Human Resources Director

Hutchinson Consulting; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Hutchinson Consulting seeks an experienced HR Director to lead the people strategy across a growing luxury hospitality portfolio in San Francisco. This role combines strategic advisory work with hands-on HR leadership across multiple concepts.

The ideal candidate will balance long-term organizational design with day-to-day employee needs, building scalable HR infrastructure while preserving culture and high standards in a demanding restaurant environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of HR leadership experience.
• Experience in restaurants, hospitality, luxury service, or fast-paced environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of California employment law and HR best practices.
• Hands-on and strategic HR leadership capability.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• HRIS and talent management systems experience.
• HR certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the overall people strategy with ownership and leadership.
• Lead HR operations across multiple restaurant concepts.
• Drive employee engagement, leadership development, retention, and performance initiatives.
• Advise on organizational design, workforce planning, succession, and development.
• Develop and implement HR policies, processes, and training programs.
• Oversee compensation, benefits, performance management, and employee relations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, California, and local employment laws.
• Stay current on HR trends and recommend improvements.
• Partner with managers on employee relations, performance, and coaching.
• Build scalable HR systems and reporting.
• Foster hospitality-centered culture and continuous improvement.

Skills

HR leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

People management

Organizational design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business

Tools

HRIS

Talent management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

A highly regarded, independently owned luxury hospitality and restaurant group in San Francisco is seeking an experienced Director of Human Resources to lead the people strategy across its growing portfolio of concepts.

This is a unique opportunity to join an organization known for exceptional hospitality, culinary excellence, craftsmanship, and an uncompromising commitment to quality. Working closely with ownership, the COO, and senior leadership, the HR Director will serve as both a strategic advisor and hands-on operational leader.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing long-term organizational strategy and rolling up their sleeves to address the day-to-day needs of employees and managers. This role will be instrumental in building scalable HR systems and programs while preserving the culture and high standards that have made the organization successful.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner closely with ownership and executive leadership to develop and execute the overall people strategy.
• Lead HR operations across multiple restaurant and hospitality concepts.
• Develop initiatives supporting employee engagement, leadership development, retention, and organizational performance.
• Advise leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development.
• Develop and implement HR policies, processes, procedures, and training programs that support the needs of the business.
• Oversee compensation, benefits, performance management, employee relations, and professional development programs.
• Ensure compliance with federal, California, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Stay current on evolving employment legislation, HR trends, and best practices and proactively recommend improvements.
• Partner with managers on employee relations matters, performance issues, coaching, and development.
• Build and maintain efficient, scalable HR systems and reporting.
• Champion employee engagement, morale, and a positive workplace culture.
• Support the professional development and training of managers and employees across the organization.
• Foster a culture centered around hospitality, accountability, respect, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Ideal Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of HR leadership experience.
• Experience within restaurants, hospitality, luxury service, or a similarly fast-paced, high-touch environment strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of California employment law and HR best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a hands-on HR leadership role.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with HRIS, talent management systems, and Microsoft Office.
• HR certification is a plus.
• Spanish-language skills are preferred but not required.

The Ideal Candidate

This position is particularly well suited for an HR leader who enjoys being close to the business. This is not a highly siloed corporate HR environment—the successful candidate will develop strategy while remaining visible, accessible, and actively engaged with leaders and employees.

Candidates should be comfortable working within an independently owned, entrepreneurial organization where ownership is deeply involved in the business. The right person will appreciate the opportunity to work directly with decision-makers, build trusted relationships, and have a meaningful impact on the organization rather than simply administering established corporate programs.

A genuine appreciation for hospitality and service culture is essential, as is the ability to balance the needs of employees with the operational realities of a demanding, high-performance restaurant environment.

Location

This is an on-site position in San Francisco. The HR Director will support multiple concepts located within the group's San Francisco portfolio.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join one of San Francisco's most respected independent hospitality organizations and work directly with accomplished ownership and senior leadership. The incoming HR Director will have the ability to shape the company's people strategy, strengthen its HR infrastructure, develop leaders, and help support the organization's continued growth while protecting the culture and standards that define the business.