Director, Human Resources

KREWE; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wage

Group health plans: health, vision and

Welfare benefits: life, AD&D, optional

401(K) Investment Options

Paid Parental Leave

Quarterly Cultural Spend

Ongoing Training and Development

10 paid holidays and PTO accrual

Frame allowance

Job summary

KREWE in New Orleans seeks a Director of Human Resources to lead HR operations, payroll, benefits, and employee relations for a growing multi-state team. This role partners with senior leaders and maintains HRIS systems while ensuring compliance and a best-in-class employee experience.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in HR within dynamic retail or consumer environments, strong judgment, and proven ability to scale HR processes across jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience in a multi-state organization.
• Direct experience managing multistate payroll and benefits administration.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR best practices.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders as an HR business partner.
• Experience with HRIS implementation and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Own HR operations across the employee lifecycle including onboarding, payroll and benefits.
• Lead payroll and benefits administration for multistate workforce with compliance.
• Serve as owner of HRIS data integrity and process improvements.
• Advise leaders on performance, employee relations, and organizational changes.
• Support InPerson retail organization with workforce needs and relations.
• Develop and maintain HR policies and programs for growth and compliance.
• Manage complex employee relations matters and investigations.

Skills

HR leadership

Payroll management

Employee relations

HR policy design

HRIS administration

Performance management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree or SHRM certification a plus

Tools

Rippling HRIS

Job description

About KREWE

KREWE is an independent, high-fashion eyewear brand rooted in the vibrant culture and boundless creativity of our hometown, New Orleans – and now proudly headquartered in both New Orleans and New York City. Since our launch in 2013, KREWE has grown into a dynamic brand celebrated for its distinctive, handcrafted sun and optical frames that reflect a deep commitment to quality, individuality, and design.

In 2022, we opened the doors to our NYC headquarters in the heart of the Meatpacking District, building a second home for the brand that brings New Orleans’ culture, creativity, and energy to one of the world’s most iconic design capitals. Our presence now spans brick‑and‑mortar boutiques, mobile retail concepts, and a thriving e‑commerce platform - alongside distribution through premier independents and top national retailers. Celebrated for our unique approach to design, KREWE has cultivated a loyal following among style‑conscious consumers and influential tastemakers.

As we continue to expand, we’re looking for passionate, driven, and innovative individuals to join our talented team. At KREWE our work is fast‑paced, collaborative, and deeply mission‑driven. Our people are high‑performing and ambitious - not just about hitting goals, but about building something that’s original, culturally rooted and globally resonant. Every team member at KREWE has the opportunity to own their role and make a lasting impact. If this sounds like the right environment for you

We are currently searching for a Director of Human Resources to lead, maintain, and develop the core HR infrastructure that supports our growing organization, including HR operations, payroll and benefits, employee relations, compliance, performance management, and the employee lifecycle. The Director will serve as a key partner to leaders across the business, ensuring KREWE has the processes, policies, and systems needed to scale. In addition, the Director will maintain relationships with KREWE’s external vendors, including insurance administrators and our HRIS. This role will also serve as the primary People partner to our InPerson (retail) organization, advising leaders on organizational and employee matters, and ensuring a consistent employee experience across our growing store fleet.

As KREWE continues to evolve its People function, this individual will play a meaningful role in building more sophisticated HR practices while remaining highly hands‑on in their execution. The ideal candidate combines strong HR judgment and operational rigor with the ability to navigate a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.

This role is based in our New Orleans Headquarters 5 days a week.

Key Responsibilities

• Own HR operations across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, payroll, benefits, employee relations, leaves, compliance, and offboarding
• Lead payroll and benefits administration across KREWE's multistate workforce, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance
• Serve as the primary owner and subject matter expert for KREWE's HRIS, maintaining data integrity and continuously improving systems and workflows
• Serve as a trusted HR business partner to leaders, providing guidance on performance, employee relations, organizational changes, and other people matters
• Lead HR partnership for KREWE's InPerson retail organization, supporting field leadership across employee relations, talent, performance, and workforce needs
• Manage complex and sensitive employee relations matters, including investigations, performance concerns, corrective action, and separations
• Evolve KREWE's performance management, talent development, compensation, and employee engagement practices
• Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies, procedures, and programs that support KREWE's continued growth while ensuring compliance across jurisdictions
• Own relationships with key external People vendors, including benefits partners, HRIS/payroll providers, and other HR partners

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience within a multi-state organization, ideally within a growing consumer, retail, or similarly fast-paced organization
• Direct experience managing multistate payroll and benefits administration
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and HR best practices
• Experience supporting hourly and salaried employee populations across multiple jurisdictions
• Demonstrated experience operating as an HR business partner and advising senior leaders on employee and organizational matters
• Strong experience with employee relations, performance management, and HR compliance
• Experience owning or administering an HRIS; Rippling experience strongly preferred
• Strong judgment and ability to independently navigate complex or sensitive employee situations
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to move comfortably between strategic priorities and hands‑on execution
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build credibility across all levels of an organization
• High level of discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information
• Bachelor's degree preferred; Master’s degree, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification a plus

Benefits And Perks

• Competitive wage
• Group health plans: health, vision and dental insurance
• Welfare benefits: life, ad&d, supplemental voluntary coverage
• FSA Plan & HSA Program
• 401(K) Investment Options
• Adoption Assistance, EAP, Commuter Benefits
• Paid Parental Leave
• Quarterly Cultural Spend
• Ongoing Training and Development, an Educational Allowance
• 10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off accrual
• KREWE employee quarterly frame allowance (of course!)

Diversity And Inclusion

KREWE believes in providing an inclusive workplace where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without discrimination or retaliation because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, pregnancy or any other protected characteristic as established by applicable local, state, or federal law.