Chief People & Culture Officer

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Role Overview

The Senior HR Leader will be responsible for leading the people strategy across all outlets and the head office. This role combines hands-on HR management for frontline staff with strategic leadership at the executive level. The leader will drive culture, employee engagement, talent development, and new people initiatives, while ensuring HR policies and practices support both operational excellence and business growth. P&L accountability and alignment with business objectives are key.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Culture

• Serve as a cultural steward, shaping and championing a people-first, high-engagement environment across all locations.
• Embed HR strategy into business decision-making, contributing to organizational planning, growth, and transformation.
• Lead initiatives to foster a sense of purpose, belonging, and happiness among all employees—from store staff to head office leaders.
• Own the employee experience, ensuring alignment between company values, internal communications, and daily practices.

• Talent Management & Development

• Design and execute talent acquisition strategies for both entry-level store staff and head office roles, ensuring a strong pipeline of future leaders.
• Oversee onboarding, training, and upskilling programs to promote operational excellence and career growth.
• Champion leadership development and succession planning to build a resilient, future-ready organization.

• Employee Engagement & Retention

• Implement employee engagement and empowerment programs that drive retention, motivation, and customer-centricity.
• Regularly gather and act on employee feedback through surveys, forums, and one-on-ones to continuously improve the workplace.
• Manage recognition, rewards, and well-being initiatives, including flexible scheduling and mental health support.

• Policy, Compliance & Operations

• Develop, implement, and manage HR policies and SOPs tailored for the business, ensuring compliance with labour laws and industry best practices.
• Oversee payroll, attendance, and HR operations for multi-location teams, leveraging technology for efficiency and transparency.
• Address employee relations, grievances, and disciplinary matters with fairness and empathy.

• Business Partnership & P&L Accountability

• Partner with the CEO, CFO, and GMs to align people strategies with business goals and financial targets.
• Use HR analytics to drive data-informed decisions on productivity, turnover, and workforce planning.
• Contribute to budgeting, cost management, and ROI analysis of HR initiatives.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience (7+ years) in senior HR leadership roles, ideally in QSR, retail, hospitality, or multi-location environments.
• Demonstrated success in culture-building, employee engagement, and talent development across diverse, distributed teams.
• Strong business acumen and experience with P&L impact, budgeting, and strategic planning.
• Expertise in HR operations, policy development, and compliance for frontline and corporate staff.
• High emotional intelligence, resilience, and ability to lead through change.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and digital HR skills.
• Bachelor’s/Master’s in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, or related field.

Hands-on experience with employee engagement platforms such as Culture Amp or Office Vibe a plus