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Job Description:

Airbus Commercial  is looking for a Head of HR to join our team in Kinston, NC.

The Head of HR, Kinston establishes, directs, and leads the Human Resource function at an operational facility, with 900+ shop floor and office-based employees. The successful candidate will be an integral member of the Site Management Team, guiding, supporting and coaching leaders at all levels of the organization.

This role is responsible for the successful alignment of HR & Workplace Function deliverables at the site, ensuring that site, region, and enterprise-level objectives and goals are met. This requires constant coordination with Site, Program & Functional leadership interfaces, both within the U.S and with the Airbus Founding Countries. This role is contingent upon obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals and the successful closing of a transaction which will result in establishing a new Airbus Affiliate in Kinston, NC (the “Kinston Affiliate”). The Head of HR would be an employee of the Kinston Affiliate.

Your Challenges:

Site and Regional Leadership Responsibilities: 50%

• Accountable for the site-level HR & WP function and its successful delivery towards site objectives including: HR Strategy development and deployment, Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Training & Organizational Development as well as delivering of all other HR & WP initiatives via strong collaboration and partnership with all Centers of Expertise (COEs) as well as our Employee Services teams.
• Develop and deploy a cultural improvement program, to further enhance the employee experience at the Site.
• Act and interface as a senior member and contributor to the U.S Commercial HR Leadership Team, aligning site-level requirements with regional and enterprise-level HR & WP strategies.
• Advise/Support site-level top-management on all people and workplace related matters as a member of the site senior leadership team.
• Champion a health and safety-first culture within the team and site
• Lead site ramp-up staffing, onboarding and training initiatives - delivering on time and within budget.
• Coordinate finance, program, and site leadership to ensure budgets and headcount models are appropriately defined and delivered.
• Report KPI status of defined initiatives at regular intervals to site, Program regional, and EU-level leadership .

Management of Site HR & WP Organization: 35%

• Lead a team of 4 direct reports, along with their teams, to deliver on defined objectives.
• Curate and maintain a collaborative, open, and performance-driven culture within the HR & WP organization.
• Mentor, advise, and support reporting managers in the delivery of their team’s objectives and goals.
• Foster change leadership within the HR & WP organization, supporting the teams to act as Brand Ambassadors for HR & WP across the site, acting upon opportunities to improve the employee experience wherever possible.
• Maintain positive employee relations, respond to employee concerns and facilitate investigations as needed.
• Provide guidance to HR & WP employees in the deployment of consistent, accurate, and efficient HR & WP consulting practices at the Site.
• Ensure HR & WP teams are resourced properly and actively eliminate blockers to the delivery of HR & WP objectives as escalated by the teams.

Project Accountability: 10%

• Responsible for the production ramp-up related HR & WP deliverables.
• Regularly review and deliver on site-level HR & WP and Culture projects to support site objectives.
• Actively participate and/or mentor direct reports in the delivery of regional and enterprise-level projects as defined.

Other duties as assigned: 5%

• Updates job knowledge by participating in conferences and educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Mentor others in the Airbus way of leading and working.
• Supports other initiatives as assigned.

Your Boarding Pass:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience 
• Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or JD) (preferred)

Experience

• 15+ years of operational HR experience.
•  Past experience leading teams and complex strategic initiatives at a site or regional level.
• Past success in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a complex, international organization. (preferred)

Preferred Licensure/Certifications

• SHRM-SCP/ CP or SPHR/ PHR Certification,
• Additional Employee Relations, Change Management, or other certifications.

Travel

• 15% Domestic and International

Citizenship

• Authorized to work in the US

Required Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities

• Advanced knowledge of U.S. Employment and Labor law.
• Advanced knowledge of relevant compliance topics.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with ability to multitask and prioritize workload.
• Skilled in supporting managers to achieve their operational goals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage difficult situations, including crisis-level situations.
• Demonstrated ability to create an inclusive and performance driven team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to exhibit a high level of confidentiality.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management skills, including negotiation and matrix management coordination.

Required Technical Systems Proficiency

• Google Workspace productivity tools, MS office, etc.
• HRIS experience
• Workday and Dayforce preferred

Level of Decision Making:

• Final decision point for site-level HR escalations - regularly deciding employment related matters with legal implications for the company under U.S. employment law.
• The site-level staffing plan has direct implications for the site’s ability to successfully deliver aircraft parts to our internal customers, which is a primary driver of company revenue, currently in the billions of dollars.
• Compliance-related decisions have a high degree of exposure to government imposed fines and sanctions, particularly related to the EASA, FAA, OSHA, DOL, and NLRA.
• Decisions must be taken with a high-degree of coordination with regional and enterprise level stakeholders, requiring advanced stakeholder-management and negotiation skills.

Job Dimensions

• Responsible for an operational budget TBC.
• Directly Responsible for a team of 4 employees.
• Responsible to deliver on recruitment targets of ~400 hires in the next 4 years.
• Involved, negotiation type communication on a regular basis with internal and external parties

Physical Requirements

• Onsite 100%
• Vision: Daily able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings.
• Hearing: Daily able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on production floor including safety warnings or alarms.
• Speaking: Daily able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications.
• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): Daily able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts.
• Carrying: Several times a week able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.
• Lifting: Several times a week able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.
• Pushing / Pulling: Several times a week able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools.
• Sitting: Daily able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer.
• Squatting / Kneeling: Several times a month able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.
• Standing: Daily able to stand for discussions in offices or on production floor.
• Travel: Rarely able to travel independently and at short notice.
• Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): Daily able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces.
• Appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Americas, Inc.

Employment Type:

US - Direct Hire

Experience Level:

Professional

Remote Type:

On-site

Job Family:

Leadership <JF-FA-EM>

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Job Posting End Date: 01.15.2026Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

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