Director of Human Resources

High Light Electric • Colton, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Mendoza Companies is a multi-entity ecosystem of construction, services, and investment businesses. The platform includes High-Light Electric, Inc. (HLE), Mendoza Trust, and an international independent contractor workforce. They partner with Caltrans, municipalities, transit authorities, and infrastructure programs throughout California, with active expansion into Nevada, Arizona, and additional U.S. markets. Mendoza Companies is guided by Mission 2040: to build a $1 billion business ecosystem connecting 1,000 families and communities through business by 2040.

The Director of Human Resources is the highest internal HR authority in the Mendoza Companies ecosystem, reporting directly to the CEO with operational oversight from the Chief of Staff and a structural peer accountability partnership with the Finance Director. This is a hands-on, high-accountability leadership role responsible for the performance, structure, and outcomes of the entire HR function across California operations, multi-state expansion (NV, AZ), and an international contractor workforce. The core of the role is performance management through Mendoza Way Calibration (MWC), manager development, talent density, and workforce planning. The HR function is in active transition, requiring the Director to immediately establish authority and build what is missing. This role will test leaders who hold the line under pressure, make hard people calls without flinching, and treat HR as the discipline that protects culture and accelerates performance.

Requirements

• 7+ years of progressive HR experience, including HR function leadership — preferred. 5+ years considered for exceptional candidates with demonstrated leadership trajectory and AI fluency.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification — or written commitment to obtain within 12 months of hire. SPHR or SHRM-SCP preferred at the Director level.
• Direct, hands-on California employment law experience — CFRA, PDL, prevailing wage, final pay, ABC test.
• Demonstrable AI-assisted HR workflow deployment for organizational use — (not just personal productivity use)
• Strong Spanish/English bilingual capability required due to workforce and field communication needs
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Organizational Development, or a related field (or equivalent relevant leadership experience)

Nice To Haves

• Multi-site, multi-entity, or multi-state HR leadership experience.
• Experience in construction, infrastructure, or unionized industry
• Master’s degree in HR, Business, or Organizational Psychology.
• M&A or business integration experience.
• HRIS experience (BambooHR preferred)

Responsibilities

• Lead the HR function and team — Talent Acquisition Lead, HR Generalist (CA), Payroll Administrator. Set cadence, run HR operations independently, and deliver scorecards and Rocks in our ML10 leadership meetings on EOS rhythm.
• Own Mendoza Way Calibration (MWC) — our performance framework built on Effort, Attitude, Leadership, Innovation, and Results. Lead quarterly calibration sessions personally. Identify the bottom 10% for replacement and the top 5–10% for accelerated promotion. Hold every manager and supervisor accountable to calibration discipline.
• Drive talent density and leadership quality — deliver to the CEO a standing read on who is performing, who needs a defined development path, and who needs to be transitioned. Ensure 60% of new hires reach top-50% performance by six months in seat.
• Co-own workforce cost and multi-year planning with Finance — joint accountability on workforce cost modeling, headcount and SG&A planning, labor cost variance, and ecosystem expansion. Translate the Mission 2040 vision into hiring velocity and infrastructure.
• Maintain compliance across California, Nevada, and Arizona — labor law, prevailing wage, I-9 / E-Verify, FMLA / CFRA / PDL, workers’ compensation. Build compliance frameworks ahead of expansion, not reactively.
• Develop, update, and enforce policy, the employee handbook, and benefits administration — identify gaps, mitigate, and continuously improve the framework.
• Manage the international independent contractor workforce as vendor relationships — structured contracts, 18-month maximum horizons, classification risk monitored.
• Build and scale AI-assisted HR workflows — screening, calibration prep, training, manager coaching, policy drafting. Train your team to operate AI tools daily as standard practice.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package — medical, dental, vision.
• 401(k) or equivalent retirement plan.
• Relocation support for candidates relocating to California — with 24-month pro-rated clawback.
• Travel and expense reimbursement for ecosystem and conference travel.
• Continuing education and HR certification maintenance.
• A direct seat at the Mendoza executive table with defined leadership trajectory — we promote from within.
• Multi-entity ecosystem with active expansion into Nevada, Arizona, and additional U.S. markets.
• A mission-driven organization building for the long term — Mission 2040.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director