Director of People Operations

Reports to: Chief of Staff

Classification: Full-time, permanent

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Type: Salaried

Job Summary: The Director of People Operations serves as a strategic leader for Saxbys' human capital initiatives. This role drives the development and implementation of comprehensive people strategies that align with Saxbys Mission and Core Values while ensuring operational excellence across Saxbys' current and projected footprint. This role oversees all aspects of the team member lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, while ensuring policies and practices create an engaging, compliant, and values-driven workplace culture and support our growth in both cafe operations and higher education partnerships.

What You Will Own

• People Strategy: Develop and implement comprehensive people strategies that support Saxbys' business objectives, culture, and growth plans in partnership with the Executive team. Translate organizational goals into actionable people initiatives that drive engagement, retention, and performance.
• Compliance & Policy Development: Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations across Saxbys' footprint. Stay current on legislative changes and implement policies and procedures to maintain compliance while supporting operational needs.
• Performance Management: Design and oversee performance management systems that align with Saxbys' values and business objectives, ensuring fair and consistent evaluation processes across the organization. Implement frameworks that identify, develop, and retain top talent throughout the organization.
• People Operations: Lead the People Operations team in delivering excellent service in onboarding, offboarding, benefits administration, team member relations, and systems management. Create and maintain scalable processes that foster positive team member relations, addressing concerns promptly and effectively while promoting a culture of open communication and trust.
• Culture & Engagement: Lead initiatives that strengthen company culture, improve team member satisfaction, and increase engagement, ensuring Saxbys' values are lived throughout the organization. Analyze survey data to identify trends and opportunities, and partner with leadership to implement action plans.

Who You Will Support

• Executive Team: Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive team, providing guidance on people-related matters and their impact on business objectives. Deliver insights on workforce trends, compliance risks, and talent strategies.
• Department Leaders: Partner with leaders across the organization to understand their people needs and develop solutions that support their objectives. Provide coaching and guidance on managing team performance and development.
• Team Members: Create accessible channels for support, guidance, and resources that enhance the team member experience from onboarding through career development.
• Academic Partners: Serve as the in-house expert on student team member matters, partnering with the Growth & Strategy team on university relations. Act as a liaison with higher education partners on issues related to academic credit, compensation, and compliance requirements for the Experiential Learning Platform.

Who You Will Supervise

This position will supervise the People Operations team, including the Generalist and Coordinator, with potential for team growth as the organization expands.

What Success Looks Like

• Engagement Index for both HQ and Cafe remains above 80
• 100% compliance with employment laws and regulations
• Reduce annual turnover by 15% through improved retention strategies
• Implement scalable HR systems that support company growth while maintaining operational efficiency
• Successful implementation of performance management processes that align with company values

Where You Excel

• Strategic People Leadership
• Conflict Resolution
• Compliance Expert
• Systems & Technology Implementation
• Master of Prioritization
• Developer of Talent
• Change Management
• Relationship Building
• Data-Informed Decision Making

What You Have Done

• 5+ years of progressive experience in human resources or people operations
• 2+ years of experience supervising and developing a team
• Experience managing HR functions across multiple states in retail, food service, or hospitality industries
• Demonstrated success in building and scaling HR functions in growing organizations
• Experience with HRIS implementation and optimization
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex team member relations issues
• Proven track record of developing policies that support organizational culture
• Experience working in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments
• Experience working with higher education institutions or programs a plus

What is Required

• Support, exhibit, and promote Saxbys Mission and Core Values in all daily activities.
• Travel Requirement up to 20%
• Valid driver's license
• Physical requirements:
• Able to stand, walk, and smile for extended periods of time
• Able to stoop and kneel
• Push, pull, lift or carry up to 35 lbs
• Ascend or descend ladders, stairs, ramps