At SMA America, we believe in Energy that Changes. Since 1981, SMA has been developing innovative solar technology with a purpose -- making the installation, operation, and maintenance of photovoltaic power plants simpler, more reliable, safer and more cost effective. In the meantime, we’ve also been collecting awards as a great place to work, providing growth opportunities to our employees, and challenging conventional thought.
The Director Human Resources will play a pivotal role in driving the people strategy to support the overall business objectives and organizational development. This position requires a strategic and forward-thinking HR leader who is excited by business partnering, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee development.
The Director of Human Resources will be a strategic leader responsible for driving the human resources function in alignment with organizational goals. This role requires the Vice President of Human Resources to develop and implement HR strategies that foster a positive organizational culture, attract top talent, and enhance employee engagement.
Furthermore, the position holder needs to have strong abilities in navigating in a global matrix organization and build strong networks within the global HR community and the US subsidiary
Primary duties / responsibilities
Strategic HR Leadership & Business Partnership
· Collaborate closely with the leadership team to understand business goals and align HR strategies to support organizational success.
· Provide strategic HR guidance to department heads, fostering a proactive partnership to address business challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
· Lead and empower the HR team to operate with agility and effectiveness across the employee lifecycle, ensuring a high-impact HR function.
Organizational Development
· Lead initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness, including talent development, succession planning, and change management.
· Drive a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, promoting an environment that supports the organization's growth and agility.
· Guide business leaders through organizational development processes, championing change management strategies that foster resilience and engagement.
Employee Relations and Engagement
· Develop and implement employee relations strategies that foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance workplace culture. Champion employee engagement through transparent communication, recognition programs, and well-being initiatives that enhance retention and morale.
Performance Management
· Oversee the design and implementation of performance management processes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and individual development plans.
· Provide leadership on performance improvement strategies, coaching, and talent development programs to build a culture of continuous learning.
Learning and Development
· Develop a comprehensive learning and development strategy to build a high-performing, future-ready workforce.
· Identify training needs, implement development programs, and measure the impact on employee growth and organizational success.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
· Drive DEI initiatives to create an inclusive and diverse workplace, ensuring representation at all organizational levels.
· Implement measurable programs and policies that advance diversity, drive equitable opportunities, and create a culture of belonging.
HR Compliance and Risk Management
· Stay abreast of legal and regulatory requirements
· Ensure HR policies and practices comply with all legal and regulatory requirements while proactively mitigating risks.
· Implement risk management strategies that address HR-related liabilities and support ethical, compliant business operations.
· Other duties as may be assigned or required.
· Required relevant professional experience (type / duration)
Proven experience as an HR leader in a strategic capacity.
Extensive business partnering expertise
Strong business acumen and the ability to translate business goals into HR strategies.
In-depth knowledge of HR practices, employment law, and regulatory compliance.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence, coach, and build strong relationships across all levels of the organization.
Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire high-performing HR teams toward achieving organizational objectives.
Master’s degree (preferred) in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent experience will be considered.
Other specialized skills
Experience with an industrial company within a matrix function, preferably in a multifunctional environment within the renewable energy sector or similar industries.
Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills as well as emotional intelligence and demonstrated ability to motivate, build trust, gain support, and instill accountability in line with SMA’s values and leadership principles.
Strong entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to roll up his or her sleeves and act with a problem-solving mindset.
Proficiency in the English language, both written and verbal, is required.
Basic skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) required.
German and/or Spanish language skills are a plus.
This position will require some domestic and international travel.
- Additional Information:
- The compensation range for this position is: $129,000 - $167,000 annually
- Comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision with $0 premium options, 401k with match, advanced training and education opportunities, etc.
Our EEO Policy
We are an equal opportunity employer and we make our employment decisions on the basis of merit and without regard to one’s race, color, creed, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity, religion, marital status, age (over 40), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability (includes HIV/Aids), medical condition (cancer, genetic characteristics), veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by law.
In accordance with applicable law protecting qualified individuals with known disabilities, SMA will attempt to reasonably accommodate qualified applicants with known disabilities, unless doing so would create an undue hardship on SMA. Any qualified applicant with a disability who believes he or she requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job for which he or she is applying should identify the accommodation(s) needed in the application.
Our Privacy Policy
During your job application or recruitment process with us: (a) SMA may collect your personal information directly from you, such as when you submit your application and resume on our online portal or when you have job interviews with us. We may also obtain your personal information from third parties, including but not limited to your former employers, background or employment check service providers or third-party recruiters; and, (b) SMA may use or process applicants' personal information for relevant purposes including but not limited to general communications with you, identity verification, background or employment checks, determination of eligibility, and making hiring decisions. For successful job applicants who become SMA’s staff, we may retain and integrate your personal information collected during the recruitment process into your records at SMA. For unsuccessful job applicants, [SMA may retain your application for internal records or for future recruitment purposes].
If you are a California resident, you have specific rights regarding your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, as amended including by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020, and its implementing regulations (the “CCPA”). This Company Personnel and Covered Individuals Privacy Notice for California Residents issued by SMA is applicable to you and explains your CCPA rights and our collection, use or disclosure of your personal information.
If you have any question regarding our privacy policy, please contact us at [email protected]
Top Skills
What We Do
Innovative and sustainable key technologies are prerequisites for renewable energy supply. More than 3,000 employees from 18 countries work to ensure that SMA is actively helping to promote the production and development of PV system technology worldwide.
SMA is the only inverter manufacturer worldwide that offers the right inverter for every module type and system size ; for small residential systems, medium-sized commercial systems and large-scale plants; grid-connected photovoltaic systems; and off-grid and hybrid systems.
SMA also develops technologically leading system solutions and is on the leading edge of the energy of the future, in areas such as intelligent optimization of self-consumption, grid integration of solar power and integration of batteries for more effective use of renewable energies.
The intention of this LinkedIn profile is to share expert knowledge in inverter technology, interesting reference projects and new products in the field of commercial and large-scale solar power plants and to discuss today’s and future energy supply structures and solutions. We are looking forward to your comments, questions and feedback.
Corporate information: https://www.sma.de/en/corporate-information.html
Data Protection: https://www.sma.de/en/data-protection-declaration.html
