Sr. Director, Human Resources

Are you ready for what’s next?  

Come explore opportunities within Brunswick, a global marine leader committed to challenging conventions and innovating next-generation technologies that transform experiences on the water and beyond.  Brunswick believes “Next Never Rests™,” and we offer a variety of exciting careers and growth opportunities within united teams defining the future of marine recreation. 

Senior Director, Human Resources

Sea Ray and Venture Group

Location: Hybrid | Multi-Site U.S. and International Operations (Primary Location: Mettawa, IL or Vonore, TN)
Reports to: Vice President, Human Resources, Brunswick Boat Group

Why This Role Exists

The Senior Director, Human Resources serves as the senior HR leader for Sea Ray and Venture Group, supporting a complex, multi-brand portfolio across corporate functions, shared business services, U.S. manufacturing operations, and international teams. This role exists to ensure the organization has the leadership, workforce capability, structure, and talent pipeline required to execute operating plans, support brand growth, strengthen operational performance, and reduce people-related risk across the portfolio.

This role operates at the intersection of business strategy, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, talent management, employee relations, and international HR leadership. Success requires balancing business objectives with employee needs while navigating complex labor, legal, cultural, and operational considerations across multiple geographies.

This leader is expected to bring strong judgment. They assess risk, challenge assumptions, pressure-test options, and provide clear recommendations that enable leaders to make sound business decisions while maintaining compliance, integrity, and employee trust.

Scope of Responsibility

This role provides strategic HR leadership for Sea Ray, Venture Group, shared operations, and related brand, corporate, and international teams.

• Sea Ray corporate, brand, and shared service functions
• Venture Group corporate, brand (e.g. Bayliner, Trophy, Quicksilver, Uttern, Heyday), and shared service functions
• NAVAN HR support, with the brand remaining aligned under Sea Ray

• Shared manufacturing operations:
  • Brunswick Integrated Manufacturing Center (BIMC)
  • Tellico Manufacturing Operations
  • Portugal Operations

The Senior Director serves as a key member of both the Sea Ray and Venture Group leadership teams, partnering directly with each business president and providing HR support for NAVAN as part of the Sea Ray-aligned portfolio.

What This Role Is Accountable For

This role owns outcomes, not activities. Success is measured by workforce readiness, leadership capability, labor stability, organizational effectiveness, succession strength, and the ability of the business to execute BBG’s operating plans, support growth, and strengthen performance without people-related disruption.

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as the senior HR leader and trusted advisor to the Presidents of Sea Ray and Venture Group.
• Act as a key member of both leadership teams, helping shape and execute business strategy.
• Influence key business decisions by bringing workforce, organizational, and talent implications into leadership discussions.
• Evaluate business challenges through both a people and operational lens and provide practical, actionable recommendations.
• Serve as the primary HR filter between business leaders and enterprise partners, absorbing input, pressure-testing assumptions, evaluating risk, and bringing forward clear recommendations rather than a menu of options for others to referee.
  

Workforce Planning & Talent Strategy

• Lead workforce planning strategies aligned to production demand, business growth, labor market realities, and long-term strategic objectives.
• Drive succession planning and talent review processes that strengthen leadership pipelines and reduce organizational risk.
• Identify critical role vulnerabilities and implement strategies to improve bench strength and readiness.
• Lead strategic staffing initiatives across the Sea Ray and Venture Group portfolio.
• Partner with leaders to build sustainable pipelines for frontline supervisors, operations leaders, technical talent, and critical business roles.
  

Leadership Development & Organizational Effectiveness

• Build leadership capability at all levels of the organization through coaching, development planning, and talent acceleration strategies.
• Partner with leaders to improve team effectiveness, organizational design, accountability, and performance.
• Lead organizational effectiveness initiatives that align structure, talent, and capabilities with business objectives.
• Coach senior leaders through complex people decisions, organizational challenges, and change initiatives.
  

Employee Relations & Risk Management

• Lead the resolution of complex employee relations matters involving investigations, performance management, restructurings, workforce reductions, leadership issues, and other sensitive employment situations.
• Assess legal, business, employee, and reputational risks and develop practical, compliant, and defensible solutions.
• Partner closely with Legal, Finance, and business leaders to navigate non-standard employment situations and organizational changes.
• Challenge legacy practices and assumptions when circumstances require a different approach, ensuring decisions are based on facts, risk assessment, and business needs rather than precedent alone.
• Draft and review communications, decision frameworks, and leadership recommendations that can withstand internal and external scrutiny.
  

International HR Leadership

• Provide senior HR leadership and support for Portugal operations and cross-border workforce matters.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and local HR resources to ensure compliance with local employment laws and regulations.
• Support international workforce strategies, organizational changes, mobility considerations, and leadership transitions.
• Balance enterprise consistency with local market requirements and cultural considerations.
  

Change Leadership & Business Transformation

• Lead the people strategy associated with business transformations, restructurings, acquisitions, integrations, and operational changes.
• Assess organizational impacts and proactively identify workforce and talent risks.
• Ensure change initiatives are implemented effectively while maintaining business continuity, leadership alignment, and employee engagement.
  

HR Team Leadership

• Lead and develop HR team members supporting Sea Ray, Navan, Venture Group, BIMC, Tellico, and Portugal operations.
• Build a strong HR team capable of operating as trusted business partners and advisors.
• Drive accountability, capability development, succession planning, and knowledge transfer within the HR function.
• Foster a culture of sound judgment, business acumen, responsiveness, and execution excellence.
  

What Great Looks Like

• HR is viewed as a strategic business partner and trusted advisor by both business presidents and leadership teams.
• Leadership pipelines are stronger, deeper, and better prepared to support future growth.
• Workforce plans support operational objectives and reduce talent-related disruption.
• Complex employee relations and organizational issues are addressed proactively and effectively.
• Business leaders receive clear recommendations rather than competing points of view.
• Organizational changes are implemented smoothly with minimal business disruption.
• HR teams operate with strong business acumen, sound judgment, and a focus on results.

 

Next is Now!  

We value growth and development, recognizing that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying.

Brunswick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to innovation and inspiration and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.  If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact [email protected] for support. 

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Brunswick does not accept applications, inquiries or solicitations from unapproved staffing agencies or vendors. For help, please contact our support team at: [email protected] or 866-278-6942.

All job offers will come to you via the candidate portal you create when applying through a posted position through https:///www.brunswick.com/careers.  If you are ever unsure about what is being required of you during the application process or its source, please contact HR Shared Services at 866-278-6942 or [email protected].

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