Head of People & Culture, NA

ZEISS Group

ZEISS HR executive transforming North American people operations for a global optics and optoelectronics leader. Leading regional HR strategy, workforce planning, transformation, and teams across US and Canadian operations.

Posted 8/10/2026full-timeDublin • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $240,000 - $290,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive HR leadership experience with a focus on transformation, workforce planning, and employee relations. Proven ability to drive strategic HR initiatives, influence stakeholders, and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Highest-signal resume keywords

HR Transformation LeadershipWorkforce PlanningEmployee Relations ManagementData-Driven HR StrategyExecutive Stakeholder Engagement

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

HR OperationsOrganizational RedesignShared Services TransformationTalent ManagementPerformance Metrics Development

Soft Skills

Emotional IntelligencePersuasive CommunicationRelationship BuildingInfluencing SkillsChange Management

Industry Keywords

Global HR LeadershipMatrixed OrganizationC-Suite InfluenceGovernance FrameworksEmployee Resource Groups

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as the senior HR voice for North America and shape and execute the regional people strategy
Advise the President of ZEISS Business Services NA and senior regional leadership
Represent North America on the Global HR Leadership team and localize global HR initiatives
Build community across the North American HR team to improve knowledge transfer, talent visibility, mobility, and best-practice sharing
Lead HR transformation initiatives, including operating model redesign, service delivery evolution, and capability building
Partner with global HR Centers of Excellence to deploy programs with regional fit
Drive continuous improvement, process streamlining, digitization, and an AI-first approach
Harmonize HR policies, standards, and processes across segments while accounting for regional and business nuances
Provide strategic HR partnership across ZEISS's North American segments and functions
Lead workforce planning, organizational design, and talent pipeline efforts
Oversee employee relations across US and Canadian operations
Lead, develop, and inspire regional HR Business Partners, HR Functional Managers, and specialist practitioners
Build team capability in strategic partnership, data-driven HR, project management, and change management
Champion ZEISS culture, belonging, inclusion, and psychological safety
Support employee resource groups and senior leaders
Establish governance frameworks, process documentation, knowledge sharing, KPIs, SLAs, and service excellence
Manage executive stakeholder relationships, governance forums, briefings, and cross-functional collaboration
Fulfill required Company Officer responsibilities and participate in the CZI pension and 401(k) Fiduciary Committee
Lead performance reporting, metrics, SLA development, service charters, and regional functional strategy execution
Drive cross-functional and cross-segment synergies
Develop functional experts and leaders, hold teams accountable, and provide executive support and coaching

Requirements

What you’ll need

15+ years of progressive HR experience
At least 5 years in a senior regional or enterprise-level HR leadership role
Proven track record leading HR transformation, including operating model change, M&A integration, or large-scale organizational redesign
Experience operating in a matrixed, global organization
Deep expertise across talent, total rewards, employee relations, HR operations, and workforce planning
Track record driving Shared Services transformation and streamlined HR processes across internal business units
Executive presence and ability to influence at C-suite level without direct authority
Strong commercial acumen connecting people strategy to business performance
Data-driven mindset and ability to translate workforce analytics into actionable insight
Comfort operating in ambiguity and leading through change
Experience navigating dual reporting structures or shared services environments is a strong differentiator
Ability to seek and analyze data from varied sources to support decisions and align others with organizational strategy
Ability to develop innovative ideas, balance organizational change capacity, set achievable implementation plans, and drive results
Ability to attract, recruit, motivate, delegate, develop, and manage performance of top talent
Strong emotional intelligence and clear, persuasive communication
Ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, inspire trust, and foster followership
Commitment to integrating economic, societal, and environmental factors into strategy

Benefits

Comp & perks

Performance bonus or sales commissions
Medical plans
Retirement savings plan
Paid time off
Further development opportunities
Equal Employment Opportunity