Human Resources Director

Conexus; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A human resources consultancy is looking for a strategic Director of People & Culture to lead HR operations in San Diego. This executive position involves overseeing HR, benefits, compliance, and internal culture initiatives while ensuring scalable practices for a growing organization. Candidates should possess strong HR leadership experience and knowledge of multi-state labor laws.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with 5+ years at the Director level.
• Strong knowledge of labor laws and HR compliance.
• Experience in government contracting or highly regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Develop people strategies aligned with business goals.
• Manage HR functions including employee relations and investigations.
• Design compensation and benefits strategies.

Skills

HR Leadership

Interpersonal Skills

Change Management

Compliance Knowledge

Multi-state Labor Laws Knowledge

Data-driven Decision-Making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

HRIS

Compliance Tools

Job description

Base pay range

$150,000.00/yr - $180,000.00/yr

Job Title

Director of People & Culture

Compensation

$150K–$180K + Bonus

Location

Point Loma, CA (Hybrid)

Application

Email your Word document resume to [e-mail] and reference the subject as Director of People & Culture

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of People & Culture to lead the development and execution of our people operations across a growing, multi-state organization. This executive role will oversee Human Resources, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance, and Administrative Operations, while driving initiatives that support a high-performing, inclusive workplace.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, this role will shape organizational culture, enhance internal systems, and support company-wide scaling efforts. This is an ideal opportunity for a people leader experienced in both strategic vision and day-to-day execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive people strategies aligned with long-term business goals
• Serve as a thought partner to executive leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, and talent optimization
• Lead initiatives related to employee engagement, culture-building, and organizational change
• Provide executive coaching and support succession planning across all levels
• Direct day-to-day HR functions, including employee relations, investigations, and leave management
• Maintain compliance with all applicable employment laws and government contract obligations
• Own policy development, implementation, and compliance training across the organization
• Standardize internal practices and reduce risk through proactive compliance systems
• Design and manage a competitive total rewards strategy, including compensation benchmarking and benefits planning
• Oversee payroll processes and ensure alignment with timekeeping, labor compliance, and financial controls
• Manage annual benefits open enrollment and vendor relationships
• Ensure compliance with ACA, EEO-1, and other applicable reporting requirements
• Lead full-cycle recruiting efforts, ensuring high-quality, equitable hiring practices
• Partner with hiring managers to assess future workforce needs and build a proactive talent pipeline
• Streamline and enhance onboarding and offboarding experiences
• Oversee performance management, continuous feedback programs, and career development tools
• Design and deliver leadership development initiatives, including New Leader Orientation and training frameworks
• Maintain and enhance LMS-based training platforms for compliance and skill-building
• Supervise administrative functions including multi-state onboarding processes and document management
• Partner cross-functionally with IT, Security, and Operations to ensure compliance with internal systems (I-9, E-Verify, SF-312, etc.)
• Improve and standardize internal operational procedures for greater efficiency
• Manage HRIS and timekeeping systems, ensuring data integrity and system optimization
• Deliver meaningful HR dashboards and reports to inform executive decision-making
• Leverage data insights to drive continuous improvement and strategic workforce planning
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) across all HR practices
• Support M&A integration strategies from a people, systems, and cultural standpoint
• Lead internal initiatives to boost morale, employee retention, and communication effectiveness

Qualifications

• Required Skills & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• Minimum 10 years of progressive HR/People leadership experience, with 5+ years at the Director or executive level
• Strong knowledge of multi-state labor laws, HR compliance, and government contracting standards
• Proven track record of building scalable systems and leading organizations through growth or transformation
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and change management skills
• 5+ years working in government contracting, defense, or highly regulated industries
• Experience supporting professional services or scaling organizations
• Demonstrated success leading high-impact HR teams and building inclusive workplace cultures
• Proficiency with HRIS, compliance tools, and data-driven decision-making

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Human Resources

Industries

• Government Relations Services