Head of HR & WP

Job Description

Airbus Commercial is looking for a Head of HR & Workplace Function to join our team in Kinston, NC
.

The Head of HR & Workplace Function will establish, direct, and lead the Human Resource function at an operational facility with 900+ employees. The successful candidate will be an integral member of the Site Management Team, guiding, supporting, and coaching leaders at all levels of the organization.

This role is responsible for the successful alignment of HR & Workplace Function deliverables at the site, ensuring that site, region, and enterprise-level objectives and goals are met. The role requires constant coordination with Site, Program & Functional leadership interfaces, both within the U.S. and with the Airbus Founding Countries. The Head of HR would be an employee of the Kinston Affiliate.

• Accountable for the site-level HR & Workplace Function and its successful delivery toward site objectives, including HR strategy development and deployment, Employee Relations, Health & Safety, Training & Organizational Development, and other HR & Workplace initiatives via strong collaboration with Centers of Expertise and Employee Services teams.
• Develop and deploy a cultural improvement program to enhance the employee experience at the site.
• Act as a senior member and contributor to the U.S. Commercial HR Leadership Team, aligning site-level requirements with regional and enterprise-level HR & Workplace strategies.
• Advise/Support site-level top management on all people and workplace matters as a member of the site senior leadership team.
• Champion a health and safety-first culture within the team and site.
• Lead site ramp-up staffing, onboarding, and training initiatives—delivering on time and within budget.
• Coordinate finance, program, and site leadership to ensure budgets and headcount models are appropriately defined and delivered.
• Report KPI status of defined initiatives at regular intervals to site, Program regional, and EU-level leadership.

• Lead a team of 4 direct reports and associated teams to deliver on defined objectives.
• Curate and maintain a collaborative, open, performance-driven culture within the HR & Workplace organization.
• Mentor, advise, and support reporting managers in delivering their team’s objectives and goals.
• Foster change leadership within the HR & Workplace organization, supporting the teams to act as brand ambassadors for HR & Workplace across the site.
• Maintain positive employee relations, respond to employee concerns, and facilitate investigations as needed.
• Provide guidance to HR & Workplace employees in deploying consistent, accurate, and efficient consulting practices at the site.
• Ensure HR & Workplace teams are resourced properly and eliminate blockers to the delivery of HR & Workplace objectives.

• Responsible for the production ramp‑up related HR & Workplace deliverables.
• Regularly review and deliver on site-level HR & Workplace and culture projects to support site objectives.
• Actively participate in and/or mentor direct reports in delivering regional and enterprise-level projects as defined.

• Update job knowledge by participating in conferences, educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and joining professional organizations.
• Mentor others in the Airbus way of leading and working.
• Support other initiatives as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience.
• Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or JD) preferred.

• 15+ years of operational HR experience.
• Past experience leading teams and complex strategic initiatives at a site or regional level.
• Past success in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a complex, international organization preferred.

• SHRM‑SCP, SHRM‑CP, SPHR, or PHR certification.
• Additional Employee Relations, Change Management, or other certifications.

• 15% domestic and international travel.

• Authorized to work in the U.S.