Human Resources Director

Company Description

Martin Transportation Systems (MTS) is a single-source provider of transportation, packaging, and logistical services dedicated to the automotive industry. Founded in 1978 in Flint, Michigan, the company has grown under the leadership of owner Richard E. Johnston and an experienced team of transportation professionals. MTS now employs over 1,200 drivers, owner-operators, and support staff across its operations. The organization emphasizes respect, dignity, and a people-first culture, recognizing employees as the core of its success. Candidates can expect to join a stable, growing company with deep roots in the automotive logistics sector.

Martin Transportation Systems is seeking an experienced, hands-on Human Resources Director to lead enterprise-wide HR strategy and operations across our family of businesses.

This role will partner closely with executive and operational leadership to strengthen talent, compliance, employee relations, recruiting, and organizational effectiveness across a diverse, multi-entity workforce. The HR Director will report directly to the Director of Risk with a dotted-line relationship to the CEO.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and develop the HR function across multiple operating companies and locations.
• Partner with senior leaders on workforce planning, organizational change, staffing, retention, and employee engagement.
• Oversee employee relations, investigations, performance management, corrective action, conflict resolution, and separations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and Canadian employment laws, as well as company policies and employment-related regulations.
• Guide HR support for union and non-union workforces, including grievance administration, labor relations, and collective bargaining support as needed.
• Lead recruiting strategy and execution for professional, operational, skilled-trades, and leadership roles.
• Oversee HR programs including benefits, leave administration, recognition, training, performance management, and employee development.
• Use HRIS data, workforce metrics, and trend analysis to identify opportunities and support informed business decisions.
• Develop, maintain, and improve HR policies, processes, training, and documentation.
• Build strong relationships with leaders, supervisors, and employees while serving as a trusted, practical, and responsive resource.
• Manage competing HR priorities across geographically dispersed locations while maintaining consistent practices and appropriate local compliance.
• Maintain an onsite presence at the Byron Center, Michigan headquarters and travel regularly to company locations throughout the month to support leaders, employees, and HR initiatives.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressive HR leadership experience, including responsibility for multi-site, multi-state operations.
• Ability to work onsite in Byron Center, Michigan, with regular travel to company locations throughout the month.
• Experience supporting Canadian employees and operations, including working knowledge of Canadian employment standards, leave requirements, labor relations, and applicable federal and provincial requirements—particularly Ontario—strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. employment law, employee relations, investigations, leave administration, and HR compliance.
• Experience supporting both union and non-union workforces; collective bargaining and grievance experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to balance strategic HR leadership with day-to-day operational execution.
• Excellent judgment, communication, relationship-building, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort using HR metrics and HRIS data to guide decisions.
• Experience in transportation, logistics, manufacturing, warehousing, or another operationally intensive environment preferred.
• DOT knowledge is preferred, but not required.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.

Why MTS

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a family-owned group of businesses with varied operations, a broad employee population, and an active leadership agenda. The successful candidate will have both the authority and partnership needed to build practical HR solutions that support employees, leaders, and long-term business growth.

Martin Transportation Systems is an equal opportunity employer.