JobsGenerac

Director Human Resources

Generac · Belvidere, IL

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you managed labor relations at a union site, maybe a grievance or contract dispute. What happened and how did you handle it?

real hands-on experience with grievance process and contract administration, not just familiarity with the concept

Tell me about a time you had to coach a senior leader who wasn't receptive to feedback about their management style.

consultative skill and courage to push back on people more senior than an HR business partner

Have you supported an acquisition or integration before? What was the hardest part of merging two cultures or HR systems?

direct M&A integration experience versus theoretical knowledge

Tell me about the toughest employee relations investigation you've led. How did you make sure it was fair to everyone involved?

rigor and impartiality in handling sensitive investigations

What's your experience managing an HR team, and tell me about someone you developed or had to performance-manage out.

actual people-leadership track record, both developing talent and making hard calls

Technical

Describe a workforce planning decision you made using data or analytics at a site or functional level. What did the numbers tell you and what did you do?

whether they actually apply analytics to decisions versus just reporting metrics

How have you used AI-enabled HR tools or automation platforms in your work, and where did they actually save time versus just look good on paper?

genuine hands-on use of modern HR tech versus buzzword familiarity

How do you approach succession planning and talent reviews for a manufacturing or plant-based population specifically?

whether their talent process experience translates to a shop-floor, not just corporate, workforce

What employment law or compliance issue have you had to interpret and apply that you found genuinely tricky?

depth of real regulatory knowledge versus surface-level compliance awareness

Situational

Walk me through how you'd build trust with a union local when you're new to a plant and there's existing tension with management.

practical labor relations judgment and relationship-building instincts in a unionized manufacturing setting

Say a plant manager wants to skip the progressive discipline process to fire someone fast because production is suffering. What do you do?

backbone to enforce compliance and risk mitigation even under business pressure

You're running a compensation cycle across multiple sites and two plant leaders disagree sharply on how to allocate budget among their teams. How do you handle that conversation?

mediation skill and ability to hold a consistent, defensible process under conflicting pressure

If engagement scores dropped sharply at one plant right after a change like a new shift schedule or leadership change, how would you figure out what's really going on and what would you do first?

diagnostic approach to engagement problems and change management instincts

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Director, Human Resources is a key leader responsible for operationalizing HR strategy, ensuring high-quality HR services, and partnering with business leaders to develop a high-performing culture. This role manages a HR team that supports regional or functional business groups and provides guidance on employee relations, leadership development, talent acquisition, performance management, and workforce planning. Major Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership • Leads HR business partners supporting designed functions, locations, or plants • Provides strategic HR consultation to leaders on organizational effectiveness, employee relations, performance management and workforce planning • Partners with business leadership to improve engagement, retention and productivity Talent Management & Leadership Development • Develops and coaches leadership teams to strengthen managerial capability • Leads or supports major HR initiatives including compensation cycles, talent reviews, and succession planning Employee & Labor Relations • Ensures HR policy compliance and risk mitigations • Union sites – Manages labor relations, contract administration, grievance processes, and union partnership activities Mergers , Acquisitions & Organizational Integration • Supports M&A activities, including onboarding, culture integration, and organizational alignment Leadership • Selects, trains, coaches and develops staff, setting clear expectations to inspire, motivate, and engage the team • Manages performance, recognizes achievement, provides feedback, and administers progressive discipline when necessary Minimum Job Requirements Education • Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, related discipline, or equivalent work experience Work Experience • 8 years of progressive HR experience, including 5 years in a leadership role Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Strong working knowledge of HR operations, employee relations, and talent processes • Understanding of compensation cycles, performance management, and talent reviews • Working knowledge of HRIS systems • Knowledge of change management practices at team or functional level • Understanding of compliance, employment law, and policy interpretation • Strong consultation skills with leaders •  Skilled in employee relations investigations and resolution •  Ability to coach leaders on performance, engagement, and team development •  Strong communication and facilitation skills •  Skilled in applying analytics to site- or function-level workforce trends •  Process management and HR program execution •  Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills •  Cross-functional collaboration Preferred Job Requirements Education •  Master’s degree in Human Resources, MBA, or related discipline Certification / License •  SPHR or SHRM-SCP Work Experience • Experience supporting manufacturing operations • Exposure to union environments • Mergers and acquisitions experience, particularly integration support Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Working knowledge of HR systems and AI‑enhanced HR tools • Knowledge of change management practices at team or functional level • Project management skills • Understanding of compliance, employment law, and policy interpretation • Demonstrated ability to leverage AI-enabled HR tools – such as talent analytics or automation platforms – to enhance workforce planning and operational efficiency “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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