Director, People Relations

Director, People Relations

The Director, People Relations serves as the strategic and operational leader of the Company's People Relations function, overseeing all people relations activities across both Corporate and Community populations. Responsible for developing and scaling a proactive people relations strategy, this role ensures consistent, compliant, and people-centered practices that support a rapidly growing organization.

As the senior leader of the function, the Director will oversee people relations operations, investigations, compliance, workforce risk management, organizational change initiatives, and leadership coaching across the enterprise. The Director will provide leadership and direction to the Associate Director, People Relations and broader People Relations team, serving as the primary escalation point for complex, sensitive, and high-risk matters.

Initially, the Director will operate in a player-coach capacity, maintaining direct ownership of Corporate People Relations matters while overseeing Community People Relations through the Associate Director and team. As the organization continues to scale, the Director will help design and build the future-state People Relations structure, including the addition of dedicated People Relations resources focused on Corporate people relations support.

This role partners closely with executive leadership, Legal, Payroll & Benefits, Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Operations leaders, and other business stakeholders to proactively identify risk, improve employee effectiveness, and create sustainable people practices that support the organization's continued growth.

Strategic Leadership & Functional Oversight

• Lead the Company's People Relations function across Corporate and Community employee populations, establishing and executing the long-term vision, strategy, and operating model that supports organizational growth and business objectives.
• Transform the function from primarily reactive case management to a proactive workforce risk management and employee experience discipline through strategic planning, trend analysis, and targeted interventions.
• Establish People Relations goals, key performance indicators, executive dashboards, and reporting mechanisms that provide actionable workforce insights and inform business decision-making.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex, sensitive, and high-risk people relations matters, ensuring consistent, compliant, and business-minded solutions.
• Lead, develop, and provide strategic oversight to the People Relations team, including establishing investigation standards, case management practices, quality controls, and team capabilities that support scalable growth.
• Evaluate organizational needs and design future-state People Relations structures, processes, and resources to effectively support a rapidly expanding workforce.

People Relations & Investigations

• Direct and oversee all people relations matters, including performance management, corrective action, workplace conflict, policy violations, misconduct allegations, complaints, separations, and organizational transitions.
• Personally lead or oversee the most complex investigations involving senior leaders, executive employees, legal risk, ethics concerns, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other sensitive matters.
• Ensure investigations are conducted consistently, objectively, thoroughly, and in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.
• Partner with internal and external legal counsel regarding investigations, claims, litigation, agency charges, and pre-litigation risk management efforts.
• Ensure appropriate documentation, recommendations, and action plans are developed to support defensible employment decisions.

Corporate People Relations Leadership

• Serve as the primary People Relations partner for Corporate leaders, departments, and executives.
• Provide coaching and consultation to senior leaders and corporate managers on organizational challenges, performance concerns, restructures, and conflict resolution.
• Support executive-level decision making and organizational change initiatives requiring significant business judgment and risk assessment.
• Maintain direct ownership of Corporate people relations caseloads until future organizational growth supports the addition of dedicated Corporate People Relations resources.

Community People Relations Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for people relations matters impacting the Community organization.
• Partner closely with the Associate Director, People Relations and operational leadership to ensure consistent practices, appropriate case management, and effective support of Community leaders.
• Act as an escalation point and advisor on complex Community investigations, terminations, accommodations, wage and hour concerns, and other high-risk matters.
• Support the development and execution of proactive strategies that improve employee experience, retention, and leadership effectiveness within…