Director of Human Resources

Emerson Group; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life/Disability insurance

PTO

Job summary

Emerson Group is assisting a Philadelphia-based legal client in hiring a Director of Human Resources. The role reports to the CFO and serves as the firm's senior HR advisor, overseeing employee relations, compliance, compensation, benefits, recruiting, and policy across PA, NJ, DE, and NY.

The position is hybrid (3 days in office) with a salary up to $175K and benefits including medical, dental, vision, life/disability insurance, and PTO.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or Business Administration required.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible HR experience.
• Multi-state employment compliance knowledge; PA/NJ/DE/NY preferred.
• Experience directing HR for similar-sized organizations or 3+ years in leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute HR priorities with senior leadership.
• Oversee employee relations and investigations.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws across PA/NJ/DE/NY.
• Manage compensation, benefits, leave, and open enrollment.

Skills

Communication skills

HR policy

Investigations

Employee relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or Business Administration

Master's degree in HR or Business Administration

Tools

HRIS

ADP Workforce Now

Microsoft Office

Job description

Back Director of Human Resource

Human Resources Philadelphia , Pennsylvania Direct Hire Oct 13, 2026

Our legal client in Philadelphia is seeking to hire a Director of Human Resources reports who will report to the Chief Financial Officer and is the firm's senior HR advisor.

Salary: Up to $175K

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life/Disability insurance, PTO

Hours/Schedule: 9:00am-5:00pm---Hybrid schedule 3 days a week in office

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.

Key Responsibilities

HR Strategy and Leadership

• 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.

Employee Relations and Employment Law Compliance

• 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.

Policy, Training, and Culture

• 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 and recognition.
• Monitor employee satisfaction and recommend retention strategies.

Compensation, Benefits, and Leave

• Administer compensation and benefits programs firmwide. 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 recordkeeper 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.

Recruiting, Onboarding, and Performance

• 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. HR owns the posting, screening standards, background checks, and offer. The hiring manager owns the selection.
• Partner with the CFO on attorney recruiting. HR supports process, offers, onboarding, and documentation.
• Develop onboarding that covers firmwide 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.

HR Operations, HRIS, and Reporting

• 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.

Attorney Administrative Support

• 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.

Payroll Onboarding Support

• Assist with payroll onboarding
• Respond to employee inquiries regarding deductions and benefit inquiries
• Maintain confidentiality of all payroll and compensation information.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or Business Administration
• Minimum of seven years (7) of progressively responsible HR experience
• Experience directing HR for an organization of similar size, or at least three (3) years
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior leadership on sensitive employee matters and to run or oversee investigations.
• Working knowledge of multi‑state employment compliance. Experience with PA, NJ, DE, and/or NY 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 Qualifications

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

Working Conditions

• The role requires independent judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required during open enrollment, audits, year‑end reporting, or active employee‑relations matters.