HR Director Job Description Template (Free, 2026)

Job Title: HR Director Department: Human Resources / People & Culture Location: [City, State] / Remote / Hybrid Reports To: CEO / COO / CFO Employment Type: Full-Time Direct Reports: [X] HR professionals (HRBPs, Talent Acquisition, People Ops, L&D — specify) About [Company Name] [Company Name] is a [stage/size] company in [industry] with [X] employees across [locations]. We're at an inflection point in our people strategy — [describe the moment: scaling rapidly / going through transformation / building after recent acquisition — specify]. This HR Director will own our entire people function, reporting to [CEO/COO] and serving as a key member of the [executive / leadership] team. About the Role We're looking for an experienced HR Director to lead our HR organization and serve as the primary architect of [Company Name]'s people strategy. You'll own talent acquisition, HR operations, employee relations, compensation, learning & development, and DEI — either directly or through a team of [X] HR professionals. This is a seat-at-the-table role for an HR leader who drives business outcomes through exceptional people programs. Key Responsibilities • Define and execute the annual people strategy in partnership with the CEO and executive team: talent philosophy, workforce plan, culture initiatives, and organizational design • Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of [X] HR professionals across [Talent Acquisition / People Ops / HRBPs / L&D / Compensation — specify] • Own the full talent acquisition strategy: sourcing approaches, employer brand, hiring process quality, offer competitiveness, and time-to-fill • Lead total rewards strategy: compensation philosophy, salary bands, benefits design, and equity program (if applicable), maintaining external competitiveness • Oversee HR operations and compliance: HRIS ([specify]), payroll coordination, employment law compliance across all operating jurisdictions • Drive employee engagement and culture: engagement survey design and action planning, manager development, and building systems that support a high-performance culture • Lead workforce planning: partnering with department leaders on headcount needs, organizational structure, spans and layers analysis, and succession planning • Manage the HR budget: headcount, benefits costs, L&D programs, HR technology, and recruiting • Serve as the primary escalation point for complex employee relations matters: investigations, terminations, legal matters, and policy interpretation • Build and report HR metrics to the executive team and board: headcount, attrition, eNPS, DEIB data, time-to-fill, and HR cost per employee Required Qualifications • 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years in an HR leadership role (HR Director, VP of People, or equivalent) • Demonstrated experience building and managing an HR team • Track record of partnering with C-suite executives as a strategic business advisor • Deep knowledge of employment law, multi-state compliance, and HR best practices • Experience with HRIS platforms ([Workday / BambooHR / Rippling — specify]) and HR technology strategy • SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification strongly preferred • Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field; Master's degree a plus Nice to Have • Experience leading HR through high-growth scaling (Series B–D, 200 → 1,000 employees) • Background in M&A HR integration • Experience with international HR or global people operations • Executive coaching certification or formal leadership development background What We Offer • Salary: $110,000 – $190,000/year (see benchmarks below) • Health, dental, and vision insurance (comprehensive plan) • Flexible PTO + [X] paid holidays • Executive coaching and leadership development investment • SHRM-SCP certification and conference budget • Equity / stock options [specify] • [401(k) match — specify] Salary Range: $110,000 – $190,000/year (US, 2026 benchmark) [Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.