Director of HR

About the Opportunity

TalentoHC is partnering with a fast-growing brand management and licensing company headquartered in New York City.

Unlike traditional apparel companies, this organization focuses on acquiring, developing, and growing fashion and lifestyle brands through licensing, strategic partnerships, and global expansion — partnering with leading manufacturers, retailers, and licensees around the world to bring brands into new product categories including apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, home, and lifestyle.

The organization operates with an entrepreneurial, lean structure where employees have real visibility and direct influence on the business. They are seeking an HR Director who is equally comfortable operating at a strategic level and rolling up their sleeves on the day-to-day.

This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership while owning the full HR function — from employee relations and performance management to recruiting, compliance, compensation, benefits, and HR operations.

A significant part of this role involves building and improving foundational HR processes that don't yet exist or lack consistency — including standardized onboarding, company-wide performance reviews, SOPs, documentation, and manager guides.

This is a high-impact opportunity for an HR leader who thrives in entrepreneurial environments, enjoys building from the ground up, and wants real ownership and visibility during an exciting period of growth.

Experience working alongside creative teams is a must — this organization's workforce spans designers, brand builders, and creative professionals, and the ideal HR partner knows how to engage, support, and retain talent that operates differently than traditional corporate functions.

HR Business Partnership

• Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute HR strategies aligned with business objectives
• Provide coaching and guidance to managers on performance, leadership development, and workforce planning
• Support organizational growth, restructures, and change management initiatives
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Lead full-cycle recruitment across Licensing, Business Development, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Creative, Sales, and Operations
• Build and oversee a standardized onboarding program to ensure a consistent, positive new hire experience
• Partner with hiring managers on workforce planning and succession strategies
• Develop employer branding initiatives to attract top talent

Employee Relations & Performance Management

• Serve as the primary HR resource for employee relations matters, investigations, and conflict resolution
• Coach managers on difficult conversations, documentation, and consistent application of company policies
• Build and manage a company-wide performance review process, including cadence, evaluation forms, and goal-setting
• Support employee engagement, retention, and career development programs

Compensation, Benefits & Compliance

• Partner with leadership on compensation benchmarking, promotions, merit planning, and organizational leveling
• Administer employee benefit programs and manage Open Enrollment in collaboration with brokers and vendors
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and New York employment laws
• Maintain HRIS data integrity, employee records, and HR reporting

HR Process Building & Projects

• Build and standardize foundational HR processes including onboarding, performance reviews, SOPs, and documentation
• Develop HR metrics and dashboards to provide insights into hiring, retention, turnover, and workforce trends
• Lead initiatives related to HR technology, employee engagement, DE&I;, and organizational effectiveness
• Participate in mergers, acquisitions, and integrations as the organization continues to grow

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• 7–10+ years of progressive HR experience in a true HR Generalist or HRBP capacity
• Strong background in employee relations, performance management, compliance, recruiting, and HR operations
• Experience working with creative teams, designers, or talent in fashion, licensing, entertainment, or consumer products — required
• Prior experience in consumer products, fashion, retail, entertainment, or licensing industries highly preferred
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and New York employment laws
• Working knowledge of compensation, benefits, and HR compliance
• Experience with HRIS platforms such as Workday, UKG, ADP Workforce Now, BambooHR, or SuccessFactors
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and HR reporting
• Excellent communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills

Preferred

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification
• Experience supporting multi-state employee populations
• Background in high-growth, entrepreneurial, or private equity-backed environments
• Exposure to organizational design, change management, and HR process improvement

About TalentoHC

Build Your Best Team Yet Executive Search | Talent Strategy | Human Capital Consulting TalentoHC is a global executive search and human capital consulting firm helping organizations build high-performing leadership teams that drive growth and transformation.

The firm partners with companies across industries including technology, aviation, hospitality, media, and professional services to identify and place senior leaders who shape organizational strategy. Through a human capital-centric approach, TalentoHC supports organizations navigating leadership change, strengthening talent strategy, and building teams capable of delivering long-term enterprise value.

Equal Opportunity Employer

TalentoHC is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.