Director of People

Company Summary

Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to be North America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate nine sawmills in Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We also manage timberland and operate a wholesale and import/export division.  

 

Our mission is to grow, manufacture, and market renewable wood products and deliver innovative solutions for a more sustainable built environment. At Hampton Lumber, we accomplish this through our own operations as well as those of our affiliates—Trapa Forest Products, Idaho Timber, and RedBuilt. Our tagline, "Find a better way every day," encapsulates our commitment to innovation and improvement across all operations. 

We are guided by our core values: 

• Safety – Prioritize safety across all operations.
• Integrity & Authenticity – Operate honestly and ethically while preserving our distinctive family-owned brand.
• Responsible Stewardship – Endeavor to balance and maintain economic, social, and environmental values in everything we do.
• Tenacity – Embrace challenges with grit, determination, and a can-do spirit. 
• Continuous Improvement – Strive to enhance our processes, products, and people.
• Customer Satisfaction – Be nimble, responsive, and solutions-oriented.
• Community Engagement – Be a responsive, supportive, and respected member of the community.

With over 80 years in the sawmill business, we are proud to have cultivated the knowledge and experience needed to grow and prosper, even in challenging times.  We always look to the future and invest in our people, new technologies, and continuous improvement processes and techniques. 

Overview

Role Purpose:

The Director of People helps Hampton Lumber attract talent, develop future leaders, strengthen culture and employee retention , and build the systems needed to become an Employer of Choice.

 

Key Outcomes of Role:

• Stronger leadership and succession planning.
• Improved retention, recruiting, onboarding, and engagement.
• A sustainable, companywide talent pipeline.
• Helping leadership build bench strength throughout the organization.
• Becoming an Employer of Choice in our communities.
• Recruiting and retaining high-performing employees.
• Developing key HR metrics and leading improvement against those metrics
• Understanding Hampton Lumber’s business, not just HR processes

 

Scope and Support:

This role supports Hampton’s U.S. and Canadian workforce by implementing HR strategies, policies, and practices across multiple states and provinces. The Director of People balances local requirements with Hampton’s culture and employee experience, with primary support for sawmill operations.

 

Team Leadership and Travel

The Director leads the Learning and Development Manager, HRIS Manager, Benefits Manager, Corporate Recruiter, and Corporate Office HR Manager. The position is based in Portland, Oregon, and requires frequent travel to sawmill locations in Washington, Oregon, South Carolina, and Canada.  This position will have a strong dotted line to local HR managers that oversee sawmills and/or operations.  The position will report to CEO and work closely with senior leadership team.

Benefits Highlights

• Substantial company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; mental health coverage; cost effective co-pays and deductibles
• 401(k) with 5% annual company contribution and generous company matching contributions vested over three years
• Paid time off, including 8 paid holidays
• Participation in employee bonus program
• Employee wellness program that includes free counseling sessions, financial and legal guidance, and more
• Opportunities for paid training to support career advancement and personal development

Responsibilities

Employee Experience and HR Systems

• Develop best practices that support Employer of Choice and employee experience goals.
• Drive improvement in HR data systems to better track results and drive change.
• Oversee HR systems, methods, and practices companywide.
• Oversee development and distribute policies and handbooks.
• Lead initiatives that standardize HR policies and practices across businesses making the business and/or compliance more efficient and effective.

 

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Partner with business leaders to identify workforce needs and develop recruitment strategies.
• Develop and deliver compelling onboarding experience.
• Collaborate with managers to ensure new employees have needed met day one to be productive and engaged.

 

HR Legal and Compliance

• Advise managers on legal matters and best practices.
• Engage counsel when needed.
• Support HR legal proceedings, as appropriate.
• Align HR practices with legal requirements.
• Deploy and track required training.

 

HRIS and Data Systems

• Oversee HRIS systems for payroll, timekeeping, and applicant tracking.
• Ensure applicant system supports recruiting goals.
• Develop plans with HRIS team that supports the business and employees along with improving employee experience.

 

Payroll Operations

• Provide strategic oversight of U.S. and Canadian payroll operations, aligned with business priorities.
• Ensure strong payroll controls, and compliance with applicable U.S. and Canadian requirements.
• Set priorities and improve payroll processes and systems that support being Employer of Choice.
• Sponsor payroll initiatives, including system implementations, and strategic projects.

 

Benefits Administration

• Guide benefits programs that balance employee needs with company costs, including retirement, medical, vision, dental, disability, vacation, and sick pay.
• Ensure benefits processes operate effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable requirements

Qualifications

• Experience in forest products or manufacturing industry, a plus.
• Experience collaborating with people in rural communities, preferred.
• Experience leading and developing direct reports.
• Knowledge of employment law and when to seek outside guidance.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Strong Office 365 skills.
• Familiarity with HR systems.
• Project and change management experience in complex organizations preferred.
• Union experience a plus
• Experience with Canadian operations a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive related leadership experience preferred.

Required Traits

• Energetic, empathetic team builder.
• Ability to break down silos between organizations.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Promotes healthy conflict and positive change.
• Action oriented and results driven.
• Highly organized and deadline focused.
• Deep interest in the business and its people.
• Curious and committed to improving HR and employee experience.
• Leads by example with high ethical standards.
• Build strong relationships and trust across teams.
• Aligns teams and builds buy-in for action.

More About Us

Hampton Lumber is a fourth-generation, family-owned company headquartered in Portland, Oregon that has grown to become one of the nation’s largest privately held forest products companies. With over 80 years in the sawmill business, Hampton operates sawmills in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia and markets wood products all over the world. We also manage a wholesale and lumber export division and numerous reload and re-manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. All of Hampton’s forestlands are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), an independent, non-profit organization that promotes sustainable forest management. SFI certified forests play an important role in water conservation, wildlife habitat, and climate solutions. 

Community is important to us, and we encourage and support our employees’ desire to be active in the community through volunteering and special projects. We passionately support youth education, career and technical education, the arts, diversity and inclusion, affordable housing, and anti-poverty programs. We are also proud sponsors of the Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns soccer clubs. Go Timbers! Go Thorns!

 

Learn more at hamptonlumber.com, or follow us on Facebook: @HamptonLumber.  You can also learn about our company and our priorities by visiting our blog. 

EEO Statement

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law.

 

Disability accommodation available: If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office for the location you are applying. 

 

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see these government posters: EEO is the Law and its accompanying temporary supplement.