Director of Human Resources & EHS

The Director of Human Resources & EHS is a key member of the JPS Senior Leadership Team, serving as a true business partner and strategic advisor to the President and senior stakeholders. This role leads Human Resources and Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) across corporate and plant locations in Anderson, SC and Statesville, NC, and serves as the primary liaison to Steel Partners. The Director is responsible for driving employee safety and wellbeing, organizational culture, talent strategy, training and development, compensation/payroll, environmental and regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation, aligning people and safety strategies with business objectives to support growth and foster a high-performance environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership

• Serve as a strategic partner to the President and Senior Leadership Team, contributing to overall business planning, the JPS strategic plan, and decision-making.
• Set strategic direction for HR and EHS, including KPIs, goals, key initiatives, and diversity, equity & inclusion efforts.
• Champion a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement that supports JPS goals and core values.
• Oversee corporate and HR communications across the organization.

Human Resources Oversight

• Lead all HR functions including talent acquisition and staffing, compensation and benefits, payroll, leave administration (FMLA/LOA), employee relations, engagement, organizational development, HRIS (ADP, E-Time), performance management, policies/procedures, and compliance.
• Lead the annual performance management and merit cycle.
• Develop and execute strategies to attract, develop, and retain top talent, including succession planning, turnover reduction, and leadership development.
• Drive enterprise HR initiatives such as Positive Employee Relations Training, JPS Grow Leadership Development, Train-the-Trainer, new video training platform,Superstar, and the 25-Year Club.
• Serve as the escalation point for exempt hiring and employee issues, terminations, exempt performance improvement plans, and sensitive employee relations matters.
• Act as HR process improvement lead, including systems implementation and troubleshooting, and oversee the integrity of all HR policies, procedures, and reporting.

Environmental, Health & Safety Oversight

• Provide leadership and oversight of EHS programs at all corporate and plant locations in partnership with site EHS Supervisors.
• Oversee environmental compliance and EHS standards, including wastewater, air permitting, PFAS, and OSHA and other governing-body regulations.
• Oversee occupational health and safety programs, including hearing conservation, CPR/First Aid/AED/Narcan training, drug screening, and employee wellness.
• Serve as risk mitigation lead for workplace injuries and workers' compensation, including safety-related RCCAs and TPA management.
• Serve as primary point of contact for OSHA, environmental, and state agency communications; manage the EHS audit cycle, safety KPIs, and emergency/pandemic response readiness.

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Lead, develop, and retain a multi-site HR and EHS team, including HR Managers, HR Business Partners, Recruiter, Training Manager and Superviso EHS Supervisors, and the Payroll & HR Projects Analyst.
• Set clear goals, conduct weekly 1:1s, manage team costs, and drive accountability and team effectiveness through tools such as a rolling action item list.
• Coach and develop HR leaders and plant supervisors to handle frontline employee relations, staffing, and training at the appropriate level.
• Leverage KPIs, goals, costs/risks, and financial outcomes to inform strategy, optimize processes, and meet reporting requirements.

Steel Partners & Partner Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison to Steel Partners and member of the Steel Partners HR Leaders Team; act as JPS Steel Grow Leader.
• Act as primary liaison with Steel Legal, EHS, Audit, and Risk Management partners, as well as third-party administrators (e.g., Corvel) and benefit providers.
• Lead and support Steel enterprise programming, including Steel Sports, Kids First Camp (Executive Leader and Coordinator), internship and rotational programs, and wellness initiatives.
• Support cross-functional initiatives such as diversity and inclusion efforts and community engagement activities.

Risk, Compliance & Ethical Governance

• Oversee all internal investigations, EthicsPoint cases, RCCAs, and PIPs; take the lead on escalated compliance or core values issues involving the management and supervisory team.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment and safety requirements (e.g., DOL, EEOC, OSHA, unemployment) while maintaining confidentiality and integrity.
• Drive continuous improvement through audit readiness, corrective action planning, and policy refinement.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required; advanced degree and HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) strongly preferred. EHS credentials (e.g., OSHA 30, CSP) a plus.
• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience within a manufacturing, industrial, or operationally complex environment.
• Experience overseeing or closely partnering with an EHS function, including OSHA, environmental permitting, and workers' compensation.
• Demonstrated success as a trusted strategic business partner with strong leadership, communication, and change management capabilities.
• Deep understanding of HR and regulatory frameworks, labor market trends, and workforce planning.
• Proven ability to quickly build relationships, drive productivity, and lead teams across multiple sites.
• Operates with the highest level of candor, integrity, and continuous improvement to best represent the organization.
• Ability to travel up to 30% (primarily drivable regional travel to Statesville, NC).

Core Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking & Execution
• Executive Presence & Influence
• Operational Excellence
• Safety Leadership & Environmental Stewardship
• Relationship Building & Stakeholder Management
• Risk & Compliance Leadership
• Talent Development & Organizational Effectiveness