A privately-held, multi-entity enterprise spanning food production, airline catering, full-service hospitality, deli and retail brands, consumer packaged goods, and commercial real estate is conducting a confidential search for a Chief Human Resources Officer. The CHRO reports directly to the CEO, serves on the executive leadership team, and owns the people function across all operating entities and multiple states.

About the Role

This is a builder's seat, not a steward's. You will inherit a functioning but maturing HR organization and be expected to professionalize it, scale it, and convert it from a compliance-and-administrative function into a measurable driver of margin and enterprise value. You will lead a workforce that is simultaneously professional, industrial, hourly, tipped, and security-regulated across corporate, manufacturing, airport-based catering, restaurant, and retail environments.

What You Will Own

Strategic human capital advisor to the CEO and ownership on organizational design, succession, executive compensation, and people-related enterprise risk
Multi-entity, multi-state HR operations: talent acquisition, total rewards, HRIS, payroll, time and attendance, benefits, and employee relations
Wage-and-hour compliance for a workforce that simultaneously includes tipped restaurant employees, non-exempt food production workers, and exempt salaried staff — the single largest legal exposure in the enterprise
All federal and state compliance: FLSA, FMLA, ADA, PWFA, Title VII, USERRA, I-9 and E-Verify, plus TSA and airport-authority requirements for security-cleared personnel
Workers' compensation strategy with explicit accountability for experience-modifier improvement
Benefits strategy including plan design, carrier negotiations, and evaluation of self-funded or level-funded arrangements
Succession planning, executive compensation design, and human capital due diligence and integration for acquisitions and new facility launches
A monthly HR scorecard to the CEO and ownership covering labor cost as a percentage of revenue, turnover, cost per hire, workers' comp loss ratio, and benefits cost per employee — with year-over-year trend, variance to plan, and dollarized impact

Financial Mandate

This role is a margin lever, not a cost center. You will be measured on quantifiable contribution to profitability: reduction in total labor cost as a percentage of revenue, regrettable turnover reduction, workers' comp experience-modifier improvement, benefits cost containment, and recruiting cost optimization. Every initiative will carry a documented business case held to the same return standard as any other capital allocation in the enterprise.

Required

15+ years progressive HR experience, including 5–7 years at the VP, CHRO, or Head of People level
Multi-entity, multi-state, multi-site HR leadership in food production, food service, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, aviation services, or similarly complex operating environments
Documented wage-and-hour expertise across simultaneous tipped, non-exempt hourly, and exempt salaried populations
Direct experience implementing or significantly upgrading HRIS, payroll, and time-and-attendance platforms across multi-entity operations
Workers' compensation leadership at scale, with proven loss-ratio and experience-modifier improvement
Strong financial fluency — able to build labor cost models, defend program ROI, and engage as a commercial executive
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MHRM, JD) strongly preferred
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent senior certification at hire or within 12 months

Preferred

Direct experience in food production, full-service restaurants, hospitality, airline or airport services, or food retail
TSA-regulated workforce and airport badging experience
M&A integration experience from due diligence through post-close harmonization
Experience in privately-held, founder-led, or family-controlled enterprises

Compensation

Competitive base salary, performance-based annual incentive, comprehensive benefits, and additional executive considerations appropriate to the seniority of the role. Specific terms discussed with finalists.

To Apply

Submit a resume and brief cover letter highlighting relevant multi-entity HR leadership experience. All inquiries treated with complete discretion. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay: $125,000.00 - $250,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k)
Dental insurance

Work Location: In person

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Chief Human Resources Officer