Director of Human Resources

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Sun Valley, CA (with travel to branch locations as needed)

Position Summary:

The Director of Human Resources is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources management across the organization. This includes employee relations, benefits administration, compliance, safety programs, payroll oversight, talent acquisition, workers’ compensation, and policy development. This leader ensures the organization maintains compliance with state and federal laws while cultivating a positive, ethical, and high-performance workplace culture.

The Director acts as the CEO’s key advisor on all personnel-related matters and ensures timely, accurate communication on issues of risk, compliance, staffing, and organizational development.

The Director will supervise the HR assistant and other HR staff and provide strategic oversight while delegating appropriate administrative duties. They will collaborate with finance, legal, operations, and branch management to ensure efficient HR practices across all locations.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy

·      Serve as the primary HR advisor to the CEO and executive team.

·      Maintain regular and transparent communication with the CEO regarding HR matters, including staffing changes, risk exposure, employee relations trends, compliance updates, and organizational health.

·      Lead the development and implementation of HR strategies aligned with business goals.

·      Promote and maintain a compliant, ethical, and inclusive company culture.

·      Oversee continuous improvement in HR systems, policies, and practices.

Compliance & Risk Management

·      Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple jurisdictions (e.g., CA, WA, NV).

·      Manage workers' compensation programs, claims, renewals, and audits; supervise HR assistant in case processing, communication with legal counsel, and documentation.

·      Oversee health and safety programs, ensuring OSHA and state-specific standards are met.

·      Coordinate with brokers and legal partners on general liability, auto, and umbrella insurance renewals and claims.

Employee Benefits & Payroll Oversight

·      Direct the administration of employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, HRA, and voluntary plans.

·      Supervise benefits enrollment processes through Employee Navigator; ensure timely adds/removals of employees and dependents.

·      Oversee 401(k) administration including enrollments, loans, audits, and compliance; liaise with Nationwide.

·      Provide final oversight on payroll execution for salaried and hourly teams (SDP system), ensuring accuracy of deductions, accruals, and compliance with sick/vacation laws.

·      Guide the development of clear and transparent PTO policies and sick/vacation accrual visibility.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

·      Oversee full-cycle recruitment, including posting, screening, interviewing, and onboarding.

·      Collaborate with hiring managers and the CEO on strategic hires.

·      Ensure background checks, I-9 verification, onboarding documentation, and orientation processes are consistently executed.

·      Refine group interview processes and develop recruiting best practices across branches.

Employee Relations & Development

·      Lead employee relations matters including disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, investigations, and terminations.

·      Support performance management, coaching, and employee engagement efforts.

·      Conduct HR trainings for staff and managers; support safety, harassment prevention, and policy awareness initiatives.

Safety Program Oversight

·      Oversee implementation and compliance of companywide safety programs: IIPP, heat illness prevention, CPR/first aid, forklift certification, respiratory protection, and more.

·      Ensure safety equipment, eyewash stations, emergency plans, and signage are installed and maintained at all branches.

·      Partner with operations and insurance brokers to mitigate safety risks and reduce X-mods.

Policy & Documentation

·      Maintain and update employee handbook in collaboration with legal advisors.

·      Ensure all HR documentation (terminations, onboarding, garnishments, leave requests, etc.) is filed and archived correctly.

·      Lead annual review of company policies and implement state-mandated policy changes as needed.

Administrative Oversight

·      Supervise HR assistant in execution of onboarding, timekeeping, garnishments, benefits administration, and day-to-day HR support.

·      Approve HR-related invoices (e.g., Cintas, temp staffing agencies, coffee vendors).

·      Manage the HR budget and ensure timely and accurate HR reporting to leadership.

Qualifications

·      Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SCP preferred.

·      Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years in a senior/strategic HR leadership role.

·      Deep knowledge of CA and WA employment law, workers’ comp, benefits, payroll, and multi-branch HR operations.

·      Strong leadership and communication skills with proven experience advising executive leadership.

·      Experience in construction, industrial, or manufacturing settings preferred.

·      Proficiency in payroll and HRIS software (SDP, Employee Navigator, etc.).

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