Director of Human Resources

Open Systems Technologies; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Systems Technologies is seeking an experienced HR executive to lead employee relations, investigations, and employment compliance across PA, NJ, DE, and NY. You will translate firm priorities into people programs supporting attorneys, practice groups, and leadership.

You will supervise HR staff, partner with senior leaders on workforce planning, and manage compensation, benefits, onboarding, and policy development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or related field.
• 7+ years in HR with employee relations, benefits, compliance, and recruiting.
• Experience leading HR in a mid-to-large organization and supervising staff.
• Ability to advise senior leadership on sensitive matters and investigations.
• Strong multi-state employment law knowledge (PA/NJ/DE/NY preferred).

Responsibilities

• Partner with CFO and leadership to set HR priorities.
• Advise leadership on workforce planning and people risks.
• Prepare HR reports, metrics, and dashboards for leadership.
• Oversee investigations and guide disciplinary actions.
• Develop policies, maintain the employee handbook and intranet.
• Oversee compensation, benefits, enrollment, and broker relations.
• Lead full-cycle recruitment for staff and attorneys support.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal employment laws and audits.

Skills

Employee relations

Workforce planning

HR policy

HR analytics

Leadership

Investigation skills

Compliance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business

SHRM-SCP/SHRM-CP preferred

Tools

ADP Workforce Now

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

The role leads employee relations and investigations, employment compliance across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York, compensation and benefits, staff recruiting, and HR policy, and translates firm priorities into people programs that support attorneys, practice groups, and firm leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with the CFO, Co-Chairs, and Management Committee to develop and execute HR priorities aligned with firm objectives.
• Advise firm leadership on workforce planning, organizational issues, and people-related risk.
• Prepare HR reports, metrics, and dashboards for firm leadership.
• Supervise and provide direction to HR staff.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters across all offices.
• Conduct and oversee workplace investigations. Guide disciplinary action, performance improvement, conflict resolution, and terminations.
• Coach managers and supervisors on employee development, documentation, and corrective action. Partner with the Director of Legal Support Services on matters involving legal assistants, paralegals, and shared services.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York, including leave, wage and hour, hiring, and anti-discrimination requirements.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and recommend policy updates.
• Consult with employment counsel as appropriate.
• Promote a professional, respectful, and consistent workplace across offices.
• Develop, implement, and communicate firm policies and procedures. Maintain the employee handbook, policy manuals, and HR intranet content.
• Select and deliver required training, including workplace harassment prevention, and coordinate subject‑specific training with other departments.
• Drive engagement and recognition programs, working with the Director of Facilities on event logistics such as Administrative Professionals Day, holiday gatherings, and anniversary recognition.
• Monitor employee satisfaction and recommend retention strategies.
• Administer compensation and benefits programs firm‑wide. Conduct periodic market reviews for staff roles and recommend adjustments.
• Direct medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and related plans. Manage open enrollment and serve as primary liaison to brokers, carriers, and third‑party administrators.
• Oversee leave administration, including FMLA, ADA accommodations, short‑term disability, parental leave, and related programs, and supervise day‑to‑day processing.
• Ensure compliance with ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and related benefit regulations.
• Coordinate 401(k) administration, including enrollments, loans, distributions, and terminations, and support the Benefits Committee.
• Facilitate annual welfare and retirement plan audits and timely Form 5500 filings.
• Coordinate nondiscrimination testing with the record keeper and elevate issues to leadership.
• Provide recommendations on merit increases, promotions, and other compensation adjustments for administrative and professional staff. Final decisions sit with the CFO and firm leadership.
• Manage full‑cycle recruiting for legal assistants, paralegals, shared services, interns, and other administrative and professional staff, in partnership with the Director of Legal Support Services and hiring managers.
• Develop onboarding that covers firm‑wide orientation, benefits, and policy, and coordinate role‑specific onboarding with legal support and practice leaders.
• Lead performance management design for administrative and professional staff, including goal‑setting, evaluations, and performance improvement plans.
• Support attorney performance evaluation processes as requested by firm leadership.
• Direct staff training and development programs beyond required compliance training.
• Oversee ADP, including data integrity, security, configuration, reporting, and process improvement. Advanced ADP experience is preferred, not required.
• Maintain personnel records in compliance with retention requirements.
• Prepare workforce analytics, including turnover, recruiting, and headcount, for firm leadership.
• Prepare and submit EEO-1 and other required employment filings. Process employment verification requests.
• Supervise the HR coordinator’s work on benefits file maintenance, CLE tracking, attorney registration support, and related administration.
• Remain accountable for Pennsylvania CLE compliance tracking and New Jersey and Pennsylvania attorney registration support. Day‑to‑day tracking may be performed by an HR coordinator under the Director’s supervision.
• Coordinate attorney onboarding and departure processes, including transition procedures, alumni mailbox monitoring, and related documentation.
• Assist with payroll processing by verifying timekeeping records and ensuring data accuracy.
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding payroll, deductions, and direct deposit.
• Coordinate with payroll and finance teams to resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain confidentiality of all payroll and compensation information.

Qualifications:

Required

• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible HR experience, including employee relations, benefits administration, compliance, and recruiting.
• Experience directing HR for an organization of similar size, or 3+ years supervising HR staff or an HR function.
• Ability to advise senior leadership on sensitive employee matters and to run or oversee investigations.
• Working knowledge of multi‑state employment compliance. Experience with Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or New York employment law is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with an HRIS and Microsoft Office. ADP Workforce Now experience is preferred.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and written and verbal communication.
• Law firm or professional‑services experience is preferred.

Preferred

• SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, SPHR, or PHR.
• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience supporting attorneys in a law firm environment.
• Experience with Form 5500 filings, retirement plan administration, and benefit audits.