Vice President of Human Resources

Who We Are:
Challenge’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

Together we own Safety! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want:
We are seeking a strategic and dynamic Vice President of Human Resources to lead HR operations, Learning and Development, Total Rewards, and EHS. This executive will set the tone for company-wide communication standards—ensuring clarity, consistency, and transparency across all levels.

In addition to driving long-term talent strategies and ensuring compliance, this leader will champion organizational growth by fostering a culture of accountability, performance, and results. As a member of the executive team, they will model the behaviors and standards expected across the organization—demonstrating ownership, follow-through, and a commitment to excellence.

This role is ideal for someone who leads by example, builds strong, engaged teams, and drives impactful, lasting change.

What You'll Do:

• Lead and support HR operations across manufacturing sites, including plant launches, labor relations, and high-pressure environments.
• Guide Learning & Development initiatives to ensure organizational capability and adaptability in support of growth and performance goals.
• Establish and manage HR goals and budgets aligned with company objectives.
• Provide leadership and oversight for the HR team, including communication, professional development, performance reviews, and recruitment.
• Partner with executive leadership to align talent strategy with the organization’s long-term mission and business goals.
• Drive a high-performance culture through continuous improvement of performance management systems, coaching, feedback, and linking performance to rewards.
• Ensure compensation and benefits strategies support business objectives and reflect company values and culture.
• Collaborate with Finance and Legal to ensure compliant and well-funded compensation and benefits programs.
• Promote a positive and inclusive work environment through fair employee relations, effective dispute resolution, and open communication between employees and management.
• Champion the company’s values and reinforce behavioral expectations at all levels of the organization.
• Oversee HRIS compliance and propose system enhancements to improve data management and tracking.
• Provide strategic leadership in union relations, including collective bargaining, grievance handling, and compliance with labor laws.
• Ensure employee health, safety, and security by implementing appropriate policies and practices.
• Align workforce performance with business objectives by leveraging employee feedback and ensuring effective communication of HR policies and benefit changes.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities to enhance HR efficiency and reduce costs.
• Share knowledge and best practices across sites to drive consistency and organizational learning.

When and Where:
This position is located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI. 

Occasionally, this may require you to arrive early, stay late, or work on weekends, outside of our regular hours, to ensure we successfully meet customer needs, deadlines, or urgent requests.

What You Need to Have:

• Bachelor’s degree with specialization in Human Resources Management required; Master’s degree with specialization in Human Resources Management preferred
• Minimum 15 years of HR experience and a minimum 10 years of management experience with at least 5 years at senior management level
• PHR Certification or three years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Basic understanding of HIPPA compliance
• Ex