Director of Human Resources & Training

Who We Are: 7 Leaves Café is more than a coffee and tea shop. We are a mission-driven specialty beverage brand and a gathering place built on connection, culture, and craft. Since opening our first store in 2011, a small dream shared by siblings and friends has grown into over 40 locations across California, Nevada, and Arizona, with more than 1,200 team members. Our mission is simple: enrich the human experience through thoughtfully crafted beverages, a welcoming environment, and a people first culture.
Guided by servant leadership and community impact, we cultivate leaders at every level and foster a workplace where team members thrive, make an impact, and deliver WOW every day.
Position Summary:

The Director of Human Resources and Training is a strategic executive leader responsible for defining and driving the overall People strategy for 7 Leaves Café. This role oversees all HR and Training functions, ensuring scalable systems, compliance excellence, leadership development, and an exceptional team member experience across a multi-state, multi-unit organization.

As a key member of the leadership team, the Director serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, aligning People initiatives with long-term business objectives, growth planning, and cultural stewardship. This role moves beyond managing HR operations to architecting the future of talent, organizational design, leadership development, and workforce strategy.

This position is ideal for a visionary, hands-on leader who thrives in high-growth environments and can translate culture and values into scalable systems that support sustainable expansion.

Position Details & Work Requirements:

Location - Onsite at our Huntington Beach Corporate Office

• Work Environment: Onsite, with occasional visits to stores or field locations
• Travel: Up to 10-15%, depending on operational needs, investigations, training, or store openings
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to sit for extended periods and occasionally lift up to 15 lbs. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals.
  Salary Range: $130,000 - $140,000 annually (Exempt)

What You'll Do:
1. Enterprise People Strategy & Organizational Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year People strategy aligned with company growth objectives.
• Partner with executive leadership on workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational design.
• Serve as a strategic advisor on culture, leadership capability, and change management.
• Build scalable People systems to support continued regional and multi-state expansion.
• Lead and develop the HR and Training leadership teams, ensuring strong succession pipelines within the department.

2. HR Operations, Risk Management & Compliance Oversight

• Provide executive oversight for multi-state compliance (CA, NV, AZ) and evolving labor law requirements.
• Establish proactive risk mitigation strategies related to wage & hour, investigations, ADA/FEHA, WC, and employee relations.
• Ensure policies, handbooks, and People practices reflect best-in-class compliance and culture standards.
• Oversee high-level or sensitive investigations and complex employee relations matters.
• Maintain audit-ready processes across all People systems.

3. Leadership Development & Talent Strategy

• Architect scalable leadership development frameworks for Supervisors, Managers, District Managers, and future leaders.
• Oversee Talent Acquisition strategy for corporate and senior field leadership roles.
• Build succession plans and bench strength across all regions.
• Elevate onboarding, performance management, and engagement programs to improve retention and internal mobility.
• Champion DEIB initiatives integrated into leadership development and talent systems.

4. Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards Strategy

• Lead total rewards philosophy including compensation banding, incentive structures, and bonus programs.
• Partner with Finance to design competitive, equitable compensation strategies aligned with growth goals.
• Oversee benefits strategy, broker relationships, and cost management.
• Provide executive-level reporting on labor strategy, retention trends, and workforce analytics.

5. People Analytics, Systems & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Leverage AI-enabled tools and automation to improve HR operations, including workforce planning, talent analytics, reporting, and process efficiencies.
• Establish People dashboards and KPIs to drive data-informed decision-making.
• Ensure HRIS and LMS systems (e.g., Paylocity) are optimized for scalability and user experience.
• Translate workforce data into executive insights and action plans.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, Branding, Product, and Quality to align People initiatives with business performance.
• Contribute to long-term organizational development and strategic planning efforts.

What Success Looks Like:

Success in this role will be measured by improvements in:

• A clearly defined, scalable People strategy supporting multi-state growth
• Improved leadership bench strength and internal promotion rates
• Reduced turnover and measurable improvement in engagement and retention
• Strong audit results and minimized compliance risk exposure
• High executive and field leader confidence in HR partnership
• A unified, high-performing HR & Training organization aligned to company vision

What We're Looking For:

• 8-10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including senior-level oversight in a multi-unit or multi-state organization
• Proven experience building and scaling HR infrastructure in a growing company
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders
• Deep expertise in California labor law; Nevada and Arizona experience preferred
• Demonstrated success leading HR and L&D teams
• Experience in workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational design
• Strong analytical capabilities with experience leveraging HRIS data for strategy
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification preferred
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in HR, Business, or Organizational Development strongly preferred
• Background in hospitality, retail, or food & beverage industries highly preferred

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Stay fueled and inspired: Enjoy your favorite handcrafted drinks on and off the clock with team member discounts.
• Comprehensive benefits: Medical, dental, and vision plans available for eligible team members to support your health and well-being.
• A culture that matters: Join a team that values authenticity, collaboration, and fun - where your personality and ideas are welcomed.
• Grow and be rewarded: Participate in our Leadership Bonus Pool and be recognized for your contributions and impact.
• Career development: Take advantage of mentorship, hands-on training, and opportunities to advance within the company.

If building amazing teams and shaping culture excites you, let's brew something great together!

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

7 Leaves Café is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.