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Director of Human Resources

Buckingham Search

HR Director Opportunity

A rapidly growing, multi-state services organization is seeking its first dedicated HR leader to build and scale the people function during an exciting period of growth and acquisitions.

This is a true build role for someone who enjoys creating structure, solving problems, and having a visible impact on both the business and its people. The company expects to double over the next two years and needs a strategic yet highly hands-on HR professional who can establish the foundation for a scalable, compliant, and employee-centered organization.

The Director of Human Resources will own the full employee lifecycle, from creating the handbook and core policies to overseeing payroll, benefits, compliance, employee relations, talent initiatives, and acquisition integration. This person will partner directly with executive and operational leaders while remaining close to employees across a multi-location workforce.

What You'll Do

  • Build and lead the company's first dedicated HR function, creating practical policies, processes, and programs that support continued growth.
  • Develop and maintain the employee handbook, HR policies, compliance documentation, and people practices across multiple states and operating locations.
  • Oversee payroll administration, benefits, leave management, employee records, HRIS data, and core HR operations.
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws; monitor regulatory changes and proactively address people-related risk.
  • Serve as a trusted resource for leaders and employees on employee relations, performance, workplace concerns, attendance, leaves, and other day-to-day HR matters.
  • Coach managers on communication, feedback, performance management, documentation, and consistent people practices.
  • Create scalable onboarding, offboarding, performance management, engagement, and employee communication processes.
  • Partner with leadership on workforce planning, organizational needs, retention, talent priorities, and company culture.
  • Support the people side of acquisitions, including diligence, employee communications, onboarding, policy alignment, payroll and benefits transitions, and integration planning.
  • Assess HR systems, vendors, and workflows; implement improvements that make the function more efficient, compliant, and scalable.
  • Use HR data and employee feedback to identify trends, improve the employee experience, and guide leadership decisions.

What Success Looks Like

  • Employees and leaders have a trusted, responsive HR partner who brings clarity, consistency, and sound judgment.
  • Core HR infrastructure is in place, including policies, compliance practices, payroll and benefits processes, and reliable employee records.
  • Managers are better equipped to lead their teams and address people issues early and effectively.
  • The organization has scalable people practices that can support rapid growth, new locations, and future acquisitions.
  • HR becomes a meaningful strategic partner to the leadership team, not simply an administrative function.

What We're Looking For

  • 7+ years of progressive HR experience with broad generalist, HR operations, employee relations, and compliance responsibility.
  • Experience building or substantially improving HR infrastructure, policies, processes, and systems in a growing organization.
  • Strong knowledge of multi-state employment law, payroll, benefits administration, and HR compliance.
  • Experience supporting multi-location, operationally complex, or distributed workforces.
  • Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution; this is not a role for someone who wants to sit above the work.
  • Strong judgment, communication skills, organization, and ability to build credibility with employees and senior leaders alike.
  • Experience supporting acquisitions, integration, organizational change, or private equity-backed growth is highly preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required; SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR is a plus.

This is an opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up while helping shape the future of a business in a pivotal growth stage.

Vacancy posted 3 days ago
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