Head of HR Partnering, Walkersville, MD

Location: This position is based in our Walkersville, MD office. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM EST.

What you will get:

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $155,700 to $181,650. In addition, below you will find a comprehensive summary of the benefits package we offer:

• Performance-related bonus.

• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) matching plan.
• Life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Paid time off (PTO).

Compensation for this role will be determined by the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.

What will you do:

The Head of HR Partnering serves as the senior Human Resources leader for the Walkersville site and is responsible for aligning people strategies with business objectives to support organizational growth, operational excellence, and employee engagement.

As a trusted advisor to the Site Head, Site Leadership Team, and people managers, you will provide strategic guidance and leadership across all aspects of Human Resources while ensuring a consistent and positive employee experience. You will operate within a matrixed HR model and collaborate closely with HR Centers of Excellence, People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and HR leadership to deliver integrated HR solutions.

• Partner with the Site Leadership Team to develop and execute workforce strategies that support business objectives, organizational effectiveness, and site performance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to leaders, providing guidance on employee relations, leadership effectiveness, performance management, talent development, and succession planning.
• Lead the implementation and adoption of enterprise HR programs, policies, and initiatives while ensuring alignment with site-specific business needs.
• Drive workforce planning efforts, including talent assessment, succession planning, organizational design, and capability development.
• Provide expert consultation on complex employee relations matters, investigations, performance concerns, and policy interpretation while ensuring compliance with applicable employment laws and company policies.
• Support organizational change and transformation initiatives through effective change management planning, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
• Partner with business leaders to identify talent gaps and develop strategies to attract, retain, and develop top talent.
• Analyze workforce data, talent metrics, and organizational insights to identify trends and recommend actions that improve engagement, retention, productivity, and overall organizational health.
• Foster a high-performance culture by promoting accountability, inclusion, employee development, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with Centers of Excellence, People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, and Learning & Development teams to deliver integrated HR solutions.
• Lead, mentor, and develop local HR team members while ensuring alignment with company priorities and HR best practices.
• Act as a key champion for company culture, employee engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and maintain awareness of changing regulatory requirements.
• Support business continuity, workforce planning, and strategic growth initiatives across the site.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, MA, or related field) preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including HR Business Partnering, employee relations, talent management, workforce planning, organizational development, and leadership coaching.
• Demonstrated experience supporting senior leaders and leadership teams within a complex, matrixed organization.
• Experience serving as the lead HR partner for a manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, technical, or similarly regulated environment strongly preferred.
• Proven experience leading and developing HR teams while driving a high-performance and service-oriented culture.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, compliance requirements, and HR best practices.
• Demonstrated success managing employee relations issues, organizational change initiatives, workforce planning activities, and organizational effectiveness programs.
• Experience influencing and partnering with leaders at all levels of the organization to drive business results and people outcomes.
• Track record of successfully implementing HR programs, talent initiatives, and organizational change efforts in alignment with business objectives.
• Experience leveraging workforce analytics, talent insights, and business data to drive strategic recommendations and informed decision-making.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to understand organizational priorities and translate them into actionable people strategies.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Strong problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and decision-making capabilities.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms, talent management systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Professional Human Resources certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or equivalent certifications are a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture.

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.