Human Resources Manager

Chickie's and Pete's•Bensalem Township, PA

24d•Onsite

About The Position

The HR Manager leads day-to-day Human Resources for Chickie’s & Pete’s restaurant locations and corporate headquarters. This hands-on partner to General Managers and the leadership team oversees employee relations, recruiting and onboarding, training, compliance, benefits, 401(k) administration and HR records. The role also provides backup payroll coverage, verifying and processing payroll when needed. It supports a fast-paced, multi-location restaurant business by helping hire, train and retain team members and by promoting a respectful, safe and service-focused workplace. The HR Manager supports the company’s four pillars: developing and retaining people; supporting safe, clean and compliant locations; ensuring team members are trained and certified; and hiring and training for excellent guest service. The position also uses company-approved AI tools to improve HR productivity while maintaining human oversight, fairness, legal compliance and confidentiality. Hiring, pay, promotion, discipline and termination decisions remain human decisions. The role is primarily office-based at CPC headquarters in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, with regular visits to restaurants and required travel between locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Occasional evening or weekend work may be needed during peak periods, and additional hours may be required, including around payroll deadlines.

Requirements

3–5+ years of progressive HR experience; restaurant, hospitality or other multi-location business experience is preferred.
Working knowledge of federal, Pennsylvania and New Jersey employment laws, including tipped-employee and minor-labor rules.
Hands-on payroll experience, preferably with Paycom or a similar payroll and timekeeping system.
Experience handling employee relations, investigations and terminations professionally and confidentially.
Strong organization and time management skills, including the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work with team members and leaders at every level.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Word and Outlook.
Comfort using technology, including AI tools, with sound judgment about appropriate use and limitations.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to all locations as needed.
Ability to work additional hours when needed, including around payroll deadlines, and assist with others’ workloads.
Must be able to sit, stand and walk, and occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field.
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR or SPHR certification.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.
Familiarity with ServSafe, RAMP or TIPS.
Experience with AI-enabled HR, recruiting or payroll tools.
Experience in restaurants, hospitality or another multi-location business.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary resource for General Managers and team members on employee relations, policy questions, coaching and performance issues.
Conduct timely, thorough and confidential investigations; document findings and recommend appropriate action.
Guide managers on progressive discipline, Employee Performance Notices and terminations, ensuring complete and consistent documentation.
Lead recognition, engagement and retention efforts; track turnover and exit feedback and recommend improvements.
Model company standards and a positive, people-first attitude.
Partner with General Managers on staffing plans, including seasonal hiring for shore locations.
Conduct initial interviews, reference checks and background checks for management and corporate office candidates.
Coordinate onboarding with the Payroll Manager, including offer letters, new-hire paperwork, I-9s, residency certificates and tax forms; verify paperwork is complete and accurate.
Ensure terminations are processed and documented correctly; manage unemployment claims, hearings and employment verifications.
Track RAMP, TIPS and ServSafe certifications, notify managers of upcoming expirations and help schedule training.
Run the performance review cycle, follow up on outstanding reviews and support fair, consistent evaluations.
Design and deliver training on harassment prevention, company policies, management skills and other operational topics.
Support career paths and leadership development for team members pursuing supervisor and management roles.
Ensure HR and pay practices comply with federal, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and local laws, including wage and hour, tip credit and tip pooling, overtime, breaks, paid leave and minor labor rules.
Monitor compliance for employees under 18, including work permits, hours and time-of-day limits, and restricted duties.
Maintain and update the employee manual, policies and HR forms as laws and company needs change.
Report and monitor workplace injuries, complete required follow-up and year-end OSHA reporting, and share injury trends with the Safety Committee.
Prepare for and support DOL, insurance, accountant and other agency audits.
Administer medical, dental, life, disability, 401(k) and other benefits, including enrollments, changes, terminations, annual renewals and invoice review.
Manage leave-of-absence and disability paperwork, including FMLA and state leave requirements.
Oversee administration of wage changes, bonuses, commissions and salary increases, and help maintain competitive and consistent pay across locations.
Maintain accurate, confidential personnel files and HR records, and track vacation/PTO.
As needed, verify and process payroll in Paycom, reviewing reports and imports, tips, overtime and deductions before submission.
Help enter payroll changes, including hires, terminations, pay-rate changes, garnishments and direct-deposit updates; resolve payroll questions and discrepancies.
Support year-end disability and tax reporting, W-2 updates and distribution, and multi-state payroll tax questions with Paycom.
Cross-train with the payroll team and provide coverage during absences or peak periods to avoid payroll interruptions.
Maintain accurate HRIS and payroll data and help set up new companies or locations in Paycom, Mirus and Toast.
Prepare HR reports for the VP of Business Administration on headcount, turnover, hiring, injuries and other metrics.
Provide direction and support to HR and payroll staff as assigned, and complete additional projects and tasks as assigned.
Use company-approved AI tools to support HR drafting, document summaries and HR data analysis; review AI output for accuracy, fairness and tone.
Evaluate and manage AI features in recruiting, scheduling, onboarding and payroll systems; support responsible AI policies and training, protect confidential data, and monitor relevant laws and best practices.