Senior Human Resources Manager

Voodoo Doughnut is currently hiring for a seasoned Senior Human Resources Manager for our Portland, OR headquarters! This position is a critical role on the Human Resources team responsible for leading employee relations, compliance, talent management, organizational development, and strategic HR initiatives across the organization. This role partners closely with company leadership to align people strategies with business objectives, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and foster a positive employee experience. This position is full-time in office, located in Portland, OR.

Serving as a trusted advisor to leaders throughout the organization, the Senior Human Resources Manager provides strategic guidance on employee relations, leadership development, workforce planning, performance management, investigations, policy interpretation, and employment practices while supporting the administration and continuous improvement of employee benefit programs. This position exercises independent judgment and discretion in evaluating complex workplace issues, assessing organizational risk, and developing solutions that support both employees and business objectives.

The ideal candidate brings significant Human Resources experience supporting multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, retail, or other high-volume hourly workforce environments. They understand the unique demands of geographically dispersed operations, frontline leadership teams, and customer-facing businesses and have a proven ability to balance employee experience, compliance, and operational priorities.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Employee Relations, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Lead complex employee relations matters, investigations, and workplace concerns across multiple locations and jurisdictions.
• Provide guidance and recommendations regarding performance management, corrective action, accommodations, leave administration, employee separations, and conflict resolution.
• Ensure consistent and compliant application of company policies, employment practices, and organizational standards.
• Partner with leaders to identify, assess, and mitigate employment-related risk.
• Collaborate with legal counsel and external partners as appropriate.
• Monitor changes in employment laws and regulations and draft recommended policy, process, and training updates.

Strategic HR Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and operational leaders on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and employee engagement.
• Partner with operational leaders in stores and at headquarters.
• Align people strategies with organizational goals and operational priorities.
• Provide coaching and consultation on communication, accountability, performance management, conflict resolution, and leadership effectiveness.
• Lead organizational change initiatives and support leaders through growth, workforce challenges, and evolving business needs.
• Identify talent and succession needs and develop strategies to strengthen leadership pipelines and organizational effectiveness.
• Champion initiatives that enhance employee engagement, retention, leadership capability, and overall business performance.

Talent Management and Organizational Development

• Partner with leaders to develop and execute talent acquisition strategies that attract, develop, and retain high-performing leaders and teams.
• Support management recruiting, succession planning, and internal talent development efforts.
• Lead leadership development initiatives that strengthen management capability throughout the organization.
• Support onboarding, career development, and employee growth programs.
• Facilitate leadership training and professional development initiatives.

HR Programs and Administration

• Lead key HR initiatives, projects, and process improvements that support business objectives.
• Develop, review, and maintain HR policies, procedures, programs, and tools.
• Partner with brokers, vendors, and internal stakeholders to support employee benefit programs, annual enrollment activities, employee communications, and ongoing plan administration.
• Serve as a resource for employees and leaders regarding benefits, leave programs, HR policies, and employment practices.
• Analyze workforce, benefits, and employee experience data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Support audits, compliance reporting, recordkeeping, and documentation requirements.
• Utilize HRIS, payroll, and workforce management systems to support HR operations, reporting, and compliance.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 8-12 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including 3 or more years in a management capacity.
• Experience supporting high-volume hourly workforces across multiple locations and states.
• Experience partnering with operational leaders across multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, retail, or other geographically dispersed operations.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations and managing complex employee relations matters.
• Experience administering employee benefit programs and supporting annual open enrollment processes.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Experience drafting and implementing new HR policies and operating procedures.
• Experience partnering directly with senior leadership.
• Ability to travel regularly to company locations.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Human Resources experience within multi-unit restaurant or hospitality organizations.
• Experience supporting growth-focused organizations, including new location openings and operational expansion.
• Experience working with benefits renewals, broker relationships, and employee benefit strategy.
• Multi-state employment law experience.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now, 7shifts, or similar human capital management, payroll, timekeeping, and workforce scheduling platforms.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong employee relations, coaching, and conflict resolution skills.
• Working knowledge of employee benefits administration and employee communications.
• Thorough understanding of workplace investigations, employment law compliance, and risk management.
• Ability to build credibility and influence at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Strong project management and change leadership skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with practical execution.
• Ability to persevere and drive projects to resolution in the face of ambiguity.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, and working on a computer.
• Ability to travel to company locations.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to navigate active restaurant and production environments.

Exempt Classification

This position is classified as exempt under applicable wage and hour laws. The Senior Human Resources Manager exercises independent judgment and discretion in matters involving employee relations, compliance, organizational effectiveness, and business operations and is therefore not eligible for overtime compensation except as required by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Voodoo Doughnut is committed to fostering a workplace where employees are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness. We are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions based on business needs, qualifications, and job-related criteria, without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Voodoo Doughnut is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable law.

Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions.

Voodoo Doughnut reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description as business needs require. Employees may be required to perform duties not specifically identified in this document.

Nothing in this job description creates an employment contract, express or implied, or alters the at-will nature of employment where permitted by law.