Director of HR Services

Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake is seeking an experienced Director of HR Services to provide hands-on leadership across employee relations, benefits, leave administration, and manager development in a growing, multi-site organization.

Reporting directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), the Director partners closely with the Senior HR Operations Manager to lead the HR function. The Director oversees employee relations, benefits, leave, and HR-related training, while the Senior HR Operations Manager leads recruiting and HR operations. Together, these leaders ensure HR programs, practices, and services remain consistent, responsive, and positioned to support continued organizational growth.

This role is ideal for an experienced HR leader who enjoys balancing complex employee relations work with team leadership, program development, and practical support for managers and employees.

This position is currently hybrid, working 2-3 days in the office.

What You'll Do

• Lead, coach, and develop the Benefits Specialist, Employee Relations Specialist, and Leave Administrator, including workload management, performance expectations, and professional development
• Serve as the escalation point for complex and sensitive employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, corrective action, performance management, and manager coaching
• Oversee benefits administration and provide hands-on support with open enrollment, carrier issues, employee communications, and regulatory compliance
• Lead the implementation and ongoing administration of Maryland FAMLI, including coordination with FMLA, ADA accommodations, disability benefits, and other leave programs
• Provide guidance on complex leave situations and ensure consistent, compliant leave administration
• Develop and deliver HR training for supervisors and managers on performance management, attendance, disciplinary practices, evaluations, HR policies, and other people-management topics
• Partner with Retail Operations on training and onboarding initiatives for store managers and associates
• Collaborate with the CHRO and Senior HR Operations Manager to ensure consistent HR practices, policies, communication, and service delivery across the organization
• Develop, review, and update HR policies to support legal compliance, organizational needs, and consistent application across locations
• Monitor employee relations trends and compliance risks and recommend proactive solutions
• Analyze turnover, employee relations, benefits, leave, and other workforce data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement
• Support workforce planning and HR readiness for organizational growth, including new store openings
• Complete required compliance reporting, including EEO-1 and VETS-4212
• Prepare and monitor budgets for assigned HR functions
• Support CARF readiness and other organizational compliance initiatives
• Ensure applicable federal and state HR reporting requirements are completed accurately and on time
• Perform other duties as assigned

What We're Looking For

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required
• Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience, including direct experience in employee relations and benefits administration
• 10 years of equivalent HR experience may be considered in lieu of the degree and experience requirements
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience
• Experience administering or overseeing leave programs strongly preferred
• Experience in a multi-site retail, nonprofit, healthcare, education, manufacturing, or similarly complex organization preferred

Preferred Credentials

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred
• Willingness to obtain a recognized HR certification within one year of employment if not currently certified

Leadership & Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR compliance, including FMLA, Maryland FAMLI, ADA, Title VII, and wage and hour requirements
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations and advising leaders on corrective action and performance management
• Working knowledge of employee benefits, COBRA, ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, carrier management, and leave administration
• Understanding of the interaction between FMLA, FAMLI, disability benefits, and ADA accommodations
• Strong judgment and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive employee matters
• Proven ability to coach managers and HR professionals through complex workplace situations
• Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret HR data and identify meaningful trends
• Ability to manage competing priorities across employee relations, benefits, leave, compliance, and training
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and HR data/reporting systems

Scope of Supervision

Direct supervision of:

• Benefits Specialist
• Employee Relations Specialist
• Leave Administrator

Travel Requirements

• Up to 25% travel throughout Goodwill's service area
• Valid driver's license required
• Access to a personal vehicle required

Physical Requirements

Light Physical Demand

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and facilitate training for extended periods
• Occasional lifting of materials weighing up to 20 pounds

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based with periodic site visits and training delivery
• Quiet to moderate noise levels
• Position is currently hybrid, generally requiring 2–3 days per week in the office
• Hybrid scheduling is not a condition of employment and may be modified based on organizational needs