Title: HR Advisor

Location: Houston, Texas

Who we are:

Voted one of the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work for, Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) is a global leader in specialty chemical, fiber and resin production. With top-of-the-line research and production facilities and a vast network of supply from around the world, Kuraray leads the industry in specialty dental, fiber, resin, and elastomer products. Kuraray America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray Company, Ltd. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Kuraray has operations in 31 countries and employs more than 11,000 employees, including over 800 in the United States.

Why Kuraray:

Kuraray is building a better tomorrow, today. Our team members are dedicated to expanding our business with committed professionals who share essential values such as integrity, excellence, teamwork, and accountability.

As a part of Kuraray America, Inc., our team shares the advantages of working for the leader in specialty chemicals, resins, and fibers. Our international presence and resources allow us to be a world-leading innovator in the industries we service. Yet, despite our size, our people are more than just a number. As a new team member, you can expect to earn responsibility quickly. Our commitment to our people is visible in our comprehensive benefits package. As a Kuraray team member, you will have the opportunity to enjoy competitive salaries and benefits, incentive opportunities, and an excellent work environment.

Position Summary:

The HR Advisor plays a vital role in supporting HR strategy and operations, providing expert guidance on HR policies, employee relations, and compliance. This role conducts HR data analyses to drive business performance and enhance employee engagement. Key responsibilities include assisting HR Business Partners with recruitment, performance management, and talent development, as well as leading succession planning and facilitating training sessions.

The HR Advisor also uses advanced HR analytics to inform decision-making and develops action plans to address engagement challenges. By mentoring managers and modeling organizational values, this role helps maintain a positive work environment and ensures the organization attracts, develops, and retains top talent, contributing to long-term success.

This is a hybrid role; Monday-Wednesday in the office, Thursday and Friday work from home.

Responsibilities:

• Draft policies, procedures, and related guidelines within an area of expertise to meet defined key principles and ensure compliance with external requirements.
• Deliver complex analyses of HR data; identify key trends and contribute to the creation of HR insights that enable the diagnosis of business issues, enhancement of employee engagement, and/or improvement of business performance.
• Provide specialist advice on the interpretation and application of policies and procedures, resolving queries and issues and referring very complex or contentious issues to others.
• Review existing operations in own area of work and implement innovation processes to generate new ideas and ensure continuous improvements are delivered.
• Contribute to stakeholder engagement by identifying stakeholders, understanding their needs, issues, and concerns, and responding by arranging meetings and events, and drafting supporting materials to promote understanding and commitment.
• Support HR Business Partners in executing Human Resources frameworks and tools for recruitment, performance management, development, career and succession planning, compensation and benefits, diversity, employee on- and offboarding, and retention of talent, within an area of expertise to meet business needs, enabling attracting, developing, and retaining talent at a sustainable cost. Ensuring compliance with specified design principles, internal policies, and external legal requirements.
• Lead investigations and resolve high-stakes employee grievances with a focus on minimizing risk and maintaining a positive work environment.
• Participate in interviews as needed, providing insights and contributing to the selection of candidates.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to managers on effective people management practices, conflict resolution, and leadership development.
• Design and implement a robust succession planning strategy that identifies, develops, and retains high-potential talent across the organization.
• Conduct regular audits of HR practices to ensure compliance and recommend improvements.
• Utilize advanced HR analytics to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as turnover rates, employee satisfaction, and recruitment metrics.
• Generate detailed reports and dashboards for executive review, providing data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making.
• Lead the analysis of comprehensive employee engagement surveys, providing actionable insights to the executive team.
• Support the development and implement targeted action plans to address engagement challenges, improve employee satisfaction, and reduce turnover.
• Conduct exit interviews for departing employees, gathering feedback to identify trends or areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to assess organizational needs, identify skill gaps, and build leadership pipelines to ensure future business success.
• Facilitate training sessions such as leadership development, new employee onboarding, etc.
• Work in partnership with HR COEs and Global HR to execute strategies.
• Act as a role model for KAI values and behaviors
• Serve as a backup for HR Business Partners as needed, ensuring continuity in HR service delivery.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Human Resources or equivalent degree
• Minimum of six years of HR experience at an exempt level with a demonstrated track record in employee relations, organizational development, succession planning, employee engagement, recruiting.
• PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP preferred
• Union experience preferred
• Knowledge of multiple Human Resources disciplines including compensation practices, organizational design, employee and union relations, diversity, performance management, federal, state, and international respective employment laws.
• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. Labor Laws and HR Practices.
• Proven experience in dealing with union relations, including interpreting union bargaining agreements and negotiating with union representatives.
• Demonstrated skills in facilitating training sessions and conducting interviews.
• Effectively manage multiple projects and tasks at one time
• Excellent verbal and written communication and listening skills, including the ability to draft policies and procedures.
• Capacity to establish effective relationships across multiple organizational levels, contributing to lasting improvements.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication, presentation, interpersonal, creative thinking, consulting, and analytical skills.
• Ability to prioritize work to manage multiple projects to meet deadlines.
• Excellent problem-solving/decision-making skills.
• Ability to multi-task
• Candidates must have a valid driver's license.

Competencies:

• Customer Focus
  • Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Business Insight
  • Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals.
• Cultivates Innovation
  • Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

• Action Oriented
  • Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability
  • Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results
  • Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstance
• Collaborates
  • Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Difference
  • Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Communicates Effectively
  • Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Courage
  • Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.
• Instills Trust
  • Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Situational Adaptability
  • Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes base pay and an annual incentive. This program is designed to reward individual performance and align overall rewards with corporate and team performance.

Our employees benefit from a robust healthcare package that includes wellness reimbursements, along with generous perks such as three weeks of paid time off, ten company holidays, paid parental leave, education reimbursement, and a matching 401k plan, among other offerings.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Please apply online at: http://www.kuraray.us.com/careers/

Kuraray America, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer AA M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

No third-party candidates accepted.