Senior Director, People & Culture

Mckissack & Mckissack•Washington, DC

13d•$170,000 - $200,000

About The Position

Join McKissack & McKissack's team! We have an immediate opening for a Senior Director, People & Culture in Washington, D.C. or Chicago, IL. Apply now for this exciting opportunity! McKissack & McKissack offers opportunities to grow your career while working on transformative projects in program and construction management, architecture, and interior design. We combine technical expertise and creative vision to deliver exceptional results. Our culture values diversity, professional development, and performance. We seek team players who are humble, hungry, and smart, with strong academic or professional experience, integrity, and a client-focused mindset. Join a team that invests in your success and rewards ambition, integrity, and collaboration. McKissack & McKissack is seeking a Senior Director of People & Culture to build, strengthen, and scale our people function as the firm continues to grow. This is a highly hands‑on role for a leader who has stood up or rebuilt HR departments in startup, high‑growth, or evolving consulting environments, particularly within construction, engineering, or professional services. This role is about creating structure, clarity, and consistency where they are still forming, while staying deeply connected to day‑to‑day realities of the business. The ideal candidate is comfortable working closely with leadership, managers, and employees alike and is willing to step in wherever needed to keep the organization moving forward.

Requirements

10–15 years of HR experience, with significant time spent in a startup, scale‑up, or evolving organization
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred)
Strong working knowledge of employment law, compliance, and HR best practices
Experience using HR metrics and workforce data to inform decisions
Demonstrated experience building or significantly reshaping an HR function, not just operating within an established one
Comfort supporting a workforce that includes technical professionals, project teams, and field‑adjacent roles
Highly hands‑on and execution‑oriented, comfortable stepping in wherever needed
Practical, grounded approach to HR that values clarity, fairness, and follow‑through
Able to earn credibility with leaders and staff through presence, responsiveness, and consistency
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and making progress without perfect information

Nice To Haves

Experience in construction consulting, engineering, architecture, or professional services strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Personally own and execute the full scope of the people function, including HR operations, employee relations, compliance, and performance management and talent development
Act as a visible, approachable leader who is comfortable working alongside teams, solving real issues as they arise
Balance strategic thinking with day‑to‑day execution, ensuring people programs are practical, clear, and consistently applied
Design and implement core HR systems, processes, and policies that support a growing construction consulting organization
Build structure that supports both office‑based and project‑based teams
Create scalable solutions without over‑engineering, prioritizing what is needed now while planning for growth
Develop career paths, progression frameworks, and role clarity that resonate in a consulting and project‑driven environment
Lead a performance management process that sets clear expectations, supports accountability, and drives professional growth
Partner with managers to strengthen people leadership and supervisory effectiveness
Strengthen a culture rooted in accountability, teamwork, problem‑solving, and mutual respect
Use workforce data, feedback, and direct employee engagement to identify retention risks and implement solutions
Build trust by being present, consistent, and responsive to employee needs
Ensure compliance with all employment laws and HR best practices across multiple jurisdictions
Oversee benefits administration, employee relations, and HR operations in partnership with external vendors
Leverage HR metrics and analytics to support workforce planning and decision‑making
Manage and optimize HR systems, including Deltek Vantagepoint
Partner effectively with a PEO provider (e.g., Insperity) while maintaining strong internal ownership of the people function