The Outside Brands - Director of HR

People first. Relationships matter. Great HR sees the small things before they become big things.

Outside Brands is looking for a Director of Human Resources who believes the best HR work happens through relationships.

We are an active, people-centered organization with employees working across outdoor recreation, boating, paddlesports, retail, reservations, destination management, and support operations. Our workforce includes both year-round and seasonal team members, and no two days are exactly alike.

For us, HR is much more than policies, payroll, and paperwork. We are looking for someone who knows the people, understands the temperature of the organization, recognizes when something is beginning to bubble up, and is willing to step in early - before a small concern becomes a larger problem.

This is a highly visible leadership role for someone who enjoys being connected to employees and managers, is comfortable navigating difficult conversations, and can balance employee advocacy with the needs of the business.

·        Serve as a trusted and approachable HR resource for employees at every level of Outside Brands.

·        Build relationships across departments and locations so you understand employee morale, workplace dynamics, and emerging concerns.

·        Proactively identify and address employee-relations issues before they escalate.

·        Coach managers through difficult conversations, performance concerns, attendance issues, conflict, corrective action, and employee development.

·        Advise the CEO, CFO, Directors, and Managers on employee concerns, talent strategy, organizational needs, and complex HR matters.

·        Conduct or oversee employee investigations and ensure sensitive matters are handled consistently, confidentially, and appropriately.

·        Lead recruiting and hiring activities, including applicant communication, interviews, reference checks, meet and greets, job descriptions, and offer letters.

·        Oversee onboarding and offboarding and ensure employees receive a strong introduction to Outside's culture and expectations.

·        Manage and support performance management, Quarterly Touch Bases, coaching, development, and periodic performance reviews.

·        Research compensation and benefit trends and partner with the CFO on annual compensation reviews and competitive pay practices.

·        Manage employee benefits, PTO, 401(k), profit sharing, and employee benefit communications.

·        Manage biweekly payroll and timecard processing.

·        Maintain the Employee Handbook, HR policies, required acknowledgments, employee records, and employment documentation.

·        Maintain knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and HR best practices.

·        Create and support employee recognition, milestone, birthday, anniversary, and engagement programs.

·        Communicate HR changes and updates throughout the organization.

·        Use Paylocity, AI, automation, and other technology to streamline transactional HR work - creating more time for the people side of HR.

We can teach systems and processes. What is harder to teach is judgment, emotional intelligence, curiosity, and the ability to build trust. We want an HR leader who will spend time with our employees, ask good questions, listen carefully, and recognize when something doesn't quite feel right.

·        You genuinely enjoy people and building relationships.

·        Employees feel comfortable talking with you, while managers trust your judgment.

·        You are willing to have difficult conversations when they are needed.

·        You can listen objectively without immediately taking sides.

·        You understand when an issue needs immediate attention and when it simply needs thoughtful coaching.

·        You are comfortable giving candid advice to senior leadership.

·        You can move between strategic HR issues and day-to-day employee needs.

·        You believe technology should make HR more efficient - not less human.

• ·        You are organized enough to manage the operational side of HR while keeping employee relations at the center of the role.

Success in this role is not measured simply by whether payroll ran correctly or paperwork was completed. Those things matter, but great HR at Outside means leadership is rarely surprised by a significant employee issue, managers have a trusted partner when they need guidance, and employees know there is someone who will listen and help navigate concerns fairly.

·        Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Management, or a related field plus three to five years of related HR experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

·        Strong employee-relations, performance-management, coaching, and conflict-resolution experience.

·        Demonstrated emotional intelligence, discretion, sound judgment, and ability to build trust.

·        Working knowledge of employment law, HR compliance, and HR best practices.

·        Strong written and verbal communication skills.

·        Comfort with HRIS platforms and technology; experience with Paylocity is a plus.

·        Ability to work effectively with a diverse workforce across multiple departments, locations, and operating environments.

Outside Brands connects people to exceptional places, products, and experiences through outdoor recreation and hospitality experiences in the Lowcountry. Our mission is "To enrich lives by connecting people to exceptional places, products, and experiences." We believe the employee experience is essential to delivering that mission to our guests.

If you are an HR leader who wants to know the people - not just manage the processes - we'd love to meet you. Please provide a resume and cover letter to www.outsidebrands.com/careers,