Director of Human Resources

Director Of Human Resources

Happy Corner Hospitality Group, home to Motek, Yalla, and Sesame Bakery, is a Mediterranean restaurant collective. We are committed to enriching Miami's and New York's food culture, we deliver genuine, thoughtful, and delectable Mediterranean dishes with a focus on freshness and quality ingredients.

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Director of Human Resources to lead and evolve the HR function across our growing hospitality group. This role is responsible for shaping and executing people's strategies that align with organizational goals, drive operational excellence, and cultivate a high-performance, people-first culture.

As a key member of the leadership team, the Director of Human Resources will provide thoughtful leadership, oversee all aspects of the employee lifecycle, develop training programs, and ensure that HR initiatives support long-term business growth, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness.

Responsibilities (but not limited to):

• Develop and execute a multi-state HR strategy that supports rapid growth, new unit openings, and operational scalability.
• Partner closely with executive leadership on expansion planning, organizational design, and workforce forecasting.
• Build standardized HR frameworks that maintain brand consistency while allowing flexibility for local market needs.

Multi-Unit Operations Support

• Serve as the primary HR leader supporting multiple locations across different states, ensuring alignment in policies, practices, and culture.
• Partner with regional and store-level leadership to drive performance, engagement, and retention across all units.
• Establish scalable processes for onboarding, training, and performance management across high-volume teams.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Oversee employee relations across multiple states, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant practices.
• Provide guidance to leadership on complex employee matters, investigations, and performance issues.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws, particularly in multi-jurisdiction environments.

Compensation, Benefits & Payroll Oversight

• Develop and manage compensation strategies that remain competitive across multiple markets.
• Oversee benefits programs, vendor relationships, and cost management.
• Partner with finance to ensure payroll accuracy

HR Systems, Analytics & Process Optimization

• Lead the optimization of HRIS systems to support a multi-location workforce.
• Establish data-driven reporting on key metrics such as turnover, labor costs, and staffing efficiency.
• Use analytics to inform strategic decisions and improve operational outcomes.
• Develop and deliver ad hoc HR reports and analyses as needed to support business decisions, workforce planning, and operational priorities.

Perks & Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.
• Wages paid weekly.
• Free parking.
• Opportunities for growth and advancement.
• 401(k) savings plan to help you plan for the future.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Employee dining discounts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (master's degree preferred).
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive HR leadership experience within the hospitality industry is required.
• Proven experience operating at a strategic level and partnering with executive leadership.
• Deep knowledge of employment laws, compliance, FLSA Section 7(i) exemption and HR best practices for multi-state (Florida and New York).
• Strong leadership presence with exceptional interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, scale organizations, and build high-performing teams.
• High level of integrity and ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Experience with HRIS platforms and workforce analytics tools; previous experience with Paylocity is a plus.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification preferred.
• Willingness to travel across locations as needed.