NOTE: This is a full-time role and will be on-site at our corporate headquarters in Franklin, TN. Hybrid or remote opportunities are not available.
About the Role: The Director of Employee Relations and Compliance is a strategic and hands‑on leader responsible for shaping a fair, consistent, and legally compliant employee experience across a large, multi‑unit QSR organization. With a workforce of approximately 6,000 employees, this role ensures that policies, practices, and culture support operational excellence while minimizing risk. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem‑solver who thrives in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment and knows how to balance business needs with people‑first decision‑making.
Key Responsibilities:
Employee Relations Leadership
- Serve as the primary point of escalation for complex employee relations issues, investigations, and conflict resolution.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of HR Business Partners
- Ensure consistent application of policies, disciplinary actions, and performance management across all restaurant locations.
- Partner with Operations leadership to proactively identify trends and address root causes of ER issues.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including wage and hour, scheduling, leave management, and workplace safety.
- Conduct regular audits of HR practices, documentation, and labor compliance across all restaurants.
- Lead the response to agency claims (EEOC, DOL, state agencies) and coordinate with legal counsel, as needed.
- Monitor regulatory changes and work with teams to update policies, training, and processes accordingly.
Policy Development & Governance
- Own the employee handbook, HR policies, and standard operating procedures.
- Ensure policies are clear, accessible, and aligned with both legal requirements and company culture.
- Partner with cross‑functional teams (Operations, Training, HR, Legal) to ensure policy adoption and compliance.
Culture & Engagement
- Support initiatives that strengthen a positive, inclusive, and high‑performance culture across all restaurant locations.
- Use ER and compliance data to identify opportunities to improve retention, engagement, and manager effectiveness.
- Partner with HR leadership on strategies that reduce turnover and enhance the employee experience.
Data & Reporting
- Track and analyze ER trends, case types, turnover drivers, and compliance risks.
- Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership to inform decision‑making.
- Maintain accurate documentation and case management systems.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (Master’s or JD a plus).
- 8+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 4 years focused on employee relations and compliance, and leading a team.
- Exceptional leadership and team building skills.
- Experience supporting multi-unit, hourly-workforce environments - QSR, retail, hospitality, or similar.
- Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices in multiple states.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough, unbiased investigations.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume, geographically dispersed organization.
- High integrity, sound judgment, and a calm, solutions-oriented approach.