Position Summary

The Vice President, Human Resources is a key member of the leadership team responsible for shaping and executing a high-impact people strategy that enables Vanguard Soap's operational performance, growth, and culture.

This leader will serve as both a strategic business partner and a highly engaged, hands-on HR executive, with deep connection to plant operations and the frontline workforce. The VP HR will build scalable HR infrastructure while maintaining a visible and trusted presence across the organization, particularly with production employees.

This role requires a proactive, assertive leader who is comfortable operating with urgency, driving decisions, and holding the organization accountable. The VP HR will play a central role in creating and sustaining a culture that enables the operating model, reinforces performance expectations, and reflects a deep respect for employees at every level. The Vanguard manufacturing campus is a 14 acre site producing 40-50 million pounds of product annually with over 100 employees.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership & Business Partnership
Partner directly with the CEO and leadership team to align people strategy with business goals (growth and operational efficiency)
Lead talent strategy across build, buy, and develop approaches to ensure a strong leadership pipeline
Maintain a consistent, visible presence on the plant floor; actively build trust, credibility, and strong relationships with hourly employees
Serve as a proactive and assertive partner to operations leadership - anticipating workforce challenges and driving solutions before issues escalate
Ensure workforce practices, leadership behaviors, and people processes directly enable the operating model and business performance
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
Deliver on a best-in-class recruiting strategy for both salaried and hourly roles
Improve speed, quality, and cost of hiring across salaried and hourly roles
Implement workforce planning processes aligned to production demand and business growth
Build relationships with local talent pipelines (universities, associations, chamber of commerce, etc.)
Employee Relations & Culture
Create and sustain a positive culture grounded in accountability, respect, and transparency
Champion a culture of deep respect for employees, ensuring individuals feel valued while maintaining clear performance expectations
Develop strong, trust-based relationships with hourly employees to improve engagement, retention, and communication flow
Total Rewards & Performance Management
Oversee compensation and benefits programs to ensure competitiveness and cost effectiveness
Implement performance management processes that drive accountability and results
Align incentive structures with operational and financial performance
Leadership Development & Organizational Capability
Identify and actively develop top performers and high-potential talent across the organization
Build leadership capability at all levels, with a strong emphasis on frontline and plant leadership
Coach leaders to balance performance expectations with employee engagement and respect
Embed leadership behaviors that reinforce the company's culture and operating model
Strengthen succession planning with a focus on building internal bench strength

Key Capabilities

Proactive, assertive leadership style with a strong bias for action
Ability to quickly establish credibility and build relationships with hourly workforce
Demonstrated ability to create cultures that enable operational excellence and performance
Deep commitment to developing top talent and strengthening organizational capability
Strong belief in and track record of fostering a culture of respect, accountability, and engagement
High business acumen with strong operational orientation
Data-driven decision making combined with practical, real-world judgment
Ability to influence at all levels-from plant floor to executive team

Qualifications

Experience

7-10 years progressive HR leadership experience, including:
Significant experience in manufacturing, industrial, or distribution environments
Proven success supporting plant operations and frontline workforce
Experience operating at both the strategic executive level and hands-on operational level ("roll up sleeves" mindset)
Demonstrated ability to influence senior and functional leaders and drive change

Education

Bachelor's degree required (HR, Business, or related field)
Preferred: Master's degree or HR certification (SPHR, SHRM-SCP)

Vanguard Soap

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VP of Human Resources