Director of Human Resources

Posted 3 days ago

botany bayOak Park (IL)

Human Resources Managers Human Resources Consulting Services

SENIORITY

Manager

SALARY

$120,000–$145,000

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About the role

A Bit About Botany BayBotany Bay is a cannabis management services company that supports licensed operators across cultivation, processing, and retail. We provide centralized expertise in operations, compliance, finance, HR, construction, and strategic growth: allowing our partners to focus on running high-performing, compliant businesses in highly regulated markets. Our work spans multiple states and regulatory environments. That means precision, sound judgment, and operational discipline are essential. We prioritize regulatory integrity, measurable performance, and long-term sustainability while maintaining a practical, hands-on approach to problem solving. We’re growing thoughtfully and intentionally, and this role will play a key part in shaping what our next phase looks like.

Our Culture: We are building a team that takes pride in delivering exceptional customer experiences while driving strong business results. In a highly regulated industry, accountability and attention to detail protect both our customers and our business. We believe in personal responsibility, clear communication, and showing up prepared every day. We collaborate across roles, step in when needed, and support one another during busy shifts to keep operations running smoothly. We are committed to continuous improvement: individually and as a team. If you value reliability, teamwork, high standards, and measurable performance, you’ll fit well here.

About the Role: We’re looking for a people-centered Director of Human Resources to help lead and scale our HR function during a period of growth. This role exists because Botany Bay continues to grow, and our people strategy, HR infrastructure, and employee experience need to grow, too. This role is both strategic and hands-on. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership while actively building and improving the systems, processes, and talent pipelines that support the business day to day. You’ll lead the HR function while stepping in to support execution: hiring foundational leaders, strengthening performance standards, and ensuring operational consistency across locations. You’ll partner across operations, compliance, finance, and corporate teams to support approximately 300 employees across retail, cultivation, production, and corporate environments. This is an opportunity for a player-coach who enjoys building while doing: someone comfortable setting direction and rolling up their sleeves to get the work done.

The Opportunity

In this role, you will:

Lead the development and execution of HR strategies that support business growth and operational excellence
Translate company goals into people priorities through workforce planning, organizational design, and talent initiatives
Build, improve, and maintain HR systems, processes, and programs across multiple states and entities
Partner with leaders and cross-functional teams to solve people, performance, and compliance challenges
Learn, adapt, and iterate as the organization continues to scale and evolve What We’re Looking for in YouWe’re looking for someone who brings:
7+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years in a leadership role overseeing multi-site operations
Experience leading an HR team while remaining actively involved in hands-on HR work, including recruiting and sourcing
Deep expertise across recruitment and sourcing (including hiring and developing frontline and leadership roles), employee relations, employment law, talent strategy, and organizational development
Proven ability to hire high-quality leaders efficiently in support of business growth
Experience strengthening HR infrastructure, including systems, metrics, and scalable processes
Experience supporting hourly retail or manufacturing employee populations alongside corporate teams
Strong executive-level communication, sound judgment, and the ability to influence leaders constructively
Comfort navigating growth, ambiguity, and highly regulated environments
Ability to travel up to 25% across Illinois and Kentucky Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required Master’s degree or HR certifications (SPHR, SHRM-SCP) preferred How You’ll Really Stand OutYou’ll stand out if you also bring:
Experience working in highly regulated industries such as cannabis, healthcare, or pharmaceuticals
A track record of scaling HR systems and practices in fast-growing organizations
Experience moving people initiatives from idea → execution → measurable impact
Strong change management instincts during periods of expansion or organizational evolution What Your First Six Months Might Look LikeWithin your first month, you will:
Learn our organizational structure, locations, and regulatory landscape
Build relationships with senior leaders, site leaders, and employees
Gain clarity on HR priorities, risks, and opportunities across the business Within three months, you will:
Own and execute HR initiatives tied to compliance, workforce stability, and manager effectiveness
Deliver HR guidance and processes that are actively used by leaders and teams
Navigate employee relations matters with confidence, consistency, and sound judgment Within six months, you will:
Stabilize and strengthen workforce engagement and retention across retail and cultivation operations to support our sustainable growth
Improve the quality and efficiency of leadership hiring for foundational roles that support expansion
Strengthen HR infrastructure, including clear metrics, reporting, and scalable systems
Build consistency in performance standards and leadership accountability across locations
Be a trusted partner by the COO, leadership team and our employees A Bit More About Botany BayWe work across functions and locations, to navigate the complexity of our industry. We value problem solving, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making in an environment where compliance and people experience both matter.

What We Offer:

Salary range: $120,000–$145,000, based on experience and qualifications
Medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) benefits
Paid time off and company holidays
Employee discounts
Professional development opportunities A Note to Candidates If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We value learning, growth, and diverse perspectives. We know strong leaders come from many paths.

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