Fractional Human Resources Director

Job Description

GRO Collective | Fractional HR Director

Independent Contractor | Fractional, Interim & Project-Based Engagements

The Opportunity

We're building a bench of Fractional HR Directors: operators who can independently assess, build and lead the HR/People function. Engagements may involve founder-led businesses building HR infrastructure for the first time, PE-backed companies professionalizing ahead of growth, or organizations that need functional HR leadership but aren't ready for a full-time senior hire.

About GRO Advisory

GRO Advisory is an operator-led advisory firm that partners with founders, private equity firms, boards and executive leadership teams during periods of growth, transformation and change. We are operators, not traditional consultants. We get into the business, identify the gaps, build what's needed and work alongside the team to get it done. Our work is grounded in the GRO Method™: Guide. Ramp. Optimize. We have particular depth in private equity-backed and founder-led businesses, franchise and multi-unit organizations, and consumer services companies.

About the GRO Collective

As GRO Advisory enters its next phase of growth, we are building the GRO Collective, launching in Q1 2027: a bench of experienced functional leaders who work within client businesses, whether on an ongoing basis or through an acquisition, launch or leadership transition. We build these relationships ahead of specific client needs so we already know who we trust to bring in. Every member is personally assessed by GRO, including for consumer, franchise and multi-unit experience, and works within the GRO Method. The Collective is not a staffing agency or open freelancer marketplace. GRO Advisory leads the client relationship, and members are expected to represent GRO's standards and approach throughout an engagement.

What You May Own, Depending on the Engagement

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• HR infrastructure build-out, including policies, handbooks and compliance processes
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• Organizational structure and role clarity
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• Job descriptions and job architecture
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• Recruiting infrastructure, onboarding and offboarding
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• Frontline and hourly workforce hiring, retention and manager pipeline
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• Performance management processes
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• Compensation and benefits support
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• HRIS selection and administration
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• Employee relations
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• Investigations and coordination with employment counsel
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• Manager development and coaching
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• Employee engagement initiatives
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• HR metrics and reporting, including turnover, time to fill, engagement and labor cost
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• Change management through periods of growth or restructuring
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• People diligence and post-acquisition integration, including policy and benefits alignment
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• Cleaning up inconsistent or outdated HR infrastructure
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• Leading the HR function day-to-day when a client isn't yet ready for a full-time senior hire
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• HR compliance assessments across states and locations, including wage and hour and worker classification, and identification of people-related risk and infrastructure gaps
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• Development and implementation of scalable HR processes, tools and manager resources
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What We're Looking For

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• 7+ years of progressive HR/People experience, including 3+ years in a Manager, Director or comparable role with meaningful ownership of the HR function
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• A track record of independently building or improving HR infrastructure, not just administering an existing one
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• Strong communication and judgment; comfortable working directly with founders, CEOs and senior leadership
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• Experience in founder-led, PE-backed, franchise, multi-unit or consumer services environments is valuable, particularly with hourly or multi-location workforces.
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• Comfortable using modern technology and AI tools to improve documentation, process and reporting
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• Prior fractional, interim or project-based experience is a plus
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How GRO Collective Engagements Work

GRO Collective members are independent contractors, not GRO Advisory employees. Opportunities are fractional, interim or project-based and are matched to specific client engagements based on need, experience, availability and fit. Scope, duration and time commitment vary by engagement.

GRO Collective members engaged on GRO Advisory client work are expected to represent GRO's standards and approach throughout the engagement. Acceptance into the GRO Collective does not guarantee an assignment, a minimum number of hours or future work. Compensation is established individually for each engagement.