Director of Human Resources

Ocean Mist Farms•Castroville, CA

20d

About The Position

The Director of Human Resources provides strategic and operational leadership across compensation, benefits, payroll, HR systems/analytics, and talent acquisition. This role ensures programs are market-competitive, compliant, and aligned with Ocean Mist Farms' (OMF) business goals and values. The Director leads a team including the Talent Acquisition Manager, Payroll Manager, and Benefits function, while partnering with the VP of HR and senior leaders to optimize HR operations, strengthen workforce planning, and enhance the employee experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Management, or related field; advanced coursework or certification (PHR/SPHR, CCP, SHRM-SCP) preferred.
10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including 5+ years in senior roles with expertise in compensation, benefits, and HR operations.
Strong background in total rewards strategy (cash compensation, incentive design, benefits programs) with knowledge of ag/food industry labor practices preferred.
Proven experience leading organizational effectiveness, job architecture frameworks, and employee engagement initiatives.
Advanced analytical, financial modeling, and HRIS/data management skills; ability to present insights clearly to executives.
Experience managing vendors, brokers, and consultants; skilled in negotiation and cost optimization.
Solid knowledge of federal and state employment laws (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, COBRA/Cal-COBRA, ACA, ERISA, DOL, etc.).
Demonstrated success managing payroll, benefits, recruiting, and labor analytics teams.
Exceptional leadership, communication, project management, and process improvement capabilities.
High integrity, confidentiality, and discretion; ability to perform under pressure while balancing compliance, cost, and employee experience.
Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook); HRIS and workforce analytics tools required.
Willingness to travel as needed

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (English/Spanish) and experience working in bilingual, bi-cultural environments preferred.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and manage competitive compensation that are internally equitable, market competitive, and compliant, while supporting overall business objectives
Service as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing market insights, talent intelligence, and strategic recommendations to meet business needs
Partner with VP of HR, to build efficient, scalable, best-in-class systems, and processes to support OMF's people growth
Align hiring strategies with workforce planning, compensation philosophy, and total rewards programs
Lead annual compensation review processes, including merit and incentive programs
Oversee market benchmarking, pay equity, compa-ratio modeling, and range penetration analysis
Oversee the design and delivery of health, retirement, time-off and voluntary benefit programs that balance cost effectiveness with employee value.
Drive rewards analytics and reporting to inform decision-making, track trends, and optimize program performance. Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations and ensure regulatory compliance reporting is completed (ACA, ERISA, IRS, DOL
Partner with vendors, consultants and brokers to ensure OMF health benefits remain competitive in a complex Ag labor market
Maintain knowledge of market trends, regulatory requirements, and best practices in compensation and benefits
Lead strategic direction for talent acquisition through oversight of the Talent Acquisition Manager. Partner with leaders to align hiring strategies with workforce planning and organizational priorities
Develop innovative sourcing and recruiting strategies, leveraging technology and AI to attract top talent in a competitive market
Ensure a consistent, positive, and inclusive candidate experience that strengthens OMF’s employer brand
Oversee payroll operations and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Provide strategic oversight of HR technology platforms driving automation, scalability, and data integrity
Develop workforce analytics dashboards and predictive models to inform leadership decisions on pay, headcount, turnover, and organizational health
Lead, coach, and develop a team of HR professionals across Total Rewards and Talent Acquisition
Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders and external vendors/consultants to ensure programs are competitive, effective, and sustainable
Build communications and change management strategies to clearly articulate the value of Total Rewards to employees and leaders
Leverage ADP Workforce now for automation and program efficiency
Other duties as assigned