives to support growth, integration, and transformation.
• Design and implement leadership development programs to strengthen the management bench.

Talent Management & Workforce Planning

• Develop and execute strategies for talent acquisition, retention, and succession planning .
• Ensure the organization attracts and retains talent capable of operating in a low-margin, high-volume environment .
• Implement performance management frameworks that drive accountability and results.

HR Infrastructure & Processes

• Build scalable HR systems, policies, and processes suitable for a multi-entity organization .
• Drive standardization where appropriate while respecting operational autonomy across business units.
• Oversee compensation and benefits structures aligned with market competitiveness and business performance.

Team Building

• Build and lead a best-in-class HR team , including HR Business Partners and specialized functions (e.g., Talent Acquisition, L&D).
• Develop capabilities within the HR team to support a growing and geographically dispersed workforce.

Employee Engagement & Relations

• Foster a strong employee value proposition and improve engagement across all levels of the organization.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. labor laws and promote a proactive, fair, and consistent employee relations approach.

Candidate Profile

Experience

• 6-10 years of progressive HR leadership experience, including senior HR roles in large, well-established organizations .
• Experience in scaling businesses or supporting significant growth (organically and/or through acquisitions).
• Experience supporting union and non-union workforce in an industrial environment
• Preferred experience in construction, infrastructure, utilities, industrial services, or similarly mature sectors .
• Experience supporting multi-site, decentralized operations is highly desirable.

Capabilities

• Deep understanding of business drivers in low-margin, high-volume industries .
• Ability to translate business strategy into practical HR initiatives .
• Strong experience in organizational design, change management, and culture building .
• Demonstrated success in building HR teams and infrastructure from the ground up .

Leadership Style

• Hands-on, pragmatic, and execution-oriented.
• High level of business acumen and credibility with operational leaders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence at all levels.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving environment .

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• Relevant HR certifications (e.g., SHRM, SPHR) are a plus.

Why This Role?

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Build and shape the HR function and culture of a growing organization.
• Join a leadership team driving transformation and long-term value creation .