Director of People

CareerVive is thrilled to present an extraordinary opportunity with our client, Dallas Holdings—the strategic partner propelling Pret A Manger’s ambitious growth across the U.S. If you are searching for the opportunity to bring your broad HR, People and Leadership experience to a fast paced environment in a phase of growth, then we would love to receive your application.

Position Summary:

The Director of People is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of the human resources function within the organization. This role drives HR strategy, enhances employee engagement, ensures legal compliance, and fosters a positive organizational culture. The Director partners with senior leadership to support company objectives related to talent acquisition, employee development, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), compensation, benefits, and employee relations. Additionally, the Director oversees the Payroll and Benefits Manager, People Manager, and Recruitment Manager to ensure the effective execution of HR operations.

Reports To: CEO

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

·       Develop and execute HR strategies that align with the company's mission, vision, values and goals.

·       Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership, providing guidance on workforce planning, organizational design, and change management.

·       Lead initiatives to create a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).

·       Talent Acquisition and Workforce Planning.

·       Oversee the recruitment, selection, and onboarding processes to attract and retain top talent.

·       Collaborate with department heads to identify staffing needs and develop strategies for future workforce planning.

·       Ensure a positive candidate experience and support employer branding efforts.

Employee Relations and Engagement

·       Foster a positive, inclusive, and engaged work environment.

·       Address employee concerns, mediate conflicts, and oversee investigations in a fair, timely, and confidential manner.

·       Design and implement employee engagement initiatives to boost morale and increase retention.

HR Compliance and Risk Management

·       Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

·       Maintain and update HR policies, procedures, and the employee handbook.

·       Manage and oversee audits related to HR practices, payroll, and benefits.

·       Compensation, Benefits, and Rewards

·       Oversee the design and administration of compensation structures and benefits programs.

·       Lead total rewards initiatives, including employee recognition and wellness programs.

·       Create clear people KPIs which are regularly reviewed to support decision making.

·       To instil and maintain effective people planning processes to support the business to work proactively to ensure we have the right people in place at all times.

HR Technology and Systems

·       Oversee the use of Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) to streamline HR processes and maintain accurate employee records.

·       Leverage HR analytics to provide data-driven insights for strategic decision-making.

·       Ensure effective use of HR tools to enhance efficiency and the employee experience.

Qualifications and Requirements:

·       Education: Advanced

·       Experience: 7 years minimum of prior Human Resources experience 

·       Certifications: SHRM certification preferred or equivalent.

·       Knowledge of employment laws, labor relations, and HR best practices.

·       Experience managing multi-location or multi-regional HR operations.

·       Proficiency with HRIS platforms (e.g., ADP,Harri).

·       Strong analytical, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

Key Competencies:

·       Leadership: Ability to inspire, influence, and guide others toward goal achievement.

·       Change Management: Proficiency in driving organizational change and managing transitions.

·       Analytical Thinking: Use data to drive decisions and measure the impact of HR initiatives.

·       Ethical Judgment: Ability to maintain confidentiality and act with integrity.

·       Adaptability: Flexibility to respond to changing business needs and industry trends.

·       Teamwork: Demonstrating always working with others to drive collective and personal success.

·       Action orientation: a constant and focused drive to action: no delays.

Behavioral characteristics:

·       Passion - Is proud to work for Empire, Dallas and the Pret A Manger Brand, goes the extra miles for the business, team and community

·       Business Sense - Maximizes business opportunities and encourages commercial thinking in others 

·       Great Execution - Sets highest standards for self and others.

·       Coach and Mentor – Leads/participates in high performing teams and develop self and others.

·       Teamwork - Creates a great environment that brings the best out in everyone.

·       Thoughtful Leadership - Builds trust, is authentic and communicates effectively, even when the discussions are difficult.

·       Diversity, Equity, Inclusion - Builds teams that are diverse and embrace all backgrounds and cultures.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

·       Operate in a hybrid capacity with a requirement of 4 full days in the office/shops and 1 day flexibility to work from home. Flexibility as the business needs.

·       Some travel may be required, for multi-regional operations or in-person meetings.

·       Must attend the required number of Buddy Days in a designated shop.

·       Must participate in special projects away from the office/shops as required.