Director of People Culture
At NAYA, we’re on an exciting journey - growing fast, sharing authentic, fresh, and nutritious Middle Eastern flavors, and building a team that grows right along with us. At NAYA, our mission is to build genuine connections through the Middle Eastern flavors that nourish and inspire us We are seeking a highly strategic, operationally strong, and people-focused Director of People Culture to help lead our next phase of growth. This role is ideal for an experienced HR leader who is approaching Vice President-level readiness and thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments. You will love working at NAYA We believe great people deserve great rewards. NAYA offers a comprehensive and people-focused benefits package designed to support you at work and beyond, including: Competitive pay to recognize your impact Paid Vacation time Medical, dental, and vision insurance to keep you healthy and thriving Flexible Spending Account Commuter benefits to make life easier Employee discounts and free NAYA meals — because we believe in enjoying what we serve Growth opportunities at every level — we invest in developing leaders from within Employee Assistance, Pay on Demand, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, and much more! At NAYA, you’ll find more than a job — you’ll find a community that values you, supports your goals, and celebrates your success. Position Summary The Director of People Culture is responsible for supporting and managing core Human Resources and People Culture functions across the organization. This role will oversee compliance, employee relations, compensation support, benefits administration, payroll partnership, talent acquisition, employee engagement, onboarding, performance management, policy administration, and workforce support. This individual will play an important role in ensuring operational consistency, supporting restaurant leaders, maintaining compliance, and helping create a positive and people‑first work environment aligned with NAYA’s mission and values. The ideal candidate is organized, dependable, people-focused, operationally strong, and comfortable balancing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced restaurant environment. What You Will Do Restaurant Operations Partnership Serve as a primary HR support partner for Restaurant Leadership teams. Partner closely with Operations leaders to support restaurant staffing, employee relations, onboarding, compliance, and team member development. Support new restaurant openings through hiring coordination, onboarding support, workforce planning assistance, and market pay research. Help ensure restaurants are staffed appropriately while maintaining NAYA’s culture and operational standards. Provide guidance to restaurant leaders on performance management, documentation, attendance, policy interpretation, and workplace concerns. Human Resources Operations & Compliance Support compliance with all federal, state, and local labor and employment laws. Ensure compliance with NYC Fair Work Week regulations and other applicable scheduling laws. Support HR documentation, reporting, audits, and recordkeeping processes. Maintain organized and accurate employee records and HR systems. Assist in implementing HR processes and operational standards across the organization. Partner with Payroll, Operations, and other departments to support accurate and compliant people practices. Employee Relations & Workplace Support Support employee relations matters across restaurant operations and support center teams. Conduct workplace investigations related to policy violations, employee concerns, harassment, discrimination, attendance, and behavioral issues. Handle investigations in a professional, fair, unbiased, and confidential manner. Provide coaching and support to leaders on progressive discipline, documentation, corrective actions, and workplace communication. Help maintain consistency in the application of company policies and procedures across all locations. Support a respectful, inclusive, and people‑first work environment. Policies, Procedures & Employee Handbook Management Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of company HR policies and procedures. Assist with maintaining and updating the Employee Handbook to ensure compliance and operational consistency. Partner with Operations and leadership teams to communicate policies clearly and consistently. Help create SOPs, guidelines, and people practices that support consistency across restaurant operations and support center teams. Assist in reviewing policies and practices to ensure alignment with labor law requirements and company standards. Compensation, Benefits & Payroll Support Support compensation benchmarking and market pay comparisons. Assist with benefits administration and employee benefits support. Help identify competitive and employee‑focused benefit offerings. Partner with Payroll and Operations teams to support payroll accuracy and issue resolution. Assist employees and leaders with benefit and payroll‑related questions. Talent Acquisition & Employment Brand Support recruiting efforts across restaurant operations and support center functions. Help maintain and strengthen NAYA’s employment brand and candidate experience. Assist with sourcing candidates, scheduling interviews, onboarding coordination, and recruiting process management. Partner with Operations teams to support staffing needs and hiring initiatives. Help create a welcoming and engaging onboarding experience for new hires. Performance Management & Team Member Development Support performance management processes across the organization. Assist leaders with performance conversations, documentation, and employee development discussions. Help support internal growth opportunities and career pathing initiatives. Partner with leaders to identify employee development opportunities and staffing needs. HR Metrics & Reporting Track and maintain HR and People Culture metrics including turnover, retention, hiring activity, staffing levels, onboarding completion, and employee relations trends. Support periodic reporting and workforce updates for Operations and HR leadership. Help identify trends and opportunities for operational and employee experience improvements. Maintain organized HR reporting and workforce data. Employee Experience & Culture Support initiatives that improve employee engagement, communication, and workplace culture. Help reinforce NAYA’s mission, values, and people‑first culture across all locations. Assist with employee recognition, engagement activities, and culture‑building initiatives. Support programs that enhance the team member experience and promote retention. Qualifications 5 years of progressive Human Resources experience. SHRM‑SCP preferred. SPHR strongly preferred. Experience supporting multiple HR functions. Experience in a growth company with 30 units. Strong knowledge of labor and employment law and HR best practices. Direct experience with NYC Fair Work Week law strongly preferred. Experience supporting organizations with 500 employees preferred. Strong background in employee relations, compliance, onboarding, recruiting, and HR operations. Restaurant, hospitality, retail, or multi‑unit experience strongly preferred. Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally. Ability to work in a fast‑paced, evolving environment with shifting priorities. Proficiency with HRIS, payroll, and recruiting systems preferred. What Success Looks Like Supports Restaurant Leadership teams effectively and consistently. Maintains compliance and strong HR operational standards. Helps restaurants stay staffed and onboarded successfully. Handles employee relations matters fairly and professionally. Supports a positive, respectful, and people‑first culture. Maintains accurate HR reporting, records, and processes. Helps improve employee engagement, retention, and overall team member experience. We use eVerify to confirm U.S. Employment eligibility. We run background checks on all new hires in this position. J-18808-Ljbffr
