Director of HR

Anza Mortgage Insurance Corporation•Wilmington, NC

About The Position

We are hiring a Director of HR to build and run the people function from the ground up. This is a true player-coach role—owning both the design of our HR strategy and the day-to-day execution required to support a company at launch. This role is not about building and accelerating our existing programs. It is about enhancing the core infrastructure (hiring, policies, performance management, compliance) while supporting immediate business needs in a fast-moving, regulated environment. The right person will be comfortable operating without a large team, making decisions with incomplete information, and partnering with leadership to drive performance, consistency, and organizational accountability. What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months) Hiring is aligned to business priorities, and roles critical to launch are filled on time Core HR infrastructure is in place (policies, onboarding, performance framework) and used The company is operating in compliance without unnecessary friction Managers understand their role in hiring and performance—and act like it Leadership has a clear, honest view of organizational health and risks

Requirements

Experience building/growing HR in a startup or high-growth environment
Experience in insurance, financial services, or other regulated industry strongly preferred
Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior advisor to executive leadership
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred
8+ years of progressive HR experience, including leadership roles
Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels
Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
SHRM-certified preferred
Strategic thinker with strong execution skills
Proven ability to establish and enforce rigorous HR processes, governance, and documentation
Willingness to “roll up sleeves” and handle day-to-day tasks
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
High level of integrity and discretion
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Comfortable operating without a playbook and demonstrating sound judgment in dynamic and rapidly changing situations
Can move between strategy and execution without losing momentum on either
Direct, pragmatic, and focused on outcomes—not process for the sake of process
Hold yourself and others accountable, including senior leaders
Know when to build structure—and when not to

Responsibilities

Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute HR strategies aligned with business goals
Lead workforce planning, organizational design, and succession planning efforts
Drive initiatives related to culture, employee engagement, and retention
Analyze HR metrics and trends to inform decision-making and improve performance
Oversee and actively participate in core HR functions including recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and offboarding
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies and procedures
Manage benefits administration, compensation structures, and payroll coordination
Lead full-cycle recruiting efforts for key roles as needed
Design and implement performance management and professional development programs
Coach managers on employee issues, performance improvement, and team development
Foster a positive, inclusive, and accountable workplace culture
Serve as a trusted advisor to employees at all levels
Address employee concerns with professionalism, discretion, and fairness
Build and refine HR systems, tools, and workflows for efficiency and scalability
Identify gaps and proactively implement solutions
Balance long-term strategic initiatives with immediate operational demands