Director, Human Resources Operations at American Water in St. Louis, Missouri

Job Description:

Requisition ID: 107719



Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.


People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.


We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.



About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water's 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.


As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.


American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron's 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



This position will support our Midwest operational areas in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa -- the selected candidate may sit/be based out of MO, IL or IN. We are searching for a highly collaborative, strategic and experienced HR leader who will partner with our Labor Relations, Compensation, Benefits, Learning & Development, Compliance and other teams!





Important Details


$145,600 - $231,400 annually.


The base salary range represents a good faith salary range for this position. This position is eligible for annual incentive pay and has the opportunity for continued salary growth. If you are hired at American Water your base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as market, geography, skills, education and/or experience. At American Water, we are committed to pay equity. In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!


American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!




Primary Role


The Director of HR Operations partner is a trusted advisor to senior business leaders and is a key member of the leadership team for multiple states. This role partners with business leaders in support of the overall people related business goals and objectives. It ensures alignment of HR and business strategies in a matrixed environment. In partnership with other HR experts within the Center of Excellence (COE), defines strategies, including hiring, talent development, work force and succession planning, ID&E, labor/employee relations, employee experience & total rewards. This role leads, develops and inspires a team of HR professionals in field and corporate office environments to drive, create and sustain key relationships and execute on key initiatives in a high growth and rapidly changing environment.




Key Accountabilities

• Develop insights into business drivers and talent risks across the enterprise, proactively lead critical workforce planning initiatives, develop and promote diverse leadership, identify critical succession planning needs and create talent pipelines based on anticipated business needs.
• Oversee the design and implementation of effective strategies to enable the organization to thrive through periods of change (e.g. acquisition, internal growth, restructurings).
• Provide guidance and input on organization design, restructuring and resource optimization initiatives - including change management.
• Partner with Business Leadership and HR team to ensure consistency in approach, message, and execution of people strategies and initiatives.
• Provide group and one-on-one coaching with business leaders to support leadership development, business decision-making, human resource management, problem solving and performance management.
• Partner with COE's for the following: succession planning, career development, performance management, recruitment, total rewards, labor/employee relations, employee experience and ID&E.
• Lead the delivery of cyclical programs for business clients in a seamless manner ensuring consistency across HRBPs and our COE's.
• Ensure alignment across the company footprint in HR Policies and procedures, while allowing for flexibility to meet the unique needs of each business area.
• Provide ongoing feedback and support to help proactively shape HR policies, programs and practices for maximum business effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with applicable labor and employment laws and regulations.
• Proactively use data and metrics to identify trends and propose solutions.
• Champion inclusion and diversity efforts.
• Lead a team of HR professionals and ensure their alignment, effective execution of HR strategies and initiatives, and professional development.
• Foster a culture that drives employee engagement.

• Demonstrates a talent and business mindset, serves as a trusted partner, Integrator and change advocate. Should have excellent oral, written and interpersonal communications skills to effectively interact, negotiate, influence, exercise discretion, judgment and diplomacy when dealing with internal and external partners.
• Should have strong presentation skills.
• Ability to ensure the integration of team activities and deliverables with other related projects and teams and maintain positive team dynamics. Good understanding of HR legal compliance requirements and HR programs relative to support of business objectives required.
• Experience in implementing enterprise-wide HR initiatives reflecting an inclusive approach to company, business, and department needs and priorities.
• Proven ability and willingness to accept responsibility and the desire and capability of motivating and directing the activities of others including a persistence and willingness to take calculated risk and the ability to stimulate new ideas within the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results through team efforts, willingness to challenge established practices and draw relevant conclusions; ability to persuade, market and sell new ideas and the ability to work effectively in a diverse work group.
• Ability to act as an advisor on professional and technical issues with a view towards reaching strategic decisions; ability to manage conflicting demands for resources through negotiation.
• Inspires trust and can gauge the atmosphere and culture of clients and the overall organization.
• Ability to work effectively in an environment of change and manage multiple priorities concurrently through strong project management, systems knowledge, and effective communication.

• 15 years of applicable work experience in Human Resources or related field with at least 2+ years of progressive experience managing people.
• Experience leading in a matrixed environment Experience working in a unionized environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology or a related field; work experience in lieu of degree/equivalent education may be considered.

• Ability to travel up to 25% enterprise wide.

• This position will support our Midwest operational areas in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.
• This position allows the opportunity of a hybrid, 3:2 schedule -- 3-days in the office, 2-days working remotely.

• Decision Quality


• Develops Talent


• Drives Engagement


• Plans, Aligns, & Directs


• Prioritizes & Role Models Safety


• Self-Awareness