Senior Director Human ResourcesThe Senior Director Human Resources serves as a strategic leader responsible for designing, executing, and continuously enhancing core HR functions, including compensation, benefits, HRIS/HR analytics, and talent management. Collaborates with HR leaders across business units to implement consistent enterprise-wide policies and best practices, promoting a unified and high-performing HR strategy. Leads centralized HR operations and acts as a strategic business partner to senior leadership, driving operational excellence and organizational effectiveness. Leads and sets the vision for enterprise-wide strategic initiatives that shape Johnson Outdoors' future. Serves as the central driver of organizational strategy by aligning priorities, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring results-driven execution. Guides strategic planning, governance, and change leadership to deliver measurable outcomes, enhance organizational agility, and advance long-term business goals.
Located at our beautiful Headquarters along Lake Michigan in downtown Racine: 555 Main Street, Racine, WI.
Key Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership & Alignment- Provides strategic leadership across centralized HR functions, compensation, benefits, HRIS/HR analytics, and talent management. Additionally, directs initiatives in employee relations, organizational design, employee engagement and recognition, workplace safety and health, and performance management in close collaboration with executive leadership.
- Acts as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on workforce planning, organizational structure, and HR policy development, ensuring alignment with long-term business goals and operational effectiveness.
Compensation- Oversees the development and management of compensation programs, including base pay and incentive plans, ensuring market competitiveness, internal equity, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Benefits- Oversees the development and management of employee benefits programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement savings, wellness initiatives, and leave policies. Monitors utilization, cost-effectiveness, and employee satisfaction.
HR Technology & Analytics- Oversees the HRIS function, ensuring optimal efficiency, data integrity, and user experience.
- Drives the development of HR analytics capabilities to enable data-driven decision-making and workforce insights.
Talent Management & Development- Collaborates with executive leadership to develop and implement performance management, succession planning, leadership development, employee engagement, and career growth strategies that build organizational capability and a high-performing workforce.
- Promotes a culture of continuous learning and career growth across the organization.
Policy & Compliance- Collaborates with HR leaders across business units to develop and implement consistent, enterprise-wide HR policies and practices that reflect organizational values and ensure legal compliance.
- Leads audits and risk assessments to maintain compliance with employment laws and internal standards.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement- Drives innovation by identifying and implementing emerging HR trends, technologies, and process improvements that enhance employee experience and organizational agility.
Strategic Advisor- Advises business unit human resources leadership on the interpretation, administration, execution and communication of employment regulations, company policies, enterprise practices, and HR best practices. Serves as a change leader in driving enterprise HR initiatives and transformation efforts.
- Leads HR operations for centralized functions including improving processes, service delivery, and employee experience.
Other- Champions an AI-first mindset and the responsible integration of AI and other digital technologies into business strategy, prioritization, risk management, decision-making, and operations. Guides organizational adoption while ensuring alignment with company governance, security, privacy, and ethical standards.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:- Performs human resources responsibilities for staff, which includes but is not limited to the following: hiring and terminating employees, promotions/pay adjustments, staff development, performance evaluations, resolution of employee concerns and disciplinary counseling.
- Oversees the development of budgets, and ensures budgets are managed within approved guidelines.
- Oversees the development and approval departmental policies, procedures, and guidelines to meet business needs.
What you need to succeed:- Bachelor's degree business, human resources or equivalent.
- Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of leadership experience which including responsibility for managing multiple human resource functions, strategic planning with business partners, and leading large-scale, enterprise-wide initiatives.
- Strong strategic thinking abilities to align HR initiatives with business goals and drive organizational performance.
- Experience advising executive leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, and HR policy development.
- Demonstrated success in leading HR initiatives that support organizational growth and employee engagement is essential.
- Expert-level knowledge of human resources functions including employee relations, total rewards, recruitment, talent management, HRIS/analytics, and organizational design.
- Successful experience developing strong partnerships and strategizing with other HR leaders and professionals to strategize, identify opportunities, improve processes, manage complex projects, and drive a strong culture.
- Experience in successfully managing large scale enterprise-wide projects from concept development, implementation, and evaluation.
- Demonstrates deep knowledge of human resources laws, regulations, best practices, and compliance.
- Excellent interpersonal/communication skills to communicate with all levels of employees and leaders as well as external organizations.
- Adept at change management and capable of guiding the organization through transitions such as mergers, restructures, or cultural shifts.
- Demonstrated leadership skills and abilities to effectively provide direction to employees, and influence across all levels of the organization.
- Proficiency in all Microsoft software (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, etc.) and HRIS systems.
- Strong understanding of AI capabilities, limitations, business impact, governance, risk, and ethical expectations. Ability to apply AI-supported insights to strategic decision-making, lead change, set expectations, and model responsible use.
What you will receive:- Share in the company's success with competitive base salary with additional earning potential through participation in the management bonus program, and eligibility for annual pay increases.
- Find work/life balance with generous Paid Time Off and holiday benefits, a full benefits package, and broad range of employee support and fitness and wellness plans.
- Further your career with performance development and training opportunities, including our tuition assistance program.
- Have fun at work, enjoy a collaborative and casual work environment, participating in fun company events, and taking advantage of great employee discounts on all our outdoor recreational products.
- Plan for your future with our 401(k) with company match and deferred retirement contributions, Sons & Daughters Scholarship program, college savings program, life and LTD insurance, and more.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW• Industry: Outdoor Recreation & Consumer Products
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Business Scope: Enterprise-Wide Support Function
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Brands Supported: Minn Kota®, Humminbird®, Cannon®, Old Town®, Ocean Kayak™, Carlisle®, Jetboil®, SCUBAPRO®
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Global Footprint: Supporting employees, operations, and business partners across Johnson Outdoors worldwide
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Primary Focus: Driving enterprise performance, organizational effectiveness, employee experience, and business growth
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Key Skills: Business Partnership, Strategic Thinking, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Change Leadership, Project Management, Communication, Continuous Improvement
