Human Resources Director

Weichai America Corporation is seeking an experienced and strategic Human Resources Director to lead all HR functions for our North American operations. The HR Director will serve as a key business partner to leadership and support a growing workforce within the industrial machinery, diesel and natural gas engine, manufacturing, engineering, and technology sectors.

This role is responsible for developing and executing HR strategies that support operational excellence, technical talent acquisition, workforce development, employee engagement, compliance, and organizational growth. The ideal candidate will have deep HR leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial equipment, power systems, or heavy equipment industries.

Weichai America Corporation is a subsidiary of Weichai Group, a global industrial equipment and power solutions manufacturer specializing in diesel and natural gas engines, commercial vehicle powertrains, industrial equipment, power generation systems, and off-road and heavy-duty applications.

• Lead recruitment efforts for engineering, manufacturing, technical, supply chain, and corporate roles.
• Develop partnerships with technical schools, universities, and industry organizations to build talent pipelines.
• Oversee onboarding programs for manufacturing and engineering personnel.
• Implement leadership development and succession planning programs.

• Develop and implement HR strategies aligned with business growth and manufacturing operations.
• Partner with executive leadership on workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational development.
• Support expansion initiatives, operational scaling, and technical workforce development.
• Drive HR initiatives that improve productivity, retention, and employee engagement.

• Foster a high-performance, safety-focused, and collaborative work environment.
• Manage employee relations matters, investigations, and conflict resolution.
• Support multicultural workforce integration and cross-functional collaboration between U.S. and global teams.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, and employee engagement initiatives.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EEOC, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Illinois employment laws, and manufacturing labor regulations.
• Maintain HR policies, employee handbook, and workplace procedures.
• Support audits, employment documentation, and risk mitigation efforts.
• Partner with leadership on workplace safety initiatives and compliance training.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior HR leadership roles.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, industrial equipment, power systems, or heavy machinery operations.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. labor law and manufacturing compliance requirements.
• Experience recruiting technical, engineering, and skilled labor talent.
• Proven leadership and organizational development experience.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Thrives and produces results in fast-paced environment

• Master’s degree in Human Resources or MBA.
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification.
• Experience working within global or multinational organizations.
• Experience supporting engineering or EPA-regulated industrial product environments.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing culture and operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience supporting bilingual or cross-cultural business operations.
• Strategic leadership
• Manufacturing workforce management
• Technical talent acquisition
• Employment law compliance
• Change management
• Cross-cultural communication
• HR analytics and reporting
• Safety and compliance orientation
• Salary range is between $130K - $150K
• Performance-based annual bonus opportunity up to 10%
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Career growth opportunities within a global industrial organization

Full-time onsite or hybrid role based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Collaboration with domestic and international teams. Occasional travel to manufacturing, testing, or partner facilities may be required.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on HR leader who understands the demands of industrial manufacturing and engineering environments. This person can balance strategic leadership with operational execution while building strong relationships across technical, production, and executive teams.