The Role
Lead all HR functions for ~200 employees across 11 retail locations and a production facility. Own recruiting, onboarding/offboarding, employee relations, payroll/benefits administration, performance management, training, culture and compliance with NJ and federal labor laws. Partner with leadership and legal, administer HRIS and payroll, manage workers' comp and OSHA recordkeeping, and build retention and engagement programs.
Summary Generated by Built In
When childhood friends Holly and Shawn stepped away from their corporate careers and started Rook Coffee in 2010, they wanted to make people feel special. Since the beginning, in a 300-square-foot shack, Rook has focused on offering specialty coffees that inspire genuine, human connections.
Rook Coffee is currently seeking energetic and hard-working individuals to continue to make those connections. If you’re nice, likable, approachable, a team player, proactive, patient, sociable, positive, reliable, and honest, we’d love to hear from you.
The Director of People at Rook Coffee is a hands-on, strategic, and highly visible leadership role responsible for owning every aspect of the human resources function across our eleven retail locations and growing production operation. Reporting directly to ownership, this role serves as the connective tissue between our corporate leadership team and our hourly workforce. You will build and maintain the systems, culture, and practices that support approximately 200 team members and reflect our founding commitment to making people feel special.
If you are genuinely curious about what drives people, naturally approachable, proactive by default, and invested in building something that lasts, you will fit right in here.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the full-cycle recruiting process using Lever as our ATS and Indeed Sponsored Jobs for sourcing.
- Own job postings, candidate pipeline, and the interview process from first screen through offer.
- Develop and maintain job descriptions for new and evolving roles across the organization.
- Own the full onboarding experience including initial setup, I-9 management, handbook distribution, and new hire orientation.
- Ensure every employee enters Rook with a clear understanding of who we are and what we expect.
- Manage the offboarding process including exit interviews. Use that feedback to identify trends and surface insights that inform retention and culture strategy.
- Serve as a trusted, accessible resource for employees at every level.
- Own day-to-day employee concerns, facilitate conflict resolution, and ensure that people feel heard and supported.
- Build the kind of environment where issues get addressed before they escalate.
- Administer biweekly payroll, 401(k) administration, and health insurance management including lookback periods.
- Own HRIS reporting and ensure data integrity across the system.
- Manage the full benefits function including open enrollment, vendor relationships, and ongoing benefits communication.
- Ensure employees across all locations understand and can access what is available to them.
- Lead the performance review process and coach managers on delivering effective feedback.
- Manage compensation benchmarking and adjustments.
- Handle progressive discipline, performance improvement plans, and internal investigations.
- Build and oversee ongoing training and development programs for both corporate and hourly team members.
- Identify skill gaps across the organization and develop targeted solutions.
- Own culture-building initiatives including milestone recognition (birthdays, work anniversaries), company-wide events, and Start/Stop/Continue feedback programming.
- Be a visible and trusted presence across all locations and the production facility, actively reinforcing company values in everything you do.
- Partner with the marketing team on internal communications to ensure employees across all locations feel informed and connected.
- Own how Rook shows up as an employer. Shape the narrative that attracts the right people and reflects our culture authentically in the market.
- Ensure Rook remains compliant with all applicable federal and New Jersey labor laws. Maintain required workplace notices and postings across all locations.
- Manage leaves of absence in accordance with state and federal requirements.
- Partner with legal counsel on employment matters, investigations, terminations, and any situation with potential legal exposure.
- Maintain OSHA recordkeeping and safety programs across all locations and the production facility.
- Own incident reporting and oversee workers’ compensation claims from initial filing through resolution.
- Own the response process for unemployment filings, ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
- Own the employee handbook as a living document. Keep it current as the organization evolves, ensuring it reflects our policies, culture, and legal obligations at all times.
- Develop and facilitate work-life programming, including wellness events and external life-skills resources that support our team's well-being.
Hiring & Recruiting
Onboarding & Offboarding
Employee Relations
HRIS, Payroll & Benefits
Performance Management & Compensation
Training & Development
Culture, Engagement & Employer Branding
Compliance, Safety & Workers’ Compensation
Handbook & Work/Life Programming
Job Qualifications
- 5 or more years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years in a senior or leadership-level HR role.
- A background in psychology, organizational behavior, or a related field is preferred.
- Genuine curiosity about human behavior, not just HR process. We are actively building a culture where behavioral intelligence is part of how we lead.
- Working knowledge of New Jersey employment law, I-9 compliance, and federal labor regulations.
- Experience with HRIS platforms, payroll systems, and ATS tools (Lever experience a plus).
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with both hourly and salaried employees.
- High level of discretion and sound judgment in sensitive situations.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, multi-site, operationally driven environment.
- PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred but not required.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- 401 (k)
- Paid vacation and sick time
- Discounts on coffee and merchandise
Rook Coffee Roasters provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Rook Coffee Roasters complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Rook Coffee Roasters expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rook Coffee Roasters’ employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
Skills Required
- 5+ years progressive HR experience with at least 2 years in a senior or leadership-level HR role
- Experience administering biweekly payroll and 401(k) administration
- Working knowledge of New Jersey employment law, I-9 compliance, and federal labor regulations
- Experience with HRIS platforms, payroll systems, and ATS tools
- Lever ATS experience
- Experience managing benefits including open enrollment and vendor relationships
- Experience in employee relations, progressive discipline, and internal investigations
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with hourly and salaried employees
- High level of discretion and sound judgment handling sensitive situations
- PHR or SHRM-CP certification
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The Company
What We Do
Founded in 2010 by childhood friends Holly and Shawn, Rook Coffee is a New Jersey-based specialty coffee company. It operates multiple coffee bars, a roastery, and an online store, focusing on creating genuine human connections through high-quality specialty coffees. The company is guided by three pillars of excellence: Quality, Simplicity, and Experience.
