Location

Rolling Meadows, Illinois

Reports To

(President / Executive Leadership Team)

Position Summary

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.

About the Company

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.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development

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.

Strategic HR Leadership

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.

Employee Relations & Culture

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.

Compliance & Risk Management

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.

Required Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

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.

Key Competencies

Strategic leadership
Manufacturing workforce management
Technical talent acquisition
Organizational development
Employment law compliance
Change management
Cross-cultural communication
Employee engagement
HR analytics and reporting
Safety and compliance orientation

Compensation & Benefits

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
Professional development support
Career growth opportunities within a global industrial organization

Work Environment

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.

Ideal Candidate Profile

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.

WEICHAI AMERICA CORP.

Vacatures

Human Resources Director