Director of People Engagement
About The Position
The Director of People Engagement advises leaders across a complex organization with year-round and seasonal employees. Reporting to the Senior Director of People and Culture, the Director partners with departments and leads practical work in employee relations, manager capability, performance, workforce planning, and talent development. The role builds trusted relationships, exercises sound judgment, and helps leaders address business challenges through people practices that strengthen organizational capability and employee experience. The Director partners with department heads and managers to understand operating needs, translate organization-wide people priorities into department plans, and support organizational design, role clarity, team effectiveness, succession planning, workforce capability, and organizational change. The role handles routine and moderately complex employee relations cases, investigations, corrective actions, and conflict resolution, involving the Senior Director and counsel in high-risk matters. It also coaches managers, develops resources and learning programs, supports hiring and onboarding, and collaborates with People & Culture colleagues on enterprise learning and leadership development initiatives. The role uses workforce data and organizational insights to identify risks, inform recommendations, and evaluate outcomes. It contributes to continuous improvement of People & Culture processes, programs, and service delivery, and participates in cross-functional initiatives to strengthen organizational capability and operational effectiveness.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Five to eight years of progressively responsible Human Resources experience in a business partner, employee relations, organizational development, or related professional role.
- Experience partnering with leaders on workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, organizational effectiveness, and talent management or development in a dynamic organizational environment.
- Strong consultative and relationship-building skills.
- Proven capability to apply labor laws, address workplace concerns, and minimize institutional exposure.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to influence and coach leaders at multiple organizational levels.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Nice To Haves
- Background in overseeing or mentoring early-career Human Resources team members.
Responsibilities
- Partner with leaders and managers to understand operating needs, challenge assumptions, and translate organization-wide people priorities into department plans.
- Lead routine and moderately complex employee relations cases, investigations, corrective actions, and conflict resolution; assess evidence, consistency, employee dignity, and risk, and involve the Senior Director and counsel in high-risk matters.
- Coach leaders and managers on feedback, documentation, performance, attendance, team dynamics, inclusive management, leadership effectiveness, employee development, communication, and accountability.
- Develop usable manager resources and lead manager learning programs.
- Develop workforce strategies that support business objectives and long-term organizational capability.
- Advise leaders on organizational design, role clarity, team effectiveness, succession planning, workforce capability, and organizational change.
- Analyze workforce trends and organizational data to identify risks and recommend practical people strategies.
- Promote consistent application of employment policies, practices, and organizational values.
- Support performance improvement plans, career development discussions, employee recognition strategies, and internal mobility opportunities.
- Partner with business leaders to anticipate workforce needs and develop aligned talent strategies.
- Collaborate with hiring managers on position planning, competency identification, interview design, candidate assessment, recruiting, and selection.
- Support leaders in attracting, selecting, onboarding, and retaining qualified employees, including partnering with enterprise onboarding resources to support integration and early productivity.
- Identify organizational and individual development needs; assess manager and leadership capability gaps and recommend learning and development solutions.
- Collaborate with People & Culture colleagues to design, implement, and evaluate enterprise learning and leadership development initiatives.
- Reinforce learning by coaching managers on new skills and providing ongoing consultation and feedback.
- Support succession planning and career development by helping leaders identify employee growth opportunities.
- Evaluate learning initiatives using feedback, business outcomes, and workforce metrics.
- Identify opportunities to improve manager capability, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, and employee experience.
- Support implementation of People & Culture enterprise initiatives within client groups and partner with colleagues to ensure consistent delivery of programs and services.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of People & Culture processes, practices, and service delivery, and participate in cross-functional initiatives that strengthen organizational capability and operational effectiveness.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 20 vacation days, 7 sick days, and 10 paid holidays with 2 floating holidays (prorated based on start date)
- Contribution in a 403(b) retirement plan
- Commuter benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid primary and secondary caregiver leave
- Supplemental short-term disability insurance and paid life insurance
- Winter Fridays
- Growth and Development career opportunities
- Discounted Citi Bike Membership
- Discounts with vendors on the High Line and around the Meatpacking neighborhood
- Free entrance to Whitney Museum
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
