Job Description

What We Do

At Applegreen, we Refresh Travelers on their Journey…. ApplegreenUSA operates over 80 travel plazas across the Northeast and Midwest that provide convenience, comfort, retail, and an extensive range of delicious food options such as Auntie Anne’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Cinnabon, Dunkin Donuts, Panda Express, Panera, Popeyes, Pret, Shake Shack, Starbucks, and many more.

Our Core Values

Our Core Values are what we stand for. They guide and motivate our attitudes and behaviors to our customers, our suppliers, our business partners, and each other.

• Our customers and communities are at the heart of everything we do.
• We value and develop our people
• We are driven by pace, passion and performance.
• We seek opportunities and embrace change

Benefits

• This is a hybrid position, with three days per week worked in our Glen Rock, NJ office and two days per week worked remotely.
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 401 (k) with Company Match
• Earned Wage Access – Pay on Demand
• Education Assistance
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Pet Insurance

Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, the Human Resources Director provides comprehensive human resource related support to our 5,000+ employees in over 100 sites in a Center of Excellence model, including aligning, advising and consulting with business leaders and managers to drive people initiatives, employee relations, retention, performance management and compliance.

The HR Director collaborates with leaders, line managers, and the HR team members on assessing and anticipating HR-related needs as well as developing and delivering needed talent solutions. The HR Director will partner with a team of 4 regional HR Business Partners to drive consistent, best in class HR practices across multiple business units.

Key Responsibilities:

Recruiting & Hiring

• Partner with leaders, hiring managers and HR Business Partners to develop and execute strategic staffing plans
• Identifying, evaluating, and solving hiring challenges
• Work with Field HR Business Partners and Operations leaders to effectively staff all locations.
• Lead the development and execution of recruiting and onboarding programs that set new associates up for success.

Talent Management & Engagement, Employee Relations & Retention

• Monitor and analyze business and talent data/trends to identify opportunities for improvement. Develop practical, cost-effective solutions to deliver tangible results
• Promote a positive and productive environment by coaching and advising Field HR Business Partners, managers and employees on organization structure, conflict management, complaints and performance issues
• Manage employee relations issues, diagnose root causes; conduct effective, thorough and objective investigations and recommend appropriate actions. Partner with Director, HR Operations on legal matters.
• Develop performance assessment/performance management tools and practices to ensure clarity of performance expectations for all associates. Lead the annual performance appraisal process and field management succession planning.

• Look for continued process improvement, including but not limited to onboarding/orientation programs.
• Partner with Group Learning & Development team on training and development needs.

Compliance

• Develop and provide guidance and interpretation for HR-related policies and procedures for our corporate office and travel plaza sites that ensure compliance with labor law requirements and are consistent with our company culture. Identify and mitigate risks.

Essential Skills, Experience and Education:

Minimum of 8 years in a hands-on site-focused Human Resources Director or senior business partner leadership role working directly with employees, functional managers, and senior leadership. Experience in a retail or hospitality company is strongly preferred. This individual will work closely with senior leadership in a dynamic environment and there is potential for career growth and professional development within the collaborative and inclusive work culture focused on innovation and success.

This role requires:

• Knowledge of and experience in multiple human resource disciplines, including employee relations, recruiting (centralized and decentralized) engagement, compensation practices, performance management, training and compliance.
• Experience in a very hands-on, growth environment where creating/modifying practical, cost effective, easy to administer practices was key.
• Experience in high-volume, seasonal hiring environments preferred.
• Ability to quickly establish and maintain credibility and strong working relationships with all levels with a demonstrated ability to influence and coach business leaders and employees.
• Strong employee relations experience, including experience managing complex issues and investigations and putting programs in place to improve engagement.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills – must have the ability to communicate effectively at all levels within the organization and convey information clearly and concisely?
• Excellent planning, project/time management, organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to think strategically and adapt to changing business needs
• Ability to analyze information/data, identify trends, and recommend practical solutions to enhance processes, influence behavior, or improve outcomes
• Strong knowledge of employment-related local/state/federal regulations
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, HRIS/ADP
• Ability to travel to sites as needed
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR or SPHR) and/or SHRM certification preferred

Core Competencies:

• Stakeholder management – Ability to create buy-in from numerous departments and manage change.
• Extremely detail orientated – ensures accurate, and timely data.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making – ensure leadership team is developed and empowered to identify and analyze problems, explore various alternatives, and use sound business judgment to take decisive action.
• Communication skills – strong communication, written and spoken.
• Interpersonal Relationships and Influence – builds relationships and appropriately uses influence to get things done, while also gaining the trust of your team and colleagues across the business

Applegreen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. Applegreen prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination.