Sr. Director of Human Resources

As Starbird Chicken’s Senior Director of Human Resources , you will own the end-to-end people strategy that drives our culture, supports rapid growth, and positions us as an Employer of Choice. You’ll lead a team of HR Business Partners and HR Operations professionals, delivering HR support across both our corporate office and restaurant locations.

This role requires a deep understanding of California labor laws and best practices for managing a large, multi-location hourly workforce , along with proven expertise in supporting corporate employees in functional areas such as marketing, finance, IT, and operations. You will ensure compliance while building scalable, people-first solutions that enable both our restaurant teams and corporate staff to thrive.

Key Responsibilities & Embedded Competencies

Strategic HR Partnering

• Translate Starbird Chicken’s business goals into agile HR strategies (hiring, onboarding, performance, retention) for both restaurant and corporate functions.
• Anticipate talent gaps and lead proactive workforce planning and succession programs.
• Partner with leadership to ensure HR programs meet the needs of all teams.

Culture & Organizational Development

• Champion company culture initiatives that resonate at all levels: hourly employees, restaurant managers, and corporate staff.
• Design and monitor programs that promote growth and development throughout the organization.
• Drive engagement, recognition, and inclusion programs that connect field and office employees to a unified Starbird culture.
• Guide leaders through organizational change with tailored communication strategies that ensure alignment across all functions.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Excellence

• Develop scalable, inclusive recruiting strategies for both hourly restaurant roles and corporate positions.
• Train managers in California-compliant hiring practices, reducing exposure to risk.
• Track recruitment KPIs (time-to-fill, quality of hire, diversity metrics) and adjust strategies based on results.

Employee Relations & Legal Compliance

• Lead investigations and resolve employee issues with fairness and timeliness, escalating to Legal when necessary.
• Maintain knowledge of California employment law (wage and hour compliance, overtime, meal and rest breaks, predictive scheduling, paid sick leave, leaves of absence, harassment prevention, workers’ compensation).
• Develop and update policies, employee handbooks, and training programs to reflect new legislation.
• Educate leaders and managers on compliance and best practices to mitigate risk.

Learning, Development & Succession

• Oversee training programs for hourly team members, supervisors, and restaurant managers, ensuring compliance with CA-mandated training (harassment, safety, food handling).
• Implement leadership development and succession planning to strengthen the management pipeline.
• Track engagement data and implement interventions to address morale, burnout, and retention.

HR Operations & Analytics

• Oversee design, communication, and administration of Starbird’s compensation, benefits, recognition, and rewards programs for both hourly and salaried employees.
• Ensure pay practices comply with wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, and meal/rest period regulations.
• Partner with Finance on annual compensation planning, merit increases, and bonus programs.
• Evaluate and manage benefits offerings (health, dental, vision, and retirement) to ensure competitiveness and cost-effectiveness.
• Lead compliance with ACA, ERISA, COBRA, and state-specific benefit requirements (example: CA Paid Sick Leave, CalSavers).
• Develop recognition and reward programs that engage team members and reinforce Starbird’s culture and values.

HR Operations & Analytics

• Oversee HRIS and payroll system accuracy, ensuring compliance with reporting.
• Use data to analyze turnover trends, predict staffing needs, and optimize scheduling strategies for an hourly workforce.
• Provide actionable insights and dashboards for executives to guide business decisions.

Functional Skills & Expertise

• California Employment Law: Ability to navigate wage/hour, predictive scheduling, leave laws, and meal/rest requirements confidently.
• Analytical Acumen: Use HR data and KPIs to drive operational excellence.
• Planning & Prioritization: Identify and execute on high-impact initiatives aligned to business goals.
• Financial & Business Savvy: Understand P&L implications of workforce planning, scheduling, and benefits.
• Communication & Influence: Effectively build consensus and coach leaders across all levels.
• Process Improvement: Design scalable HR processes for a fast-growth, multi-unit restaurant environment.
• Talent Development: Inspire, coach, and mentor HR team members and operational leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including managing HRBPs and HR Operations in multi-unit, hourly workforce settings.
• California-specific HR expertise is required ; experience in restaurant, retail, or hospitality is strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of HRIS platforms, payroll systems, and compliance reporting.
• Professional certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP/SCP) preferred.
• Demonstrated success in balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

Starbird Chicken provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.