Automotive HR Director
About The Position
We are seeking an experienced HR Director to lead human resources strategy and day-to-day HR execution across our Northern California dealership operations. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for employee relations, California employment compliance, recruiting support, performance management, workplace investigations, training, policy administration, leave management, and HR process standardization across multiple rooftops. The ideal candidate has direct automotive dealership HR experience in Northern California and understands the unique challenges of managing employees across sales, service, parts, BDC, accounting, and administrative departments. This individual will work closely with executive leadership, General Managers, department leaders, and payroll/administrative teams to strengthen accountability, reduce employment-related risk, improve retention, and create consistent HR practices throughout the organization.
Requirements
- HR leadership experience within the automotive dealership industry
- Demonstrated experience managing HR matters for employees located in California
- 5+ years of progressive HR experience; multi-location or dealer-group leadership experience strongly preferred
- Strong working knowledge of California employee relations, wage-and-hour compliance, leave administration, workplace investigations, performance management, and employment documentation practices
- Experience handling sensitive employee complaints and conducting thorough, objective workplace investigations
- Proven ability to coach and influence General Managers, department managers, and senior leaders while maintaining consistent HR standards
- Ability to balance employee advocacy with the operational and business needs of the organization
- Experience creating and implementing scalable HR processes across multiple locations
- Demonstrated ability to improve compliance, accountability, employee retention, and management effectiveness through disciplined HR practices
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong conflict-resolution, judgment, organization, and problem-solving abilities
- High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential employee and business information
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively in a fast-paced dealership environment
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting multiple dealership franchises or rooftops
- Experience with dealership HRIS, payroll, timekeeping, or DMS-related processes
- HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP
Responsibilities
- Lead HR operations across multiple California dealerships, ensuring consistent processes, documentation, policies, and employment practices
- Serve as a strategic HR partner to executive leadership, General Managers, and department leaders regarding organizational structure, staffing, performance, employee relations, and talent needs
- Manage employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, complaints, corrective action, conflict resolution, performance issues, and terminations
- Maintain strong compliance with applicable California and federal employment laws, wage-and-hour requirements, leave requirements, workplace standards, and documentation practices
- Partner with payroll and dealership leadership to support compliant timekeeping, attendance, compensation, meal and rest period practices, and other wage-and-hour processes
- Manage and coordinate employee leave and accommodation processes in partnership with appropriate internal and external resources
- Maintain and update employee handbooks, HR policies, SOPs, forms, and documentation standards
- Ensure HR policies and procedures are communicated and applied consistently across all dealership locations
- Support recruiting strategy, candidate screening, hiring processes, background-check procedures, offer processes, and onboarding
- Improve onboarding consistency and help establish clear expectations for new employees and managers
- Develop and support management training focused on employee relations, documentation, coaching, compliance, leadership, and accountability
- Oversee performance management practices and help dealership leaders establish effective coaching, counseling, and performance improvement plans
- Support benefits administration, HRIS systems, payroll coordination, workers' compensation processes, and employee records management as applicable
- Partner with leadership to identify employee retention issues and develop practical strategies to improve engagement and reduce unnecessary turnover
- Monitor HR metrics including turnover, hiring activity, attendance, employee relations matters, terminations, and other workforce trends
- Identify HR-related risks and recommend practical improvements to processes, policies, training, and leadership practices
- Promote a professional, respectful, accountable, and performance-focused workplace culture across the organization
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage options
- 401(k) retirement plan options
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Employee discounts and dealership benefits
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Additional benefits may be available based on position and location
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
