Human Resource Manager

Overview

Kitchell is seeking an experienced, people-focused People Experience Manager to lead our employee benefits and wellness programs while providing day-to-day leadership of the People Experience (PX) team. This role plays a critical part in shaping how People Experience shows up across the organization. The People Experience Manager owns benefits strategy, Open Enrollment, and wellness initiatives, ensuring programs are competitive, compliant, and responsive to employee needs.

At the same time, this role oversees generalist operations and employee experience delivery, driving consistency, quality, and thoughtful risk management.

We are looking for someone who is curious, humble, authentic, and brings grit to their work—someone who asks good questions, listens first, follows through, and stays steady in complex or fast-moving environments. Partnering closely with the Executive Director of People Experience and leaders across the business, this role translates people strategy into practical, scalable execution that supports both our people and our long-term goals.

• Lead, coach, and prioritize the People Experience team, ensuring clear role alignment, coverage, and consistent service delivery.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex employee experience, benefits, and leave matters, applying sound judgment and risk awareness.
• Own the organization’s benefits strategy, including health & welfare, leave, and wellness programs, ensuring competitiveness, compliance, and financial sustainability.
• Lead the annual Open Enrollment process end-to-end, from strategy and planning through vendor coordination, communications, and reconciliation.
• Provide oversight of benefits administration to ensure accurate enrollment, eligibility, payroll coordination, and strong administrative controls.
• Manage broker and vendor relationships, holding partners accountable for service quality, compliance, and issue resolution.
• Analyze benefits financials and utilization trends to identify risks, cost drivers, and improvement opportunities.
• Oversee benefits and leave compliance across applicable federal and state regulations, partnering with internal stakeholders as needed.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, policy interpretation, and corrective action, supporting fair and consistent people decisions.
• Partner on HRIS, reporting, and process improvement initiatives to strengthen scalability, data integrity, and PX effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with executive leadership and operating company leaders to align People Experience operations with business priorities and Kitchell values.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in Human Resources or People Experience roles, including leadership responsibilities
• Experience leading teams and managing day-to-day People Experience operations
• Strong working knowledge of employment law (including within the state of California), including ADA, leave administration, general compliance requirements including but not limited to FLSA, EEO, ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA/CFRA
• Experience leading change management and cross-functional initiatives that support compensation, People Experience operations, and continuous improvement
• HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP or similar) preferred
• Experience supporting a multi-state workforce preferred

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a general, climate controlled office environment.

• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

• Travel may be required up to 20% of the time.
• Valid Motor Vehicle Record with no restrictions or suspensions.
• Ability to drive a motorized vehicle.