HR Director

We grow the world’s BEST Strawberries & that wouldn’t be possible without our People Team!

We are seeking a HR Director to lead, develop, execute, and align our people strategies, programs and processes with business objectives across our Corporate, Commercial and Engineering teams to encourage a high performance culture. The ideal candidate will be able to serve as a strategic thought partner while also digging in, rolling up their sleeves and executing tactical day to day work. The balance of company departments have a People Business Partner who will report into this role.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Collaborate with the VP of People to create and implement initiatives, programs, and improve policies to optimize the Oishii employee experience.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner on all "People" strategies and business initiatives centered around our corporate, commercial and engineering teams, acting as an active advocate for the "People" side of the business educating business partners where gaps exist. These functions are made up of both hourly and salaried employees across multiple locations.
• Manage, develop and support the People Business partner overseeing our field teams (production & R&D)
• Coach, develop, guide and advise business partners on employee matters and employee conflicts.
• HR investigations, address employee relations matters, anticipate people-related risks, and develop plans and actions to mitigate risks and address concerns.
• Drive performance management, learning & development, labor & succession planning with an emphasis on process creation and consistency across functions.
• Develop and execute plans to promote an inclusive environment that is engaging, enabling and energizing, and one where our associates can thrive.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Drive key people metrics including but not limited to retention, and employee relations/engagement metrics.
• Take decisive and well-rounded action in high-pressure situations, consulting with key stakeholders where appropriate.

Who will love this job: Individuals who identify with our Core Values and exhibit skills within those values will thrive at Oishii.

• One Team, One Fight!
  • Ability to quickly shift priorities to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly, concisely and with purpose at various levels of the organization.
  • Ability to work cross functionally at all levels including across locations, and collaborate with a focus on supporting & understanding the evolving business needs of a startup environment.
  • Ability to lead through others and develop teams with a diverse level of experience to succeed.
• Focus.
  • Ability to remove obstacles in order to prioritize which could include problem solving, working through ambiguity and using fact based or sound judgment in the absence of process or policy. We are building it, but need to manage through the process with good judgment and a bias for action.
  • Ability to synthesize information quickly to aid in the troubleshooting process.
• GSD (Get Sh** Done!)
  • Possessing an entrepreneurial mindset with the tenacity to develop ideas, process, and policy and implement them rapidly.
  • Capable of prioritizing tasks and considering the resources available when doing so.
  • A bias for action! Ability to hold yourself accountable and take ownership of driving results that impact company outcomes.
  • Track record of effectively handling complex employee relations issues, and addressing sensitive information and difficult situations with tact, discretion, and confidentiality.

What we’re looking for in a HR Director:

• Degree in Human Resources, Industrial & Labor Relations, Business Administration or a related area.
• 12 years of experience in Human Resources/People Operations ideally in a geographically distributed environment.
• 4 years of experience in a senior level or business partner role.
• 4 years of experience leading and developing a team of People Business Partners/HRBPs.
• Employment law understanding in NJ, NY, CO, and MA is a must.
• Experience in an operational environment such as a warehouse, retail location, supply chain, hospitality or agriculture. Experience opening new facilities or locations is a plus.
• Experience in using HRIS systems –Paycom preferred.

Additional Details:

• This is an onsite role at least 4 days a week. Primary Location: eitherJersey City, NJ or Philipsburg, NJ. Travel will then be required about 50% of the time at the opposing location and occasionally to other states in which we operate.

Perks at Oishii:

• Compensation: $165-175K base plus equity
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(K)
• Paid Parental leave
• Office social events including happy hours, parties, and community service projects
• Employee activity groups for basketball players, Yoga Enthusiasts, runners…

About Us:

At Oishii, we grow the best berries in the world by deploying ground-breaking vertical farming technology that pushes the boundaries of agriculture. We’re the first in the WORLD to grow fruit in an indoor vertical farm at commercial scale. Our proprietary technology enables us to grow the very best produce year-round, at the same high level of quality, all without using any pesticides.

Oishii has been profiled in Eater, NPR, Time Magazine, and Fortune. Oishi was also one of the Fast Companies Most Innovative Companies of 2022. https://www.fastcompany.com/90724410/most-innovative-companies-food-2022

At Oishii, everything we do works toward accomplishing our mission of transforming agriculture sustainably while bringing produce that truly delights people everywhere. This requires farmers, engineers, scientists, product managers, and members of many other backgrounds to work together day-in and day-out to innovate, while operating increasingly large farms. We have an amazing mission-driven team of highly motivated and engaged members.

Learn More https://oishii.com/.