Human Resources Director

Director of Human Resources & Labor Relations

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a hands-on Director of Human Resources & Labor Relations to join a growing, family-owned retail organization supporting approximately 1,500 employees across multiple locations throughout Long Island. This is a highly visible leadership role that will serve as a strategic business partner to executive leadership while maintaining a strong presence in the field.

The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable in the boardroom and in the stores, partnering closely with operations leadership to drive employee engagement, talent development, workforce planning, labor relations, and organizational effectiveness. This position oversees a team of HR Generalists and will play a critical role in building future leadership pipelines, strengthening culture, and supporting the organization's continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all Human Resources functions across multiple locations, including employee relations, labor relations, recruiting, training and development, succession planning, performance management, and compliance.
• Partner closely with Operations leadership to support business objectives and workforce needs.
• Maintain a strong field presence by regularly visiting locations, meeting with managers and employees, and developing a deep understanding of operational challenges.
• Oversee and develop a team of HR Generalists while ensuring consistent HR support across all locations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for labor relations matters, including grievance management, contract interpretation, investigations, disciplinary actions, and union partnership.
• Develop and implement leadership development, training, and succession planning initiatives to strengthen the organization's internal talent pipeline.
• Identify high-potential employees and create development plans to support internal promotions and career growth.
• Lead recruiting strategies for hourly, management, and corporate positions.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives and foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Utilize HR metrics and workforce analytics to support decision-making and organizational planning.
• Support the ongoing implementation and optimization of HR systems, policies, and processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree or HR certification (SHRM-SCP, SPHR) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience.
• Significant experience supporting both union and non-union workforces.
• Strong labor relations background, including collective bargaining, grievance management, and contract administration.
• Experience managing multi-site employee populations in retail, distribution, manufacturing, hospitality, transportation, logistics, healthcare, or other operationally driven environments.
• Proven success partnering with operations leaders and supporting business growth.
• Strong experience in training and development, succession planning, leadership development, and talent management.
• Excellent employee relations, conflict resolution, and coaching skills.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and workforce planning capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, influence leaders, and drive organizational change.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be:

• A visible, hands-on HR leader who enjoys being in the field.
• A collaborative business partner who understands both people and operations.
• Someone who asks "why," challenges assumptions, and makes thoughtful business decisions.
• A leader who takes ownership, drives accountability, and develops future leaders.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where relationships, responsiveness, and execution matter.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced HR leader who wants to make a meaningful impact within a growing organization while partnering directly with executive leadership to shape the future of the business.