Strategic HR Director: Talent, Compliance & Growth

La Follette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames; California; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

La Follette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames is seeking a Director of Human Resources to lead the full employee lifecycle, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment with firm objectives. The role serves as a bridge between leadership and staff, providing advisory and implementation support across HR operations.

Responsibilities include partnering with senior leadership on staffing and retention, aligning HR initiatives with growth, managing HR programs (compensation, benefits, leaves), and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field (master’s or advanced degree preferred); legal degree a plus.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive HR leadership experience in a professional services or legal environment with 150+ employees.
• In-depth knowledge of California HR compliance, employment law, wage & hour practices, and leaves entitlements.
• Professional credentials such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, HRCI (PHR/SPHR), or CLM are strongly preferred.
• Strong conflict resolution, discretion with confidential information, and proficiency with HRIS, payroll systems, and applicant tracking tools, including implementation.
• Exceptional communication, public speaking, and negotiation skills to influence leadership, staff, and vendors.
• Hands-on experience with MS Office and HRIS/ATS software.
• Strong financial literacy and bottom-line mindset.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior leadership to understand staffing, recruiting, and retention goals.
• Align HR initiatives with growth, financial objectives, and succession planning.
• Provide staff and management with trusted support and guidance.
• Identify staffing needs; develop strategies for talent management, development, and succession.
• Coordinate with payroll/IT to document promotions, onboarding, offboarding, leaves, etc.
• Plan and implement HR policies, processes, training, and surveys to support compliance and strategy.
• Manage HR programs including compensation, benefits, leaves, disciplinary matters, and performance management.
• Coordinate with providers to administer health, welfare, retirement plans and evaluate salary structures.
• Analyze HR metrics from HRIS and talent management systems.

Skills

Conflict resolution

Discretion with confidential info

HRIS

Payroll systems

Applicant tracking

Implementation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Legal degree a plus

Tools

HRIS

ATS

Job description

La Follette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames is seeking a Director of Human Resources to lead the full employee lifecycle, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment with firm objectives. The role serves as a bridge between leadership and staff, providing advisory and implementation support across HR operations.

Responsibilities include partnering with senior leadership on staffing and retention, aligning HR initiatives with growth, managing HR programs (compensation, benefits, leaves), and