Director, NYC

Job Details

Job Title: People Director Reports To: VP Human Resources Department: HR Employment Type: Salaried, Exempt

Salary: $ - $

About José Andrés Group

José Andrés Group (JAG) is a hospitality company led by Chef José Andrés, known for outstanding guest experiences, innovation, and a values-driven culture. Our teams bring world-class food and warm hospitality to life across acclaimed concepts worldwide.

Job Overview

We are seeking a people-centered, highly capable HR Director to support our New York City restaurant teams by championing strong employee relationships, thoughtful compliance, and consistent, high-quality HR execution. This role is deeply embedded in the day-to-day reality of restaurant operations and requires a strong, visible presence in our restaurants and offices across the New York market.

The ideal candidate has significant experience within luxury hospitality settings and understands how exceptional people practices underpin elevated guest experiences, brand integrity, and operational excellence. This individual pairs emotional intelligence with strong technical and administrative HR expertise, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Fluency in both English and Spanish is required to effectively support our diverse workforce.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Serve as a trusted, approachable point of contact for employee relations matters across all New York locations.
• Listen to employee concerns with empathy and professionalism, guiding fair, timely, and consistent resolutions.
• Mediate conflicts and support respectful workplace relationships rooted in dignity, accountability, and hospitality values.
• Partner with restaurant leaders to strengthen employee engagement, morale, and retention.
• Help shape and reinforce a positive workplace culture that reflects our standards of care—for both employees and guests.

Compliance & Labor Standards

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local labor laws, with particular focus on New York regulations.
• Provide clear, practical guidance to managers on wage and hour practices, workplace safety, anti-discrimination, and employee rights.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate HR policies and procedures that are compliant, operationally realistic, and people-forward.
• Conduct regular audits and reviews to identify compliance risks early and ensure corrective actions are implemented and tracked through completion.

Training & Manager Enablement

• Ensure completion of all required trainings, including sexual harassment prevention and LMS-based coursework.
• Support managers with coaching and guidance on HR processes, employee conversations, documentation, and best practices to drive consistency across locations.

HR Operations & Administration

• Partner with operations and HR teams to support recruiting, onboarding, and staffing needs across New York restaurants.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential employee records with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ensure HR documentation, approvals, and processes are completed thoroughly and on time, with strong follow-up and accountability.
• Work closely with restaurant leadership to assess workforce needs and support effective staffing and planning across the region.

Issue Resolution & Escalation

• Lead or support sensitive matters such as investigations, complaints, or workplace incidents with discretion, care, and professionalism.
• Serve as a key liaison to the VP of HR on escalated employee relations or compliance matters, providing clear documentation, thoughtful analysis, and sound recommendations.

What You Bring

• Luxury hospitality expertise. Significant experience supporting HR functions within luxury or premium hospitality environments, with a strong understanding of service standards, discretion, pace, and cultural nuance.
• Strong technical and administrative HR skills. Deep experience with HR operations, compliance documentation, employee records, audits, and process execution—paired with exceptional attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
• Employee relations leadership. Demonstrated ability to navigate complex employee situations with empathy, consistency, and sound…