What are the responsibilities and job description for the Human Resources Manager position at Populous?
Human Resources Manager
Location: Kansas City
Who We Are
We design places where people love to be together.
Populous is a global design firm that began with a singular focus: to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses, amplifying the atmosphere of excitement and pure joy shared in human moments.
We’ve designed and delivered some of the world's most memorable civic, sports and entertainment buildings, from iconic stadia to ground-breaking live music venues. Populous is where architects and designers of all kinds create moments bigger than ourselves. We offer the best of both worlds: the resources and impact of the design giants and the tightly knit atmosphere and growth opportunities of smaller firms.
What We Offer
Professional & Personal Development Programs Summer Hours Hybrid Schedule On-Site Gym Paid Architect Licensure & Certifications Exams Wedding Pay Charitable Match Program Market Leading Wellness Health and Welfare Benefits.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking an experienced Human Resources (HR) Manager with a strong focus on compliance, employee relations, and talent management. The ideal candidate will ensure that our HR policies and practices meet legal and regulatory requirements, foster a positive workplace culture through effective employee relations strategies, and partner with HR leader on performance management and streamline our onboarding and offboarding processes to enhance the employee experience. This role may have direct reports but will not initially.
Compliance
What Your Day Could Consist Of:
No. 1 Most Innovative Company in Architecture by Fast Company
No. 1 Firm in Cultural on Interior Design magazine’s Top 100 Giants
No. 1 Architecture Firm in Cultural Facilities by BD C
No. 1 Architecture Firm in Convention Centers by BD C
No. 1 Architecture Firm in Performing Arts and Concert Venues by BD C
Find us here - https://populous.com/careers
Instagram: @WeArePopulous
X: @Populous
Location: Kansas City
Who We Are
We design places where people love to be together.
Populous is a global design firm that began with a singular focus: to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses, amplifying the atmosphere of excitement and pure joy shared in human moments.
We’ve designed and delivered some of the world's most memorable civic, sports and entertainment buildings, from iconic stadia to ground-breaking live music venues. Populous is where architects and designers of all kinds create moments bigger than ourselves. We offer the best of both worlds: the resources and impact of the design giants and the tightly knit atmosphere and growth opportunities of smaller firms.
What We Offer
Professional & Personal Development Programs Summer Hours Hybrid Schedule On-Site Gym Paid Architect Licensure & Certifications Exams Wedding Pay Charitable Match Program Market Leading Wellness Health and Welfare Benefits.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking an experienced Human Resources (HR) Manager with a strong focus on compliance, employee relations, and talent management. The ideal candidate will ensure that our HR policies and practices meet legal and regulatory requirements, foster a positive workplace culture through effective employee relations strategies, and partner with HR leader on performance management and streamline our onboarding and offboarding processes to enhance the employee experience. This role may have direct reports but will not initially.
Compliance
What Your Day Could Consist Of:
- Monitor and report on changes in employment laws and update policies accordingly.
- Conduct regular audits to ensure HR processes and documentation are compliant.
- Work with Immigration consultant and serve as the point of contact for questions and concerns for all sponsored employees.
- Partner with HR Director to maintain and update the employee handbook and HR policies, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.
- Keep up to date with changing laws and regulations for each state Populous has locations or employees in.
- Act as the primary point of escalation for ADA-related issues and accommodation requests, ensuring timely approvals and resolution.
- Assist HR Director with Employee Relations work and follow up on any corrective actions.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to employees and management on employee relations issues.
- Conduct thorough investigations into employee complaints, allegations of misconduct, and other HR-related matters. Prepare comprehensive documentation and recommendations for resolution.
- Ensure consistent application of HR policies across the organization.
- Administer and manage employee corrective action processes, ensuring compliance with organizational policies, labor laws, and best practices to address performance, behavior, or attendance issues effectively and equitably.
- Manage performance review process: create and manage templates in HRIS, manage project plan for process, assist with training and communications, etc.
- Assist with talent reviews and succession planning.
- Manage the offboarding process, including exit interviews, documentation, and knowledge transfer.
- Identify trends in onboarding/offboarding feedback and implement improvements.
- Ensure all offboarding procedures are legally compliant and handle sensitive situations with care.
- Maintain and update job bands career maps.
- Create and maintain job descriptions, including new positions or promoted positions.
- Assist with employee engagement surveys and recommend actionable improvements.
- Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
- In-office presence and a willingness to travel to other offices occasionally.
- Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.
- Experience using various HR software programs (ADP, HiBob and/or Deltek is nice to have).
- Ability to create, implement, and manage effective policies and processes agreed upon by leadership across the five offices.
- Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Exceptional organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Psychology, or a related field.
- 7 years of experience in an HR role with a focus on compliance and employee relations—HR Business Partner experience a plus.
- HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) is a plus.
- Experience in developing and implementing HR policies.
- Experience working in Architecture or Engineering firms, in a billable environment.
- Experience with non-traditional reporting structures.
- Travel will be required.
- Overtime may be necessary.
No. 1 Most Innovative Company in Architecture by Fast Company
No. 1 Firm in Cultural on Interior Design magazine’s Top 100 Giants
No. 1 Architecture Firm in Cultural Facilities by BD C
No. 1 Architecture Firm in Convention Centers by BD C
No. 1 Architecture Firm in Performing Arts and Concert Venues by BD C
Find us here - https://populous.com/careers
Instagram: @WeArePopulous
X: @Populous
