Director of People & Culture

Convene is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and we believe that diverse teams are the best teams. We live our values of GRIT (Genuine, Relentless, Integrity & Teamwork) and strive to create an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can be their true selves, where we all show up for each other. In line with our goal to be 1% better every day, we are committed to listening, learning, growing and improving. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives to join us on this journey.

Position Overview

The Director of People & Culture will be a strategic leader responsible for developing and executing human resources strategies that align with our business objectives and support our growth. This role requires a seasoned HR professional with a deep understanding of employee relations in a complex, fast-paced hospitality environment. The Director of People & Culture will champion our company culture, drive talent development, ensure compliance, and build strong relationships with employees and leadership across all US locations. 

As the Director of People & Culture, you’ll partner with our corporate and operations leadership teams on all people matters, with a heavy emphasis on employee relations and engagement. This includes all the work necessary to keep our people operations humming, with support from the People & Culture team’s centers of excellence (Talent Acquisition and Learning & Development).

What You’ll Do:

As a main P&C point person for our corporate and field employees, your primary responsibilities will be: 

Employee Relations & Compliance: 

• Lead and manage all aspects of employee relations across multiple sites, including investigations, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions. 
• Develop, implement, and interpret HR policies and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Provide expert guidance and coaching to leadership and managers on employee relations issues, performance management, and difficult conversations. Conduct thorough and impartial investigations into employee complaints, harassment allegations, and other workplace issues, documenting findings and recommending appropriate resolutions. 
• Proactively identify and address potential employee relations risks to maintain a positive and productive work environment. 

Benefits Administration:

• Have a deep understanding of all employee benefits programs, ensuring effective communication and employee adoption of offerings. 

Change Management: 

• Lead and support change management initiatives across the organization, ensuring smooth transitions and employee adoption of new processes or structures. 

Culture Building & Employee Engagement: 

• Champion and evolve our company culture, fostering an environment of respect, inclusivity, and high performance across all locations. 
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. 
• Oversee employee recognition programs and initiatives that celebrate achievements and reinforce desired behaviors. 
• Act as a trusted advisor and advocate for employees, promoting open communication and feedback channels. 
• You’ll execute Convene initiatives that support the entire employee lifecycle to increase employee engagement, decrease turnover, bolster employee and manager satisfaction with P&C, and drive retention. 

Talent Management & Development: 

• Partner with the Talent Acquisition team in developing and executing strategies to attract and retain top talent for all levels of the US operations team. 
• Support the performance management process, including goal setting, performance reviews, and development plans. 
• Identify training and development needs, and collaborate with operations to create and deliver programs that enhance employee skills, leadership capabilities, and career growth. 
• Develop and manage succession planning initiatives to ensure a strong pipeline of talent for key roles. 

HR Operations & Strategy: 

• Leverage P&C metrics and analytics to identify trends, inform decision-making, and measure the effectiveness of initiatives. 
• Ensure data accuracy and integrity across a best in class suite of systems and tools.
• Stay current with HR best practices, employment law changes, and industry trends, particularly within the hospitality sector. 
• Partner with senior leadership to develop and execute overall business strategy from a people perspective.

What We Look For: 

• Demonstrated progressive experience in P&C business partner roles, particularly in a multi-site or decentralized environment. 
• Proven experience within the hospitality or retail industry is highly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, especially around an hourly workforce.
• Exceptional communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to HR. 
• Ability to build rapport and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency in ADP preferred. 
• Alignment with Convene’s core values: genuine, relentless, integrity, and teamwork (GRIT).
• Progressive, innovative, open-minded attitude. 
• Raw talent: both IQ and EQ. 
• Coaching approach to leadership and communication. 
• Ability to work quickly and flexibly. 
• Understanding of legal and other issues relevant to the modern employment climate.
• Located in the NYC Metro Area, with availability to be on site to support our teams 3-4 days per week. Occasional travel across our other US locations may be required on a quarterly basis.

Compensation:

The above job definition information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on changing business needs and conditions.

Base Salary:

Salary Min: $140,000  Salary Max: $150,000

This role is also eligible for Convene's annual incentive performance bonus plan.

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. 

Who We Are:

Convene is a global hospitality company that manages a growing portfolio of lifestyle brands focused on revolutionizing the way people meet, work, and gather. It creates hospitality-driven experiences and uniquely designed destinations across its various brands with the singular mission of fostering human-to-human connection.The Convene portfolio comprises Convene, etc.venues by Convene, and Convene Signature, offering clients multiple products including event venues, meeting rooms, flexible office spaces, and building amenity centers. With hospitality at its core, each brand and product offers on-site culinary, in-room A/V, production services, and dedicated hospitality staffing resources. As the largest single provider of dedicated meeting and event venues in the U.S. and UK, and with a growing footprint of flexible office space, the Convene portfolio has a network of nearly 40 locations across nine global cities.

Learn more at https://convene.com/.

We’re Here For You: 

At Convene, you’ll receive:

Health and Wellness

• Excellent health coverage for you and your family starting day one
• 24/7 virtual care through Centivo Care
• Employee Assistance Program: emotional well-being and support for everyday life
• Fertility & family planning through Kindbody

Time Off and Work-Life Balance

• Generous paid time off plus time off for your birthday
• A Holiday closure each year to allow all employees to unplug and recharge
• Paid time off for new parents: maternity, paternity, adoption

Financial Support and Benefits

• 401K plan with company matching
• Financial support for education: for attending conferences, taking courses, or gaining certifications

Professional Development and Recognition

• Continuous professional and personal development support
• Employee recognition and reward programs to mark achievements and milestones

Community and Impact

• Opportunities to volunteer, donate, and participate in community give-back initiatives
• The opportunity to have a significant impact on your team and the business in the work that you do

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