Director of People & HR

8–12+ years of progressive HR experience with direct, hands-on responsibility in New York City and New York State. Demonstrated ownership of NYC payroll and labour law compliance. Proven expertise in NYC and NYS regulations, including wage & hour, PTO, sick leave, classification, and termination rules. Experience drafting and enforcing NYC-compliant employee handbooks and policies. Hands-on experience leading investigations and employee relations in NYC-based organisations. Strong experience with HRIS, ATS, and payroll platforms used in NY-regulated environments. Confident decision-maker with the ability to push back on leadership when compliance is at risk.

Own end-to-end payroll operations with strict adherence to NYC and NYS wage & hour laws. Ensure compliance with NYC-specific requirements like Paid Safe and Sick Leave, Fair Workweek, Wage Theft Prevention Act, and final pay timing. Lead payroll audits, reconciliations, and cross-checks with Finance. Act as the internal authority on NYC and NYS labor regulations. Draft, update, and enforce employee handbooks and policies meeting NYC and NYS legal standards. Monitor regulatory changes and proactively update policies. Lead investigations, employee relations cases, and disciplinary actions. Own recruiting operations and ensure pay transparency compliance. Partner with leadership to define compliant hiring practices. Own HRIS, ATS, payroll, benefits, and compliance systems. Deliver real-time reporting on headcount, turnover, PTO liability, and compliance risk. Lead and develop HR team members with a strong compliance-first mindset. Advise executives on people risk, compensation strategy, and organizational design. Enforce policies consistently across all levels.