Job Title: Senior Human Resources Business Partner (Maternity Leave Coverage)

Employment Type: Temporary W2 Employee (Maternity Leave Coverage)

Duration: Approximately 5-6 months (September-February)

Location: Remote

Whalar is the leading, most awarded, independent Creator and Social agency. We transform brands into cultural drivers by unlocking the full creative power of Creators.

We go beyond the conventional social and influencer strategy. We have the technology and methodology to tap into the beating pulse of communities, listen to nuances that move culture, and connect brands in ways that make them unforgettable.

With hubs in London, Berlin, New York, and Los Angeles, our reach is global. Learn more: https://www.whalar.com/

About the role:

We're seeking a highly experienced, hands-on Senior Human Resources Business Partner to provide maternity leave coverage for approximately 5-6 months. This is an opportunity for an experienced HR leader who enjoys stepping into complex environments, quickly establishing credibility, and taking ownership from day one.

Supporting both corporate and hospitality teams, you'll serve as the primary HR partner to leaders and employees across the business, balancing strategic partnership with hands-on execution. You'll advise on employee relations, performance, compliance, payroll, and day-to-day people operations while partnering closely with leadership to deliver a seamless employee experience.

Success in this role requires someone who is highly autonomous, pragmatic, and confident making decisions independently. You're equally comfortable coaching executives, supporting frontline hospitality managers, navigating complex employee relations matters, and rolling up your sleeves to ensure HR operations run smoothly. Experience supporting hourly workforces and strong knowledge of California and New York employment law are essential.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

Serve as the lead HR partner for both corporate employees and hospitality operations, providing thoughtful, business-focused HR guidance across all levels of the organization.
Independently own the day-to-day HR function during the maternity leave period, exercising sound judgment and making decisions with minimal oversight.
Partner with business leaders to navigate organizational challenges, employee performance, workforce planning, and talent matters.
Manage complex employee relations issues, conduct investigations, and provide practical, legally compliant recommendations and resolutions.
Process and oversee multi-state payroll accurately and on time.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, with deep expertise in California and New York labor laws, particularly as they relate to hourly employees, wage and hour compliance, meal and rest breaks, overtime, scheduling, and leave administration.
Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, and leadership to ensure seamless execution of people initiatives.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

7+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant experience as a Senior HR Business Partner or equivalent.
Proven experience supporting both corporate populations and hospitality, restaurant, retail, or other hourly workforce environments.
Strong working knowledge of California and New York employment laws, including wage and hour regulations and employee relations best practices.
Experience with Rippling and Lattice
Experience managing multi-state payroll.
Demonstrated success handling sensitive employee relations matters, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution.
Highly autonomous with the ability to prioritize, make decisions independently, and drive work forward without extensive direction.
Exceptional judgment, discretion, and executive presence, with the ability to build trust quickly across all levels of the organization.

The salary range for this role is $115,000 - $125,000 and serves as a general guideline for the potential compensation. The final salary offer will be determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as the candidate's experience, expertise, alignment with the position's requirements, location, and, ultimately, budget approvals.

Our values:

At Whalar, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) isn't just a statement, it's our collective strength. Our people are our superpower. A diverse team and inclusive leadership have shaped Whalar since our inception in 2016, fueling a constant evolution of growth. We champion a culture of respect and empathy, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends demographics. We hire individuals of all backgrounds and empower them to thrive, challenge stereotypes, and actively break societal barriers.

The perks:

Whalar provides flexible benefits and collaborative work environments/experiences, so employees can work productively in a setting that best and uniquely suits their needs.

Medical, Dental, Vision
25 days of PTO + Sick days
Monthly phone/internet reimbursement
Professional development stipend
New joiner's Home office allowance
Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave
Volunteer days
Identity theft protection & Legal assistance
Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance
Voluntary Life Insurance Policy
Voluntary Hospital and Critical Illness Insurance
Voluntary Pet insurance
Employee Resource Groups