Director of Human Resources & EHS

Steel Partners is seeking a Director of Human Resources & EHS to join the JPS Senior Leadership Team. This role serves as a strategic partner to the President and other senior stakeholders, aligning people and safety strategies with business objectives across corporate and plant locations in Anderson, SC and Statesville, NC. The director will also act as the primary liaison to Steel Partners, helping shape culture, talent development, regulatory compliance, and risk management to support growth and a high-performance environment.

The position sits on site at two locations and requires up to 30% regional travel, primarily drivable to Statesville, NC. It will suit someone who can blend big-picture planning with hands-on program execution, enjoys cross-site collaboration, and is comfortable operating in a complex manufacturing setting.

As a member of the leadership team, the Director will be expected to influence strategy while getting into the details of programs that move the business forward. The role calls for a clear communicator who can oversee multiple disciplines, build strong relationships with site leaders, and drive a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement that aligns with the company’s goals and core values.

What You’ll Do as Director of Human Resources & EHS

In partnership with the President and the Senior Leadership Team, this role sets the strategic direction for HR and EHS, defines key performance indicators, and leads diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives while championing a culture of safety and engagement across the organization.

Day to day, the director will oversee all HR functions, including talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, payroll, leave administration, employee relations, engagement, organizational development, HRIS (ADP, E-Time), performance management, policies, procedures, and compliance. They will also manage the annual performance and merit cycle and develop strategies to attract, develop, and retain top talent, including succession planning and leadership development.

The role drives enterprise HR initiatives such as Positive Employee Relations Training, JPS Grow Leadership Development, Train-the-Trainer, a new video training platform, Superstar, and the 25-Year Club, ensuring scalable programs across sites.

On the EHS side, leadership of programs across corporate and plant locations is essential, working in partnership with site EHS Supervisors to maintain environmental compliance and standards, including wastewater, air permitting, PFAS, and OSHA and other governing-body regulations. Occupational health and safety programs, like hearing conservation, CPR/First Aid/AED/Narcan training, drug screening, and employee wellness, are included, as is risk mitigation for workplace injuries and workers’ compensation, including safety-related RCCAs and TPA management.

Interfacing with OSHA, environmental and state agencies, the director will manage the EHS audit cycle, safety KPIs, and emergency or pandemic response readiness, acting as the primary point of contact for regulatory communications.

Leadership of a multi-site HR and EHS team is central, with responsibilities for coaching and developing HR managers, business partners, a recruiter, a training manager, EHS supervisors, and payroll and HR projects analysts. The role involves setting clear goals, holding regular check-ins, managing costs, and driving accountability with data-driven approaches and rolling action items.

The Director will act as the main liaison to Steel Partners and participate as a member of the Steel Partners HR Leaders Team, while also coordinating with Steel Legal, EHS, Audit and Risk Management partners, as well as third-party administrators and benefit providers. They will lead and support enterprise programming such as Steel Sports, Kids First Camp, internships and rotational programs, and wellness initiatives, and contribute to diversity and community engagement activities.

From a risk and governance perspective, the role oversees internal investigations, EthicsPoint cases, RCCAs, and PIPs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local employment and safety requirements and maintaining confidentiality and integrity. Continuous improvement through audits, corrective actions, and policy refinement is part of the daily remit.

The Right Candidate For This Role

Must have a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; an advanced degree and HR certifications such as SHRM-SCP or SPHR are strongly preferred. EHS credentials (for example OSHA 30 or CSP) are a plus. They should bring 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience within a manufacturing, industrial, or other operationally complex environment, with experience overseeing or closely partnering with an EHS function, including OSHA, environmental permitting, and workers’ compensation.

Candidates must demonstrate a track record as a trusted strategic business partner with strong leadership, communication, and change-management capabilities, plus a deep understanding of HR and regulatory frameworks, labour market trends, and workforce planning. The ability to build relationships quickly, drive productivity, and lead teams across multiple sites is essential, as is operating with candor, integrity, and a continuous-improvement mindset. Travel up to 30% is required, primarily for drivable regional travel to Statesville, NC.

Nice to have credentials include an advanced degree and HR certifications, and EHS credentials such as OSHA 30 or CSP.

Pay, Benefits And Practical Details

Salary Range: TBD

Location and work arrangement: onsite at corporate and plant locations in Anderson, SC and Statesville, NC. The role is full-time with regional travel up to 30%.

Schedule and travel: full-time employment with travel primarily to Statesville, NC, as needed to support site operations and cross-site coordination.

Eligibility and physical demands: not specified in the posted details.

Advice For Applicants For This Role

Lead with your manufacturing HR and EHS leadership in your resume. Put the emphasis on your ten or more years of progressive HR leadership in an industrial setting, your experience guiding HR and EHS across more than one site, and your ability to travel regionally to Statesville and other locations.

Show how you prove the must-have skills with concrete examples. Highlight instances where you partnered with a President or Senior Leadership Team, set KPIs for HR and EHS, launched safety and engagement programs, managed HRIS and payroll at scale, and navigated regulatory compliance across multiple sites.

Be prepared to discuss real programs during interviews. Outline a safety culture initiative you led, share how you handled an investigation or a corrective action plan, and talk through how you built leadership capability and succession plans across sites. Have data or a brief plan ready to illustrate impact.

Ask a smart question about the role's priorities and partnerships. For example: how the position will align with Steel Partners enterprise programs such as Steel Grow Leadership Development, Kids First Camp, internships, and wellness initiatives, and what success looks like in the first 12 months across Anderson and Statesville.