Senior Director of Human Resources

New York, New York
Full Time

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Required Years of Experience

6+ years

Job Details

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Senior Director of Human Resources to join our growing leadership team. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this executive-level role will lead all aspects of Human Resources, Payroll, Benefits, Employee Relations, Compliance, Talent Management, and Organizational Development across a rapidly expanding hospitality organization.

The Senior Director of Human Resources will serve as a strategic business partner to executive leadership while ensuring operational excellence across all HR functions. This individual will oversee a team consisting of a Director of Human Resources, Senior HR Manager, HR Associates, and related support personnel. The ideal candidate will possess deep hospitality industry expertise, exceptional leadership capabilities, strong payroll and compliance knowledge, and a proven track record of supporting growth in a multi-unit environment.

Ideal Candidates Will Have

10+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, including senior-level HR management within the hospitality, restaurant, or multi-unit service industry
Demonstrated experience leading HR teams and developing future HR leaders
Extensive knowledge of payroll administration, payroll compliance, wage and hour regulations, and multi-state employment practices
Expertise in federal, state, and local labor and employment laws
Strong employee relations and workplace investigations experience
Proven success supporting rapid organizational growth and change management initiatives
Experience overseeing compensation, benefits, talent acquisition, and organizational development programs
Exceptional leadership, communication, coaching, and conflict resolution skills
Ability to influence and partner effectively with executive leadership and operational teams
Experience managing HRIS, payroll, benefits, and compliance systems
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification preferred
Bilingual (Spanish/English or other languages) is a plus
Passion for hospitality and a genuine commitment to creating exceptional employee experiences

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

Serve as a key member of the leadership team and strategic partner to the COO and executive leadership.
Develop and execute comprehensive HR strategies aligned with company objectives, culture, and long-term growth plans.
Lead workforce planning initiatives to support expansion and operational scalability.
Drive organizational effectiveness, succession planning, leadership development, and talent management programs.
Develop HR metrics, dashboards, and analytics to inform executive decision-making.
Partner with leadership to build and sustain a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and operational excellence.
Lead change management initiatives associated with company growth, acquisitions, restructures, and organizational transformations.

Human Resources Leadership

Provide leadership and oversight for all Human Resources functions across the organization.
Directly manage and mentor the HR leadership team, including the Director of Human Resources, Senior HR Manager, HR Associates, and related personnel.
Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and professional development plans.
Ensure consistent implementation of HR policies, procedures, and best practices across all locations.
Create scalable HR infrastructure capable of supporting continued growth.

Payroll Administration & Compliance

Maintain executive oversight of all payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local payroll regulations, including wage and hour laws, overtime requirements, tip-credit regulations, predictive scheduling laws, and hospitality-specific labor requirements.
Partner with Finance to ensure proper payroll controls, audits, reconciliations, and reporting procedures.
Develop and maintain payroll policies and procedures that minimize risk and ensure compliance.
Oversee payroll-related audits, tax reporting, garnishments, and agency inquiries.
Continuously evaluate payroll systems and processes to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Labor Law Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the organization.
Develop and implement policies and procedures that mitigate organizational risk.
Partner with legal counsel on employment-related matters, litigation, claims, and investigations.
Oversee I-9 compliance, wage and hour compliance, leave administration, employee recordkeeping, and workplace regulatory requirements.
Lead internal audits to ensure ongoing compliance across all locations.

Employee Relations

Serve as the senior escalation point for complex employee relations matters.
Lead investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace misconduct, and policy violations.
Ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant resolution of employee concerns.
Advise and coach managers on performance management, disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and employee engagement.
Foster a culture of respect, accountability, inclusion, and open communication.
Develop proactive strategies to improve employee retention, engagement, and workplace satisfaction.

Compensation & Benefits

Oversee the design, administration, and continuous improvement of compensation and benefits programs.
Conduct compensation benchmarking and market analysis to ensure competitiveness.
Lead annual compensation planning processes.
Manage benefits strategy, vendor relationships, renewals, negotiations, and employee communications.
Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, and other applicable benefits regulations.
Evaluate benefit offerings to support employee attraction, retention, and engagement objectives.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Development

Oversee all recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning initiatives.
Develop scalable recruiting strategies to support aggressive growth objectives.
Ensure strong employer branding and candidate experience programs.
Lead onboarding initiatives that promote retention and operational success.
Develop training programs focused on leadership development, compliance, operational excellence, and career progression.
Build internal talent pipelines and succession planning programs.

HR Operations & Administration

Oversee HR systems, records management, reporting, and process optimization.
Ensure accurate maintenance of employee personnel records and compliance documentation.
Manage unemployment claims, employment verifications, and government reporting requirements.
Develop HR policies, employee handbooks, and standard operating procedures.
Implement best practices and technologies that improve efficiency and employee experience.

Leadership Competencies