HR Manager

A&W Restaurants•Lexington, KY

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

A&W Restaurants, Inc. is looking to add an HR Manager to the team! The Human Resources Manager for A&W Restaurants operates as the primary HR resource for the Restaurant Support Center and Corporate Restaurants and works collaboratively across all departments to support employees, the business needs and our organizational culture. The role is responsible for leading and executing core HR functions, including employee relations, benefits administration, payroll, talent acquisition and performance management, compliance reporting, training and development, and community involvement. This position reports to the CEO. Essential Functions Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Talent and Performance Management Develops and updates Job Descriptions with supervisors; determines exemption status. Facilitates recruiting activities, including job ad preparation and posting; prepares salary recommendations based on data surveys; selects, sources and interviews candidates, prepares offer letters; utilizes the Applicant Tracking System and participates in job fair events. Conducts onboarding, including background checks, new hire orientation, and HRIS entries. Advises leaders on effective corrective actions and documentation, including Performance Improvement Plans. Conducts or helps identify annual trainings (harassment, workplace violence, discrimination, safety, and inclusion); provides coaching to new supervisors or identifies other trainings as part of development or performance management. Develops and administers succession planning programs and considers knowledge loss related to turnover to aid in workforce planning needs. Employee Relations Maintains HRIS as system owner, ensuring employee data accuracy and proper documentation. Develops and updates policies, and timely integrates to Employee Handbooks. Communicates updates to the organization. Serves as the primary internal resource for HR systems, policies, and employee questions. Administers leave management, including FMLA. Conducts HR investigations as needed and serves as a liaison on legal/law enforcement matters such as theft. Consults with counsel as needed on delicate, confidential matters or severance agreements. Facilitates a culture of intentional inclusion. Amplifies initiatives to promote open discussions and/or awareness of community needs and issues. Leads employee engagement initiatives, including surveys and organizational communications. Payroll and Compensation Administration Processes and administers weekly and biweekly payroll in partnership with Finance. Ensures payroll data accuracy, including compensation changes, deductions, and status updates. Maintains understanding of wage and hour compliance requirements. Benefit Administration Oversees administration of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and wellness offerings. Manages enrollments, life event changes, eligibility, terminations, and employee communications. Serves as primary contact for brokers and vendors and supports plan renewals, implementation, and ongoing administration. Assists employees with benefit questions and escalates complex issues to vendors or leadership as needed. Conducts benefits analysis including market comparisons, utilization trends, cost modeling, and evaluation of vendor bids and renewal proposals; prepares recommendations for leadership. Reviews benefit invoices and reconciles eligibility and enrollment data across vendors and HRIS. Manages worker compensation. Compliance and Regulatory Reporting Maintains documentation required for audits, investigations, and compliance reviews. Supports Affordable Care Act (ACA) tracking, reporting, and annual filing requirements. Serves as business advisor on employment law and agency matters in conjunction with outside counsel; proactively brings updates to the attention of the Executive Committee. Ensures labor law posters are posted and communicated for both in-house and remote workers. Supports preparation of agency reporting including EEOC, OSHA, BLS, and other required filings. Disburses annual disclosures such as SPD for 401k and health plans, COBRA, mammograms, etc. Facilitates annual required training. Unemployment Processes unemployment claims and attends hearings as necessary. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, projects, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, projects, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

Exceptional work ethic, integrity, ability to maintain confidentiality, high emotional intelligence, and a flexible demeanor.
Commitment to follow-up and follow-through.
High level of detail orientation and organization.
Self-motivated.
Able to represent A&W in a professional manner at all times, including through phone, text, emails, events, etc.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Labor Relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and progressive HR experience.
Five to eight years of progressive HR experience across employee relations, benefits administration, recruiting, compliance, and HR operations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to conduct group presentations and training both calmly and effectively.
Strong communications capability, as well as high emotional intelligence and a flexible demeanor.

Nice To Haves

Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and or SHRM CP certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Experience in restaurant or food service environments preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and updates Job Descriptions with supervisors; determines exemption status.
Facilitates recruiting activities, including job ad preparation and posting; prepares salary recommendations based on data surveys; selects, sources and interviews candidates, prepares offer letters; utilizes the Applicant Tracking System and participates in job fair events.
Conducts onboarding, including background checks, new hire orientation, and HRIS entries.
Advises leaders on effective corrective actions and documentation, including Performance Improvement Plans.
Conducts or helps identify annual trainings (harassment, workplace violence, discrimination, safety, and inclusion); provides coaching to new supervisors or identifies other trainings as part of development or performance management.
Develops and administers succession planning programs and considers knowledge loss related to turnover to aid in workforce planning needs.
Maintains HRIS as system owner, ensuring employee data accuracy and proper documentation.
Develops and updates policies, and timely integrates to Employee Handbooks.
Communicates updates to the organization.
Serves as the primary internal resource for HR systems, policies, and employee questions.
Administers leave management, including FMLA.
Conducts HR investigations as needed and serves as a liaison on legal/law enforcement matters such as theft.
Consults with counsel as needed on delicate, confidential matters or severance agreements.
Facilitates a culture of intentional inclusion.
Amplifies initiatives to promote open discussions and/or awareness of community needs and issues.
Leads employee engagement initiatives, including surveys and organizational communications.
Processes and administers weekly and biweekly payroll in partnership with Finance.
Ensures payroll data accuracy, including compensation changes, deductions, and status updates.
Maintains understanding of wage and hour compliance requirements.
Oversees administration of all employee benefit programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and wellness offerings.
Manages enrollments, life event changes, eligibility, terminations, and employee communications.
Serves as primary contact for brokers and vendors and supports plan renewals, implementation, and ongoing administration.
Assists employees with benefit questions and escalates complex issues to vendors or leadership as needed.
Conducts benefits analysis including market comparisons, utilization trends, cost modeling, and evaluation of vendor bids and renewal proposals; prepares recommendations for leadership.
Reviews benefit invoices and reconciles eligibility and enrollment data across vendors and HRIS.
Manages worker compensation.
Maintains documentation required for audits, investigations, and compliance reviews.
Supports Affordable Care Act (ACA) tracking, reporting, and annual filing requirements.
Serves as business advisor on employment law and agency matters in conjunction with outside counsel; proactively brings updates to the attention of the Executive Committee.
Ensures labor law posters are posted and communicated for both in-house and remote workers.
Supports preparation of agency reporting including EEOC, OSHA, BLS, and other required filings.
Disburses annual disclosures such as SPD for 401k and health plans, COBRA, mammograms, etc.
Facilitates annual required training.
Processes unemployment claims and attends hearings as necessary.