Job Description

Sr. HR Manager Full-Time | Remote
US working hours: 9:30 to 6:30 pm Eastern timezone
About Us
We are a fully independent, minority-owned creative agency based in New York. We help brands unlock their mojo by creating work that starts movements, stokes fandoms, and seizes cultural moments--delivering real results for Fortune 500 companies bold enough to break convention.
We work with brands like TikTok, Lululemon, Chime, and Rivian to launch ideas that earn attention and build lasting relevance.
We're not in it for the trophies--but we're proud when the work gets noticed. From being named Ad Age's Small Agency of the Year to picking up a Grand Effie, a few Gold Lions, and more than a dozen One Show awards.
About You
As we continue to grow, we're looking for a strategic and operationally strong Senior People & HR Lead to take full ownership of our People & Culture function. You'll be the agency's go-to HR expert, partnering directly with leadership to drive growth, engagement, and operational excellence.
Position Summary
As the Senior People & HR Lead, this is a high-impact, senior-level role designed for someone who can think strategically, execute operationally, and thrive in a fast-paced, creative environment. You'll partner with leadership to define our people strategy, oversee HR operations globally, manage our freelance and full-time talent needs, and drive culture-building initiatives. If you're proactive, people-first, and ready to help us scale intentionally--we want to hear from you.
Strategic People Leadership

• Serve as a thought partner to the SVP of Operations and senior leadership on all people-related strategies.
• Lead and scale all core HR functions: recruiting, onboarding, performance, compensation, benefits, and compliance.
• Manage all freelance contracts and engagements--including documentation, rate tracking, onboarding, and ensuring alignment with company policies and legal standards.
• Administer and support employee leaves of absence, including maternity, paternity, medical, and personal leaves, in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.
• Act as the primary liaison with our payroll and benefits vendor (Justworks)--managing enrollments, questions, payroll cycles, and issue resolution.
• Partner with external employment counsel on employee separations, including voluntary exits and terminations for cause, ensuring compliance with local laws and fair, documented processes.
• Build and implement HR policies, systems, and processes aligned with our values and creative culture.
• Provide counsel on employee relations, organizational design, and talent planning.
• Oversee HR compliance across U.S. and international jurisdictions.
• Select, manage, and optimize HR systems and tools (HRIS, ATS, payroll, etc.).

Talent & Organizational Development

• Create, update, and maintain job descriptions and clearly defined roles and responsibilities across departments.
• Collaborate with department leads to build team structures and support org design efforts.
• Design, implement, and manage a consistent performance review process and cadence that supports clarity, accountability, and employee growth.
• Maintain and evolve performance tools, feedback practices, and competency frameworks to align with company goals.
• Establish and manage frameworks for career growth, succession planning, and role clarity.
• Support a culture of continuous feedback, performance excellence, and learning.

Talent Acquisition & Culture

• Own and evolve talent acquisition strategy with a focus on quality, equity, and speed.
• Lead onboarding programs that drive alignment, engagement, and productivity from day one.
• Support DEI, employee engagement, and recognition programs.
• Act as a steward of the agency's creative, human-first culture.

People Analytics & Reporting

• Track and analyze key HR metrics (e.g., headcount, retention, DEI, hiring funnel, engagement).
• Use data insights to inform leadership decisions and continuously improve People operations.
• Deliver regular reporting on HR initiatives, risks, and outcomes.

What You Bring

• 7+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership-level role.
• Experience working directly with U.S.-based companies and leadership teams.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR best practices, and international compliance.
• Proven ability to build HR infrastructure in a fast-growth, creative, or startup environment.
• Outstanding communication, coaching, and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in HR software and remote tools (Slack, Zoom).
• High emotional intelligence and ability to balance people-centricity with business needs.
• Strong English fluency and comfort working across time zones.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience working in an advertising, media, or creative agency environment.
• Familiarity with U.S. and international labor law compliance.
• Experience with organizational design or change management initiatives.
• Background in remote-first or distributed team models.

What We Offer

• A senior-level role with global impact at a mission-driven creative agency.
• Full-time remote work with flexible hours.
• A high-performing, creatively ambitious team and a culture of collaboration.
• The opportunity to build and lead a modern People function from the ground up.
• Autonomy, trust, and room to innovate.

Requirements

• 7+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a strategic HR leadership role.
• Experience working in or with U.S.-based companies and leadership teams.
• Proven success scaling HR operations and culture in a high-growth, creative or agency environment.
• Deep understanding of employment law, compliance, and best practices across multiple regions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a coaching mindset.
• High level of discretion, professionalism, and integrity.
• Proficiency with HR platforms (e.g., BambooHR, Gusto, Greenhouse, or equivalents).
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Able to work autonomously, across time zones, and in a remote-first setup.

Somewhere