HR Leader; Services

About the Company

Our client is a fast-growing, private equity-backed platform with a network of professional services studio locations spanning the eastern United States. Active acquisitions continue to drive expansion, and the organisation is now investing in a centralized corporate infrastructure to support its growing footprint. This is a business in an exciting period of change — building something substantial and scalable, with a strong performance culture and direct executive engagement.

As our client advances its acquisition and integration agenda, it is establishing a formalized, centralized HR function to deliver consistency, compliance, and accountability across all studio locations. This is a newly created, platform-level HR Manager position — a genuine chance to take ownership of and build the HR infrastructure from the ground up.

This is a practical, execution-oriented role for an HR professional who excels in precision, documentation discipline, and multi-state compliance. You will act as the primary HR contact for all studio locations, reporting directly to the COO.

• Respond to all studio HR related matters
• Ensure zero material HR compliance violations across any studio location
• 100% of new hires onboarded using standardized HR systems and documentation
• Maintain complete employee files and ensure they are audit-ready at all times
• All benefits enrollments processed within 5 business days of eligibility
• Ensure all terminations executed with proper documentation and legal compliance
• Respond to all studio HR-related matters
• Administer and process benefits enrollment, changes, and compliance requirements
• Ensure all terminations are executed with proper documentation and legal compliance
• Implement and enforce company HR policies and procedures across all studio locations
• Maintain accurate employee records, status changes, and required HR filings
• Execute standardized hiring, onboarding, and termination processes according to company standards
• Ensure zero material HR compliance violations across any studio location
• Maintain complete employee files and ensure they are audit-ready at all times
• Coordinate with Accounting/CFO to ensure payroll execution aligns with company policy
• All benefits enrolments processed within 5 business days of eligibility
• Serve as the first point of contact for studio-level HR questions and employee relations matters
• Implement and manage standardized offer letters, employment agreements, and contractor agreements
• 100% of new hires onboarded using standardized HR systems and documentation
• Maintain complete, organized, and audit-ready employee files and HR documentation
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple states

This is a hybrid role based in one of the following locations:

• New York City (Manhattan)
• Long Island, NY
• Kansas City, MO
• Cleveland, OH
• Fort Myers, FL
• Grand Rapids, MI
• Wilmington, DE

Occasional visits to the studio may be required. Travel is minimal (10%).

Required:

• Experience supporting a multi-entity or multi-location organisation
• Bachelor’s degree in HR
• HR leadership experience within professional services, engineering, architecture, or similar multi-site or PE-backed environments
• Responsive, accurate, and calm under pressure — you can juggle competing priorities without dropping the ball
• Strong multi-state employment law and HR compliance knowledge
• Exceptional documentation habits and process discipline

Preferred:

• HRIS experience
• SHRM-CP or PHR certification

• Base Salary: $80,000 – $110,000 depending on experience
• Performance Bonus: Tied to compliance accuracy, onboarding timeliness, and documentation completeness
• Benefits: 401(k), healthcare, competitive PTO and paid holidays

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin,…