HR DIRECTOR - Automotive

The Head of HR is a senior and influential leadership role fully embedded within an automotive manufacturing plant characterized by a strong and structured trade union presence. Acting as a strategic and operational partner to the Plant Director, the role requires a balanced combination of business acumen, industrial relations expertise, and hands-on leadership. The position operates in a complex, highly automated production environment undergoing continuous transformation driven by efficiency, automation, and cost competitiveness. The Head of HR leads a team of Senior HR professionals across Industrial Relations, People Development, Health & Safety, Payroll & Administration, and Internal Communication.

Role Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to Plant Leadership, translating business objectives into effective people strategies;
• Support plant performance through workforce planning, organizational design, productivity initiatives, and change management;

• Contribute to operational excellence in a highly automated environment with strong focus on efficiency, quality, and cost control;
• Lead all interactions with trade unions and works councils in a highly unionized context;
• Manage collective bargaining processes and ensure constructive, structured industrial dialogue;
• Anticipate and mitigate industrial relations risks to ensure business continuity and social stability;
• Ensure full compliance with labor laws, collective agreements, and regulatory requirements;

• Manage autonomously the full lifecycle of workforce adjustment processes, including:
• Collective dismissals
• Solidarity agreements
• Temporary layoff schemes (e.g., short-time work / CIG)
• Organizational restructuring and role redesign
• Lead negotiations with unions and institutional stakeholders on workforce reduction measures;
• Develop sustainable labor cost management strategies aligned with business needs;

• Drive talent development, succession planning, and leadership capability building;
• Support employee engagement initiatives in a demanding industrial environment;
• Oversee performance management processes and promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement;
• Ensure alignment between workforce skills and evolving automation technologies;

• Oversee Health & Safety governance in collaboration with operational leaders, ensuring compliance and promoting a strong safety culture.
• Support sustainability initiatives, with focus on social sustainability and workforce impact.
• Promote responsible communication and transparent internal messaging during transformation periods.

• Lead, develop, and coordinate a multidisciplinary HR team
• Ensure strong integration between HR functions and effective service delivery to plant operations.
• Foster a high-performance culture within the HR team.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Management, Economics, Law (with specialization in Labor/Employment Law), or Organizational Psychology;
• Postgraduate qualifications in HR Management, Organizational Development, or Labor Law are a strong plus;
• Over 10 years of HR leadership experience in automotive manufacturing or similarly complex industrial sectors;
• Proven track record in highly unionized environments (critical requirement);
• Demonstrated hands-on experience managing complex workforce restructuring processes;
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations in high-automation contexts;
• Experience leading HR teams of comparable size and scope;

• Fluent professional English (mandatory), French strongly preferred;
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management capabilities;
• Excellent knowledge of labor legislation and collective bargaining frameworks;
• High resilience and ability to operate under pressure;
• Strong execution mindset combined with strategic thinking;
• Credibility on the shop floor and ability to engage effectively at all organizational levels.

Applications from qualified Candidates across the entire Italian territory will be taken into consideration.

Automotive Industry

Rif. EX10108

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