One of the larger privately owned companies in the South has retained our firm to help in their search for a Chief Human Resources Officer.  The company is a market leader in the manufacturing, servicing, and after-sale support services of quality mobile equipment.  Our client seeks a strong human resources leader and manager to oversee the HR operations of this fast-growing, privately-owned company. 

Headquartered in the South, the company manufactures lift trucks, digger derricks, and specialty equipment for use by linemen in the electric utility, telecommunications, and tree care industries. The company also provides after-sale support worldwide. 

Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer is responsible for providing strategic leadership and expert advice to senior management on all HR issues.  He/she will guide HR personnel across the company to ensure the HR programs and processes are integrated and coordinated in a manner that enables the company to achieve its strategic and operational goals and objectives.  Candidate qualifications include:

•  a minimum of fifteen years’ of progressively responsible experience within HR; at least five years of this experience will have been in a senior management role in a company greater than $1B in revenues; the successful candidate may already occupy the #1 human resources slot within her/his company or may be a #2, depending on the size of the organization; industrial manufacturing experience is strongly preferred;

•  a generalist foundation in all aspects of HR with demonstrated success leading recruitment, retention, training and development programs, and human resource policy, strategy and processes; the ability to facilitate organizational transformations; a human resources generalist with a significant exposure to organizational development; comprehensive knowledge of labor and employment law and how to address employee relations issues with employees and management,

•  strong business acumen; must see issues through the lens of shareholder value and business case rationale; must have the ability to manage the dynamics of multiple direct sales organizations related to incentive plans, structural efficiency and change;

•  solid leadership and managerial skills; a strong organizational leader with the ability to ensure that vision and strategies are translated into action; ability to build a strong culture and team environment; proven consulting and coaching skills; ability to help develop training programs and mentor managers, assist in developing management meetings, and facilitate sessions on key human resources topics;

•  strategic and creative thinker; will take the time to understand the organization and have the situational savvy to effectively solve problems and roll out new and “out of the box” programs, etc; must keep up-to-date on the latest human resources best practices and theories and how they can be applied to the company;

•  a highly professional presence and great people skills; must have a personal style that suggests he/she will be effective in dealing with the management and able to persuasively present to a board of directors and the corporate leadership team; excellent presentation and communications savvy; must have the ability to articulate a position in a clear manner, provide supporting rationale and solicit open dialogue of different points of view;  

•  infectious enthusiasm, self-confidence and high energy level; low need for personal limelight; a good listener with a sense of humor;  embraces the company’s core values that emphasize customer first, enjoyment of work and family, financial stability, integrity, quality, spiritual development and teamwork; knows that people are a company's greatest strength;

•  an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college; an MBA or Masters Degree would be a plus. 

This is an excellent opportunity to join a rapidly growing leader in the manufacturing and servicing sector.  An attractive compensation package, including base salary, bonus and wealth building opportunities, will be tailored to the successful candidate’s requirements.

Please contact resume3@sockwell.com to suggest potential candidates and/or networking sources or to express confidential personal interest.