Senior People Partner - NYC

Brief Description

Competitive triathletes and passionate bakers, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald left their careers to open a small bread shop in New York City in 1995 — Levain Bakery.

One day, they baked a BIG chocolate chip walnut cookie as energy for triathlon training. At Levain, a batch of these 6-ounce cookies flew off the shelves, and an icon was born. The cozy shop on West 74th Street became a neighborhood favorite and a destination for epicurious visitors from around the world, hungry for “the cookie.”

From the start, Pam, Connie, and the team baked everything fresh on‑site each day, donating the day’s leftovers to charity — and we still do, 30 years later. Today, Levain has bakeries across the country (with more to come!), plus ecommerce gift boxes to treat cookie lovers in every state.

• Welcome All
  - We are all in it together
• Work Hard and Be Kind
  - We pull our weight, we do our best, and take care of each other
• Lead with Heart
  - We operate with empathy and integrity
• Rise Up
  - We take initiative to make things better
• Savor It
  - We are present and find the fun!

The Senior People Partner will report to the Senior Director of People & Culture. This role will drive and manage HR functions including but not limited to employee onboarding, employee recognition and reward programs, conflict resolution, training, leave management, workplace accommodation, and developing and refining systems. This role will be based in NY, splitting their time providing onsite support at the bakery and commissary locations and at the corporate office as needed for business.

• People-forward attitude with a keen understanding of the employee experience
• Passion for what you do – you’re excited about leveraging your strong critical thinking skills, previous knowledge, and expertise to leaders and the employee experience
• Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills; team-oriented with a positive attitude
• Maintain a high level of professionalism and courtesy: be adaptable, flexible, and patient
• Be open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement
• Be consistent, patient, and even keeled:
  Remain calm under pressure when troubleshooting issues
• High-level of integrity, emotional intelligence, and discretion to handle complex, sensitive matters
• Project management, time management, problem-solving skills to manage HR initiatives and to meet key deadlines
• Leadership skills to train and motivate HR professionals
• Embody and promote the values and standards of Levain Bakery

• Serve as a strategic HR advisor to Regional and District leadership, aligning people strategy with operational, financial, and growth objectives.
• Influence senior field leaders on leadership effectiveness, workforce strategy, and long‑term talent planning.
• Anticipate workforce risks and partner with leadership to implement proactive, data-driven solutions.
• Lead regional culture assessments through in‑market presence, providing constructive insights and actionable recommendations.
• Drive accountability across teams to ensure consistent execution of people strategies and company standards.

• Oversee complex, high-risk employee relations matters across multiple locations, ensuring consistency, fairness, and risk mitigation.
• Lead and oversee sensitive investigations, providing strategic recommendations to senior leaders.
• Ensure regional compliance with all applicable employment laws, wage and hour regulations, and company policies.
• Identify systemic risk trends and implement preventative strategies, training, and process improvements.
• Partner with Legal and senior stakeholders to minimize…