The posting
Director, People & Leadership
About Laboratory Testing
Laboratory Testing (LTI) has been the trusted testing partner for mission-critical industries since 1984, when Robert W. McVaugh opened its doors as a local metallurgical lab. Today, LTI is ISO 17025 and NADCAP accredited, running destructive and non-destructive testing, machining, and calibration services for close to 3,000 customers across the aerospace, defense, space, and nuclear supply chains.
The company is still led by the McVaugh family, now in its third generation, and partnered with Kanbrick, a long-term investment firm, to bring operating support and capital to its next phase of growth without losing what built it.
The Role
LTI enters an exciting period of growth with a strong people foundation and a culture that is genuinely lived. We are looking for a Director of People & Leadership who can build on that foundation as the business grows, strengthening the leadership, talent and organizational capabilities LTI will need for its next chapter while ensuring the day-to-day People function runs exceptionally well.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be LTI's senior-most People leader and a member of the leadership team. You will lead a team of three: a Recruiter, HR Generalist and HR Business Partner.
This is an opportunity for someone who wants to build. LTI expects to grow organically and through acquisition, creating the need for stronger succession planning, leadership development, career paths, talent acquisition and people systems. You will help shape those capabilities while remaining close to the business and the people who make it successful.
On-site presence is expected at LTI's Hatfield headquarters and, as the company grows through acquisition, at newly integrated operations when the work requires it.
Build the Leadership and Talent Systems for LTIs Next Stage
Build and lead LTI's approach to succession planning, talent review, leadership and manager development, workforce planning and career progression. Help leaders identify and develop high-potential talent, build stronger teams and create clearer opportunities for employees to grow their careers at LTI.
Bring a builder's mindset to the work. Some of the infrastructure exists today and some still needs to be created. You should be energized by both improving what is already working and building something new when needed.
Lead People Operations Excellence
Lead and continuously improve LTI's core people operations, including employee relations, compliance, onboarding, performance management and HR systems. Own and continue to enhance the annual performance cycle and ensure consistent HR practices across LTI's locations. Serve as a trusted resource to leaders on complex employee matters and maintain strong multi-state compliance, partnering with outside employment counsel when needed.
Own ADP Workforce Now and other People technology, ensuring accurate data and looking continuously for ways technology can simplify work and improve the manager and employee experience.
Build a Modern Approach to Compensation & Benefits
Develop and own LTI's compensation philosophy, including pay ranges, career frameworks and a stronger connection between performance and rewards. Partner with Finance on annual compensation planning and ensure LTI's approach supports its ability to attract, retain and motivate great people.
Lead LTI's benefits strategy and administration, including plan design, renewals and broker management, balancing a strong employee experience with thoughtful management of plan economics.
Raise the Bar on Talent
Lead talent acquisition strategy across LTI, from frontline and technical roles through senior leadership. Partner closely with the Recruiter and business leaders to build stronger talent pipelines, improve the hiring and candidate experience and strengthen LTI's employer brand.
LTI is a destination for ambitious people who are excited about its mission, culture and growth. This role will play an important part in bringing that to life.
Help Scale LTI’s Culture
The LTI Way is built around 31 fundamentals that are actively used across the organization. Help ensure those fundamentals remain a meaningful part of how LTI operates as the company grows, supporting managers and teams in bringing the culture to life rather than allowing it to become words on a wall.
LTI's history and family-led culture are important strengths. The goal is not to replace what has made the company successful, but to preserve the best of it while helping the organization evolve for its next stage.
Build through Acquisition and Strategic Growth
As LTI grows, partner with the CEO, CFO and broader leadership team on the people side, including due diligence, integration planning, onboarding teams and evaluating compensation, benefits, talent and culture after close.
More broadly, serve as a thought partner to the CEO and leadership team on organizational design, talent and the people decisions that will shape how LTI operates as it scales.
Requirements
Who We Are Looking For
We care as much about trajectory as experience. You may already lead a People function, or you may be an exceptional #2 who is ready for broader ownership. Either way, you have demonstrated the ability to move quickly, solve hard problems, earn credibility with business leaders and turn ideas into operating practices that stick.
A few backgrounds could translate particularly well:
- A People or HR Director from a growth-oriented manufacturer, industrial services company, technical services business or other operational environment who is ready for a larger opportunity to build.
- A high-performing HR business partner or People leader from a larger organization who has led meaningful talent and organizational work and is ready to move from advising the business to owning the outcome.
- A People leader from a founder- or family-led company who has helped an organization navigate meaningful growth or change.
Beyond background, you will thrive here if you:
- Think like a business leader as well as a People leader, connecting talent and organizational decisions to what the business is trying to accomplish.
- Move with pace and love to build, bringing curiosity, resourcefulness and comfort operating where not every answer or process is already defined.
- Build credibility across the organization, from frontline and technical teams to senior leaders, through strong judgment, competence and follow-through.
- Care deeply about developing people and leaders and creating opportunities for talented people to grow with the company.
- Embrace technology and AI, actively experimenting with new tools and using them to improve quality, speed and business outcomes.
- Bring ambition with humility, respecting what has made a successful family-led company special while earning the trust to challenge, improve and help it grow.
Benefits
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation for this role is competitive, with performance-based incentive compensation. LTI offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off and holidays, and company-paid life and disability insurance.
