About This Role
Directing the human resources function for a heavy civil construction company is the core of this role, leading all aspects of HR for a unionized, prevailing wage workforce. The Director will manage employee relations, recruiting, compensation and benefits, performance management, compliance, training, and HR operations, partnering with executive leadership and operations. This is a player-coach role, requiring hands-on execution within a lean team, comfortable with both strategic and tactical work, and at home on a job site as well as in the office.
Responsibilities
- Own prevailing wage and certified payroll compliance for public works, including NYSDOT and other agency requirements
- Verify accurate wage determinations, fringe benefit calculations, and certified payroll reporting across active public jobs
- Maintain apprenticeship and journeyman ratio compliance on jobs that require it
- Maintain the employment records and reporting needed for public works audits and contract compliance
- Reduce the company’s exposure to wage, reporting, and debarment risk
- Administer collective bargaining agreement compliance across the trades the company works with
- Manage union benefit and pension fund reporting and remittances in coordination with payroll and finance
- Support grievance handling, jurisdictional questions, and day-to-day labor relations
- Prepare for and support collective bargaining and contract renewals
- Operate as a hands-on leader who executes day-to-day HR responsibilities in a lean team
- Partner with executive leadership and operations to align HR with company goals and field needs
- Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures, and practices
- Advise managers and field supervisors on performance, leadership development, and personnel matters
- Support culture and employee engagement across field, shop, and office
- Lead employee relations matters including investigations, conflict resolution, discipline, and terminations
- Advise managers and supervisors on performance management and documentation
- Help maintain a fair and productive work environment across field and office
- Oversee recruiting across field, shop, operational, and administrative roles
- Build hiring processes and interview frameworks, including for union and prevailing wage positions
- Improve onboarding so new employees integrate quickly and correctly
- Support compensation planning, bonus administration, and wage benchmarking across union and non-union roles
- Oversee benefits administration and vendor relationships, including union fund coordination where applicable
- Partner with Operations and Finance on headcount planning and labor cost management
- Manage the administrative workers’ compensation claims process, including intake, carrier coordination, and return-to-work
- Partner with the Safety Director, who owns incident prevention, training, and investigation
- Manage leave administration and unemployment claims
- Ensure compliance with federal, New York State, and local employment laws and regulations
- Manage HR-related audits, reporting, and documentation
- Coordinate leadership and supervisory training and employee development
- Support management coaching
- Identify ways to improve organizational effectiveness and retention
Requirements
- Seven or more years of progressive HR experience, including leadership responsibility
- HR experience in construction, with public works and prevailing wage exposure
- Working knowledge of certified payroll and prevailing wage compliance
- Experience supporting a unionized workforce, including collective bargaining agreement administration and union fund coordination
- Strong knowledge of employment law and HR practices
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred
- Spanish fluency desired, not required
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and judgment
Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan
- Paid time off and holidays
- Additional benefits based on company programs
Important Details
- Reports To: VP of Operations
- Supervisory Responsibilities: HR and administrative staff as applicable
About the Company
With over 30 years of experience in heavy construction of commercial, municipal, and residential work, this company specializes in road work including asphalt, drainage, pavement reclamation, and concrete. They are a leader in the utilization of state-of-the-art equipment, specialized techniques, and mix designs, and have earned a reputation as one of Long Island’s best for their dedication, commitment, exceptional quality, and service.