Human Resources

Position Purpose The HR & Team Development Leader supports, develops, and strengthens the teammates and leadership teams across Gracie’s and Ellie’s.

This role combines thoughtful HR leadership with a strong focus on team development, training, leadership growth, culture, and employee experience.

The ideal person is not simply an HR administrator. They are a trusted partner to our leaders and team members, someone who understands hospitality, enjoys developing people, can navigate difficult conversations with confidence and compassion, and can build systems that allow our people and businesses to thrive.

This position will help create an environment where expectations are clear, leaders are equipped to lead, team members have opportunities to grow, and our culture is intentionally carried forward as Gracie’s and Ellie’s continue to evolve.

Key Responsibilities Team & HR Leadership ● Serve as the primary HR resource for Gracie’s and Ellie’s. ● Support leaders in navigating employee relations, performance concerns, conflict resolution, attendance, corrective action, and other people matters. ● Maintain employee policies, documentation, personnel records, and HR systems. ● Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state employment regulations. ● Coordinate benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment, leaves of absence, and other employee-related programs. ● Oversee and/or coordinate payroll processes, ensuring accuracy and consistency. ● Develop HR practices that are effective without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Recruiting & Onboarding ● Partner with leaders to understand current and future staffing needs. ● Develop thoughtful recruiting strategies that attract people who align with our standards and culture. ● Strengthen interview and selection practices across both businesses. ● Create a consistent and welcoming onboarding experience. ● Establish clear 30-, 60-, and 90-day expectations and check-ins for new team members. ● Evaluate whether new hires are receiving the training, feedback, and support they need to succeed.

Training & Team Development A significant responsibility of this position will be creating a more intentional approach to training and development throughout Gracie’s and Ellie’s.

● Develop and maintain training programs for both businesses. ● Create structured new-hire training and role-specific learning plans. ● Partner with operational leaders to document standards and develop practical training tools. ● Establish ongoing education rather than relying solely on initial onboarding. ● Identify skill gaps and create training programs to address them. ● Develop opportunities for cross-training and internal advancement. ● Create clear development paths for team members who want to grow within the organization. ● Help ensure that the standards and hospitality philosophy of Gracie’s and Ellie’s are consistently taught, understood, and practiced.

Leadership Development ● Serve as a coach and resource to the leadership teams at Gracie’s and Ellie’s. ● Develop training specifically for leaders, including: ○ Giving and receiving feedback ○ Coaching team members ○ Having difficult conversations ○ Performance management ○ Communication ○ Conflict resolution ○ Accountability ○ Developing future leaders ● Conduct regular leadership development conversations. ● Help leaders become confident handling people issues rather than relying on HR to manage every situation. ● Identify emerging leaders within the organization and create development opportunities. ● Assist with succession planning for key roles.

Performance & Accountability ● Develop a clear and consistent approach to performance conversations. ● Establish meaningful check-ins and review processes. ● Help leaders set clear expectations and address performance concerns early. ● Create development plans when additional coaching or support is appropriate. ● Ensure documentation is consistent, appropriate, and aligned with our values. ● Help create a culture where accountability and compassion can exist together. Culture & Employee Experience ● Protect and strengthen the culture of Gracie’s and Ellie’s. ● Maintain a visible, approachable presence in both businesses. ● Regularly connect with team members and leaders to understand morale, challenges, and opportunities. ● Identify patterns affecting retention, engagement, or performance. ● Help improve communication between team members, leaders, and ownership. ● Support recognition and appreciation initiatives. ● Help ensure that as the businesses evolve, the qualities that make Gracie’s and Ellie’s special are intentionally preserved.

Organizational & Talent Planning ● Partner with ownership and senior leadership to evaluate organizational needs. ● Identify opportunities to simplify roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures. ● Evaluate staffing and leadership needs as the businesses grow and change. ● Identify high-potential team members and create development plans. ● Build succession plans for important positions. ● Provide thoughtful recommendations regarding compensation, retention, organizational structure, and people strategy.

What Success Looks Like Success in this position means: ● Leaders feel confident leading their teams and handling people issues. ● Team members understand what is expected of them. ● New employees receive consistent and thoughtful onboarding. ● Training is structured, documented, and ongoing. ● Strong performers can see opportunities for growth. ● Performance concerns are addressed early and appropriately. ● HR systems and documentation are organized and compliant. ● Turnover and employee-relations trends are understood and proactively addressed. ● The leadership pipeline becomes stronger. ● Gracie’s and Ellie’s culture and hospitality standards remain strong as the businesses evolve.

The Person We Are Looking For We are looking for someone who: ● Genuinely enjoys developing people. ● Understands that hospitality is a people business. ● Can balance empathy with accountability. ● Is comfortable having difficult conversations. ● Builds trust across all levels of an organization. ● Is organized and can manage HR details while keeping the bigger picture in view. ● Is proactive rather than reactive. ● Enjoys teaching, coaching, and mentoring. ● Can create structure without making an organization feel overly corporate. ● Understands the importance of being present and engaged with teams. ● Is collaborative, curious, and willing to challenge existing practices when there is a better way. ● Believes great leaders should develop more great leaders. Experience & Qualifications ● 5+ years of progressive HR, people operations, organizational development, or related leadership experience. ● Experience supporting leaders and managing employee relations. ● Demonstrated experience developing training or professional development programs. ● Strong knowledge of HR practices and employment compliance. ● Hospitality, restaurant, retail, or other service-industry experience strongly preferred. ● Excellent communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills. ● Ability to work effectively across two distinct but connected businesses.

Reporting & Relationships Reports to: Ownership / Leadership Team Supports: Leadership teams and employees across Gracie’s and Ellie’s This role is intended to be an active partner to leadership, not a replacement. Our leaders remain responsible for leading their teams. The HR & Team Development Leader gives them the tools, coaching, structure, and support necessary to do that exceptionally well.

The Opportunity Gracie’s and Ellie’s have been built around hospitality, relationships, craftsmanship, and people.

The opportunity for this leader is to take what has historically been passed down through experience, mentorship, and institutional knowledge and turn it into a thoughtful, sustainable people-development system without losing the warmth, individuality, and humanity that define our businesses.

Ultimately, this role will help us build an organization where great people want to stay, talented people can grow, and strong leaders continue developing the next generation.

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