Senior Human Resources Business Partner

As Tatte continues to expand across the Tri-State region, the Senior HR Business Partner & Employee Relations Lead will serve as the strategic People partner to field and regional leaders while also functioning as the subject-matter expert on employee relations, compliance, and risk mitigation. This role combines strategic HR leadership with hands-on ER case management, ensuring a consistent, values-driven approach to people practices across all cafés and markets. The incumbent will advise and coach operators, manage complex ER cases, ensure compliance with NYC/NY/NJ/CT labor regulations, and drive initiatives that foster engagement, accountability, and culture alignment. This role will serve as the most senior HR representative in the region, partnering closely with the Chief People Officer, Regional VP, and Legal/Compliance teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary HR leader across the Tri-State region, partnering closely with RVPs, District Managers, and Café GMs to align people strategies with business priorities.
• Translate operational and cultural goals into actionable HR strategies that drive performance, engagement, and operational excellence.
• Advise senior leaders on org design, workforce planning, & succession strategies to support market growth.

Employee Relations & Risk Management

• Lead all employee relations case management across all markets including Washington, D.C, MD, VA, MA, NY, NJ and CT.
• Conduct and oversee investigations related to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, misconduct, and policy violations.
• Provide expert guidance on corrective action, progressive discipline, and performance management.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation and ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Partner with Legal and Compliance to proactively identify and mitigate labor risk.

Labor Compliance & Regulatory Readiness

• Serve as Tatte's regional expert on NYC and NYS labor laws including Fair Workweek, Wage Theft Prevention, Paid Safe and Sick Leave, Lactation Law, and Predictive Scheduling.
• Audit practices and systems to ensure full compliance across caf√©s.
• Partner with central Compliance and People Ops teams to design preventive controls, policy updates, and training initiatives.

New Cafe Openings & Market Expansion

• Lead all HR/ER readiness activities for new cafe openings in NYC, NJ, and CT.
• Oversee compliance setup, onboarding, pre-opening staffing, and leadership coaching for new units.
• Build repeatable HR/ER playbooks and onboarding frameworks to support market scale.

Culture, Coaching & Performance Enablement

• Coach cafe & district leaders on values-based leadership, conflict resolution, and performance conversations.
• Partner with L&D to identify and deliver ER-focused and leadership capability training.
• Reinforce Tatte's mission and values in all people practices to strengthen belonging, accountability, and inclusion.

Data, Reporting & Insights

• Develop/maintain dashboards tracking turnover, ER trends, compliance incidents, & engagement indicators.
• Analyze data to identify root causes and recommend proactive interventions.
• Present insights to senior leaders to guide decision-making and continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Talent Acquisition, L&D, Compliance, and Operations Services to ensure alignment on policies, practices, and communications.
• Represent the Tri-State market in enterprise People & Culture initiatives such as performance calibration, engagement survey actioning, and onboarding evolution.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Required:

• 7-10 years of progressive HR experience, including 3 years in a Senior HRBP or ER-focused leadership role.
• Deep expertise in NYC/NY/NJ/CT employment laws and hospitality compliance (Fair Workweek, Wage Theft Prevention, Paid Leave).
• Proven track record of managing complex employee relations investigations in multi-unit hospitality or retail environments.
• Experience opening and supporting new cafes or restaurants in NYC with full HR accountability.
• Strong coaching, communication, and influence skills across all organizational levels.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Hospitality, or related field.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or PHR certification.
• Experience with HRIS (UKG), LMS, or case management systems.
• Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Strategic Partnership: Translates business goals into HR strategies that drive performance and engagement.

Employee Relations Expertise: Manages complex investigations and ensures fair, compliant outcomes.

Coaching & Influence: Builds trust and capabilities in leaders through clear, values-aligned guidance.

Operational Excellence: Executes with urgency, precision, and accountability.

Compliance & Risk Management: Maintains expert knowledge of multi-state labor laws & mitigates risk proactively.

Culture Leadership: Champions belonging, respect, and warmth through every people interaction.

Analytical Insight: Uses data to diagnose trends and guide strategy.

Change Leadership: Adapts and leads through growth, ambiguity, and organizational scaling.

OUR PERKS AND BENEFITS

• Competitive pay (ranging from $130k-$145k/year, commensurate with experience; bonus-eligible up to 10%)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401K Plan (with vesting match)
• Paid Vacation and Sick time
• Free EAP services
• Free beverages and generously discounted meals

Please note that Tatte is an E-Verify Employer.