Senior Director, People & Culture

YUM; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 232,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite childcare

Onsite dining center

Onsite gym with trainer sessions

Vacation & holidays

Parental leave

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Taco Bell, a Yum! Brands company, seeks a Senior Director, People & Culture to shape the people strategy for 13,000 U.S. operations across 450+ restaurants.

The role reports to the Chief People & Culture Officer and leads Field People & Culture, Learning & Development, and Asset Protection. You will partner with executives, franchisees, and HR teams to drive talent, change, and culture at scale, while ensuring safety, leadership development, and strong employee relations in a hybrid work

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience in a multi-state, multi-unit environment.
• Broad HR expertise across talent, leadership development, learning, employee relations, compensation, benefits, and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience in both non-union and union environments is preferred.
• Proven track record leading organizational design, change, and growth in decentralized, evolving businesses.
• Executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Build the field people strategy for a large, multi-unit operation across 13,000+ U.S. team members.
• Lead field People & Culture, Learning & Development, and Asset Protection functions.
• Advance safety, asset protection, and team performance through policy guidance and partnerships.
• Influence franchise partners, executives, and cross-functional leaders to drive enterprise change.
• Develop and sustain leadership capabilities to attract, develop, and retain top restaurant talent.

Skills

HR leadership

Talent development

Learning & development

Employee relations

Labor relations

Executive presence

Change management

Organizational design

Job description

We believe everyone deserves the right to Live Más - and we're constantly inspired by the creativity it takes to get there.

Senior Director, People & Culture

Hybrid

Who We Are

Born in California and serving more than 42 million fans each week, Taco Bell is the world’s largest Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant brand and part of Yum! Brands. Across 8,200+ restaurants and 350 franchise organizations worldwide, we challenge convention, celebrate bold self-expression, and create experiences that help people Live Más. We are Cultural Rebels with a cause: building a more inclusive future, strengthening our communities, and pushing the restaurant industry forward. If you are energized by big ideas, meaningful scale, and people-centered transformation, we would love to meet you.

The Opportunity

As Sr. Director, People & Culture, you will shape the people strategy for more than 13,000 U.S. Taco Bell Operations team members across 450+ company restaurants. Reporting to the Chief People & Culture Officer and serving on the People & Culture Leadership Team, you will lead Field People & Culture, Learning & Development, and Asset Protection. This is a high-impact opportunity for a modern HR executive who can connect vision to execution, influence across a complex franchise system, and build the talent, capabilities, and culture needed to fuel Taco Bell's next chapter of growth.

What You’ll Lead

• Build a high-performing field culture. Set the people strategy for company restaurants, spanning talent planning, organizational and employee development, change management, leader onboarding, employee relations, engagement, retention, and labor relations support.
• Strengthen leadership and talent. Build the HR and operational leadership capabilities needed to attract, develop, and retain exceptional restaurant talent and reinforce Taco Bell as an employer of choice.
• Transform learning at scale. Lead the global learning and development strategy, training ecosystem, curricula, brand standards, and HR platforms supporting 8,000+ restaurants.
• Influence across the franchise system. Partner with executive leaders, franchisees, Operations, HR, and international teams to share best practices, anticipate future needs, and drive enterprise change.
• Advance safety, asset protection, and team performance. Guide programs, technology, policies, and vendor partnerships that protect our people, restaurants, and brand while coaching a talented team of People & Culture, Learning & Development, and Asset Protection professionals.

What You Bring

• 15+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, including a multi-state, multi-unit environment.
• Broad HR expertise across talent, leadership development, learning, employee relations, compensation, benefits, and organizational effectiveness; experience in both non-union and union environments is preferred.
• A track record of leading organizational design, change, and growth in a decentralized, evolving business.
• Executive presence and the ability to influence senior leaders, franchise partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success attracting and developing top talent, challenging the status quo, and delivering measurable business results.

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tues, Wed, Thurs) and year-round flex day Friday
• Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons
• Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building)
• Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, and carwash
• Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions
• Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering
• Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program
• 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum! Brands with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
• Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name

Salary Range: $232,000 - $240,000 annually + overtime eligibility + bonus eligibility + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Work Authorization Notice: Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position. Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent basis without the need for current or future sponsorship.

At Taco Bell, we Live Más and invite you to do the same. Take a seat at our table. Bring your voice. Bring you, just as you are, a Cultural Rebel. We want you to be your best self!

Taco Bell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all dimensions of diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Taco Bell is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities or special needs.

US Job Seekers/Employees - To view the "Know Your Rights" poster, click here . You may also access Taco Bell's Pay Transparency Policy Statement.

Employment eligibility to work with Taco Bell in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position.

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect from you and how we use, sell, and share that information, please see our Privacy Notice for California Employees.

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