Area Director, HR (Bluff States) at US Foods, Inc. summary: The Area Director, HR (Bluff States) leads HR strategy and operations across multiple locations, collaborating with business leaders to drive talent management, employee relations, and culture change initiatives. This role involves managing complex employee relations issues, guiding organizational structure adjustments, and ensuring consistent implementation of HR policies while supporting overall business objectives. The position requires strong leadership skills, labor relations expertise, and frequent cross-functional engagement to promote a positive work environment and enhance team performance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive achievement of key results for the area. • Collaborate with Business Leaders to influence business strategy based on a deep understanding of the business implications for the area, including employee and labor relations. • Participate in key meetings with Business Leaders to bring HR expertise to business/operational discussions with linkage to HR strategy and business objectives. • Collaborate with appropriate HR and other teams to ensure new policies, plans, programs, and processes are effectively communicated and implemented consistently within the area. • Drive improvement in overall team performance and direct talent planning / management which includes: 1.) supporting employee performance improvement planning—including plan development, counseling, and follow-up and 2.) working with Area Staff to facilitate the completion of all talent routines, such as TAPP and STR. • Conduct investigations of complex Employee Relations and HR matters. • Advise Area Leaders in conjunction with Region Leadership and Functional Partners on complex employee relations issues and manage risk effectively.   Participate in the termination approval process for the area. • Support culture change initiatives and establish key change management strategies for business-related events impacting human capital for the area. • Work with Area Leaders to implement appropriate organizational structures as designed and key capabilities required to achieve business objectives. Complete workforce analysis for any RIF process. Work with region leadership and legal to assess risk. • Drive effective Employee Relations activities designed to promote a positive work environment and advocate for the associate experience. • Facilitate and follow up on the development of implementation of action plans designed to address issues surfaced through employee surveys—either locally driven or corporate driven. • Engage effectively with Functional Partners and HR Centers of Excellence.   In a market of this size with implications for Region and Company performance, partnering proactively, providing feedback, and engaging across the HR function is essential to successful execution of initiatives. • Provide insight into Area specific needs for training to Region Leadership and centralized talent management team. • Lead the HR team for the area with demonstrated people leader skills including the ability to coach and counsel other people leaders • Other duties as assigned by manager • Travel required 10% to domiciles and events. • Incumbent will office in one of the markets of the area they will support

SUPERVISION: • HR Generalists and HR Coordinators

RELATIONSHIPS • Internal: VP Field HR, Region HR Business Leader, Region President, Area President, Regional Functional leaders, Area HR, HR Functional teams, Legal, Communications, Operations Leadership, Commercial Leadership teams • External: Government agencies, external legal counsel

WORK ENVIRONMENT • Inside office environment, warehouse environment, domiciles

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Human Resources, or equivalent work experience required • Must possess a minimum of 7 years of Human Resources experience ,with increasing levels of responsibility, including support for senior level business • Labor Relations experience required • Demonstrated ability to build relationship s at senior levels as well as deeper into the organization • Must have direct experience leading HR • 10% travel required

Certifications/Training • PHR or SPHR certification strongly preferred

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law. The expected base rate for this role is between $95,000-$155,000.

This role is also eligible for an annual incentive plan bonus.

Benefits for this role include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html

Licenses • Valid driver’s license required & motor vehicle record must be in good standing.

Preferred Qualifications • Experience in process-based Employee Relations strongly preferred • Experience in a labor-intensive industry that is highly dependent on employee and team-performance strongly preferred • Multi-site experience preferred

Keywords: Human Resources, Employee Relations, Talent Management, Labor Relations, HR Strategy, Organizational Development, Change Management, Performance Improvement, Leadership, Workforce Planning