HR Operations & Employee Services Director

Bankwell; New Canaan (CT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Employer-paid life and disability保险

HSA option

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Telehealth and wellness resources

Pet insurance and legal plan benefits

Job summary

Bankwell seeks a Director of Human Resources Operations and Employee Services to build an operational HR engine, delivering high-quality service with compliant, efficient processes. The role emphasizes ownership clarity, manager support, and scalable operations to prepare for growth.

Responsibilities include standardizing HR procedures, optimizing onboarding and recruitment, and partnering with executives to drive metrics and continuous improvement in a regulated banking environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success improving HR operations and service delivery.
• Strong process improvement and organizational skills.
• Experience leading HR operations within a regulated environment, preferably banking or financial services.
• Knowledge of employment law, compliance, benefits, payroll, and HR systems.
• Ability to simplify complex processes and improve operational efficiency.
• Excellent judgment, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• A practical, service-oriented leadership style with a strong customer focus.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate HR operations processes and identify improvements.
• Lead a comprehensive review of HR administrative work, ownership, efficiency, and necessity.
• Eliminate unnecessary administrative tasks while simplifying essential processes.
• Standardize procedures and documentation across the department.
• Ensure every HR process has a clearly identified owner and measure performance.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, records, HRIS, leave and policy administration.
• Provide practical guidance to managers on hiring, relations, performance, and policy interpretation.
• Lead continuous process improvement initiatives and ensure audit readiness.
• Partner with executives to provide reliable HR metrics and ownership clarity.
• Support organizational change and core system conversions.

Skills

HR operations improvement

Process redesign

Regulatory compliance

Employment law knowledge

HRIS administration

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS software

Job description

Bankwell seeks a Director of Human Resources Operations and Employee Services to build an operational HR engine, delivering high-quality service with compliant, efficient processes. The role emphasizes ownership clarity, manager support, and scalable operations to prepare for growth.

Responsibilities include standardizing HR procedures, optimizing onboarding and recruitment, and partnering with executives to drive metrics and continuous improvement in a regulated banking environment.