Head of People
AeroSpec
Full-time
On-site
Chandler, Arizona, United States
HR Leader
Position Overview
The Head of People leads AeroSpec’s human resources strategy and operations, they help build and retain a high-quality team of craftspeople, engineers, and production professionals. This role focuses on capability building, organizational design, workforce planning, and ensuring our culture of craftsmanship thrives as we scale.
This is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic insight with tactical execution.Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Leadership
About AeroSpec
AeroSpec is a leader in design-engineer-build solutions for advanced manufacturing. We develop custom automation equipment for cutting-edge products across diverse industries. Our team delivers innovative engineering, precision manufacturing, real-time supply chain insight, and world-class automation systems that serve companies of all sizes.
The Head of People leads AeroSpec’s human resources strategy and operations, they help build and retain a high-quality team of craftspeople, engineers, and production professionals. This role focuses on capability building, organizational design, workforce planning, and ensuring our culture of craftsmanship thrives as we scale.
This is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic insight with tactical execution.Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Leadership
- Develop and refine an HR strategy aligned to business goals and culture of craftsmanship.
- Lead workforce planning to ensure the right skills and capacity for current and future production needs.
- Drive succession planning for technical and leadership roles.
- Evaluate and improve organizational structure, accountability, and role clarity.
- Assess employee capability, experience, and development needs to support long-term growth.
- Build an efficient recruiting process tailored to specialized manufacturing and engineering talent.
- Develop and maintain accurate, compelling job descriptions that highlight craftsmanship and teamwork.
- Conduct compensation benchmarking and ensure competitive, equitable pay practices.
- Create retention strategies that address motivators for skilled tradespeople and engineers, including recognition and career development.
- Build and maintain a company-wide skills matrix to document technical capabilities.
- Design mentorship programs to support knowledge transfer and craftsmanship excellence.
- Oversee onboarding programs focused on culture, safety, and quality expectations.
- Implement cross-training initiatives to support flexibility in low-volume production.
- Provide leadership development training for supervisors, leads, and managers.
- Implement a simple, effective performance management system tied to capability, quality, and teamwork.
- Create employee feedback tools such as surveys and stay interviews.
- Help define and reinforce cultural values (craftsmanship, ownership, problem-solving).
- Provide conflict resolution support and leadership coaching when needed.
- Maintain and update HR policies and the employee handbook in line with current labor laws.
- Ensure HR practices meet OSHA and other safety and labor regulations.
- Manage employment documentation including offers, evaluations, and corrective actions.
- Review independent contractor classifications for compliance.
- Introduce or optimize HR systems for HRIS, timekeeping, and performance tracking.
- Develop HR dashboards and KPIs (turnover, time-to-hire, training hours, skill development progress).
- Review payroll and benefits vendors for cost-effectiveness and compliance.
- Support leadership through company growth, restructuring, and cultural initiatives.
- Develop communication plans for HR programs and company-wide changes.
- Facilitate alignment between production, engineering, and administrative teams.
- Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or related field.
- 7+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, ideally in manufacturing, production, or skilled-trade environments.
- Proven experience in workforce planning, talent development, and organizational effectiveness.
- Strong understanding of HR compliance, safety, and labor laws.
- Exceptional communication, leadership coaching, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Demonstrated success building HR processes in a growing or evolving company.
- Experience in low-volume or custom manufacturing.
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
- Background in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or skills-based workforce development.
About AeroSpec
AeroSpec is a leader in design-engineer-build solutions for advanced manufacturing. We develop custom automation equipment for cutting-edge products across diverse industries. Our team delivers innovative engineering, precision manufacturing, real-time supply chain insight, and world-class automation systems that serve companies of all sizes.