Job Description:
Hai Hospitality is accepting applications for an experienced Director of People and Human Resources for our Home Office based in Austin, TX. We are an innovative and growing restaurant group, looking for individuals who are creative, ambitious, and passionate about food and people.
The Director of People is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing and executing HR strategies that support Hai Hospitality's growth and culture. This role will oversee all aspects of the employee experience, including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, and HR compliance. The ideal candidate is a seasoned HR leader with a passion for the hospitality industry and a proven track record of building and scaling high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment.
This position will have an opportunity to truly impact the Company’s Roadmap to Extraordinary strategic plan, having a significant and long-lasting positive impact. We are looking for a ‘hands on’ leader that has experience building the required human resource infrastructure in a high growth multi-unit restaurant environment. Additional critical essential functions of the position include the following:
- Collaborate with CPO in setting and driving HR vision, strategy, and execution.
- Build and evolve current state to support growth in new markets.
- Translate strategy into actionable steps for growth, implementing organization-wide systems.
- Build a talent/people pipeline which supports our growth.
HR Strategy & Leadership:
- Develop and implement HR strategies that align with the company's overall business objectives.
- Partner with senior leadership to identify HR priorities and develop solutions to support organizational goals.
- Lead and mentor the HR team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Utilize HR data and metrics to track progress, identify trends, and make informed decisions.
- Develop and implement HR strategies that support company growth, enhance employee experience, and improve operational efficiency.
- Leads company’s Core HR programs that support of company strategy, mission, goals, and objectives.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with vendors/partnerships to ensure quality, reliability, and cost-effective solutions.
- Develop and implement processes to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
- Identify and evaluate new technologies and innovations to enhance company’s HR performance and competitive advantage.
- Create Key Performance Indicators aligned with business priorities and embraced by executive leadership that are meaningful, employee-centric, aggressive, and achievable and ensure these are well communicated and visible across organization from operators to leadership team.
- Collaborate with senior leaders to develop, implement, and reinforce effective policies, procedures, standards and systems to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Collaborate with senior leaders to develop and execute effective HR strategies to include the company’s Roadmap to Extraordinary, 5-Year Plan, and annual budget planning.
- Responsible for HR readiness, preparedness, and planning to support company growth.
- Analyze performance metrics and relationships to optimize business growth and profitability strategy.
- Analyze, identify, and solve HR challenges and issues.
Employee Relations:
- Serve as a trusted advisor to executives, managers and line-level employees on HR-related matters.
- Manage employee relations issues, including investigations, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution, in a fair and consistent manner.
- Promote a positive and inclusive work environment that fosters open communication and employee engagement.
Performance Management & Development:
- Lead the succession planning process to align with company goals.
- Provide guidance and support to managers on performance evaluations, feedback, and development planning.
- Identify training and development needs and create programs to enhance employee skills and knowledge.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Manage the design and administration of competitive compensation and benefits programs that attract and retain top talent.
- Conduct regular market analysis to ensure pay equity and competitiveness.
- Manage vendor relationships and lead selection processes for benefits related programs and systems.
- Oversee the administration of employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks.
HR Compliance:
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local labor laws and regulations.
- Develop and maintain HR policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and best practices.
- Manage HR audits and ensure accurate and up-to-date employee records.
Talent Acquisition & Onboarding:
- Collaborate with team on effective recruitment strategies to attract top talent for all levels of the organization.
- Oversee the full-cycle recruitment process, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and hiring.
- Design and deliver a comprehensive onboarding program to ensure new hires are successfully integrated into the company culture and their roles.
Leadership:
- Be a brand ambassador and behavior model our Mission, Values, and Culture.
- Provide a hands-on visible presence and leadership.
- Be a motivator; a role model demonstrating team-first leadership mentality.
- Build and maintain trusting relationships with restaurant and home office teams.
- Be a collaborative, energetic, and solutions-oriented leader.
- Foster a growth oriented, positive, and encouraging environment while keeping restaurant management accountable to company policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Maintain effective relationships with various leaders with a focus on collaboration, openness, solutions-first approach.
- Communicate effectively and routinely regarding all significant matters, problems, projects, etc.
- Maintain a high degree of accessibility and availability to listen, learn, and solve problems.
- Support transparent and ongoing communications with all departments and restaurants.
KEY INDICATORS OF SUCCESS:
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration or related field.
- 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, with a focus on multi-state operations. Restaurant Experience preferred.
- SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification preferred.
- Proven experience in developing and implementing strategic HR initiatives.
- Strong knowledge of compensation and benefits programs, including 401(k) and incentives.
- Experience with HRIS and payroll systems (Workday preferred).
- Deep understanding of multi-state and federal labor laws and regulations.
- Demonstrated success in running large scale HR and compliance programs.
- Experience identifying, problem-solving, and executing HR solutions across multiple brands and locations.
- Experience leading and managing a team of HR professionals.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and supervisors, including via email, phone, and in-person interactions.
- Ability to read, understand, and respond to written or digital documents, including emails, reports, and policies.
- Detect and address workplace safety issues and adhere to safety guidelines and standards.
- Ability to sit at a desk and use a computer or other office equipment for extended periods.
- Perform repetitive hand and wrist movements for typing, writing, or data entry.
- Lift and carry office supplies, files, or equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.
- Adapt to a fast-paced work environment, including managing deadlines and shifting priorities.
- Work collaboratively in close proximity to coworkers in shared office spaces.
- Tolerate exposure to standard office elements, such as artificial lighting, noise from office equipment, or climate-controlled environments.
- Understand and follow directives, policies, and workflows provided by supervisors or management.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions.
Why You’ll Love Working With Us
- Medical / Dental / Vision / Accident insurance options available
- Employee Assistance Program with mental health services available
- Employer Matched 401k Savings plan
- Opportunity to grow -- we promote from within almost exclusively
- Dining discounts
- Spouse / Children / Family contributions towards medical premiums
- Maternity + Paternity Leave
- Paid Vacation benefits
- Short term + long-term disability coverage
- Cell phone stipend
The Hai Experience
Hai Hospitality is a multi-concept, emerging restaurant group based in Austin, Texas. Our restaurant concepts include Uchi, Uchiko, Uchiba, and Loro. It’s about hospitality and giving back. Our employees take pride in their work ethic, their craft, and their creativity. Feel proud of where you work, help create an experience for our guests, and work with cool people.
Our Arizona and Florida locations participate in E-Verify. For more information below, please follow the links below:
Hai Hospitality is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.