Senior People Partner - NYC

Competitive triathletes and passionate bakers, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald left their careers to open a small bread shop in New York City in 1995 — Levain Bakery.

One day, they baked a BIG chocolate chip walnut cookie as energy for triathlon training. At Levain, a batch of these 6-ounce cookies flew off the shelves, and an icon was born. The cozy shop on West 74th Street became a neighborhood favorite and a destination for epicurious visitors from around the world, hungry for “the cookie.”

From the start, Pam, Connie, and the team baked everything fresh on-site each day, donating the day’s leftovers to charity — and we still do, 30 years later. Today, Levain has bakeries across the country (with more to come!), plus ecommerce gift boxes to treat cookie lovers in every state.

Every day, we strive to embody our company’s five core values:

• Welcome All- We are all in it together

• Work Hard and Be Kind- We pull our weight, we do our best, and take care of each other

• Lead with Heart- We operate with empathy and integrity

• Rise Up- We take initiative to make things better

• Savor It- We are present and find the fun!

THE ROLE: SENIOR PEOPLE PARTNER

The Senior People Partner will report to the Senior Director of People & Culture. This role will drive and manage HR functions including but not limited to employee onboarding, employee recognition and reward programs, conflict resolution, training, leave management, workplace accommodation, and developing and refining systems. This role will be based in NY, splitting their time providing onsite support at the bakery and commissary locations and at the corporate office as needed for business.

What we’re looking for:

• People-forward attitude with a keen understanding of the employee experience

• Passion for what you do – you’re excited about leveraging your strong critical thinking skills, previous knowledge, and expertise to leaders and the employee experience

• Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills; team-oriented with a positive attitude

• Maintain a high level of professionalism and courtesy: be adaptable, flexible, and patient

• Be open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement

• Be consistent, patient, and even keeled: Remain calm under pressure when troubleshooting issues

• High-level of integrity, emotional intelligence, and discretion to handle complex, sensitive matters

• Project management, time management, problem-solving skills to manage HR initiatives and to meet key deadlines

• Leadership skills to train and motivate HR professionals

• Embody and promote the values and standards of Levain Bakery

Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Partnership & Field Leadership

• Serve as a strategic HR advisor to Regional and District leadership, aligning people strategy with operational, financial, and growth objectives.

• Influence senior field leaders on leadership effectiveness, workforce strategy, and long-term talent planning.

• Anticipate workforce risks and partner with leadership to implement proactive, data-driven solutions.

• Lead regional culture assessments through in-market presence, providing constructive insights and actionable recommendations.

• Drive accountability across teams to ensure consistent execution of people strategies and company standards.

Employee Relations & Risk Leadership

• Oversee complex, high-risk employee relations matters across multiple locations, ensuring consistency, fairness, and risk mitigation.

• Lead and oversee sensitive investigations, providing strategic recommendations to senior leaders.

• Ensure regional compliance with all applicable employment laws, wage and hour regulations, and company policies.

• Identify systemic risk trends and implement preventative strategies, training, and process improvements.

• Partner with Legal and senior stakeholders to minimize organizational exposure.

Leave & Workplace Accommodation Strategy

• Provide strategic oversight of federal, state, and local leave programs, ensuring compliance and operational continuity.

• Guide senior leaders on complex leave and accommodation matters, balancing legal compliance with business needs.

• Oversee end-to-end management of high-risk or escalated cases, including ADA interactive process and return-to-work planning.

• Evaluate trends in leave utilization and accommodations to guide workforce planning and operational strategy.

• Develop and implement training and process enhancements to strengthen compliance and leader capability.

Engagement, Culture & Retention Strategy

• Analyze regional engagement, turnover, and performance data to identify systemic opportunities and risks.

• Lead development and execution of regional engagement and retention strategies aligned with business priorities.

• Champion inclusion, belonging, and leadership accountability across the field.

• Partner with senior leaders to address cultural challenges and drive measurable improvements in team effectiveness.

Workforce Planning & Talent Strategy

• Lead regional workforce planning efforts, aligning staffing models with financial forecasts and operational needs.

• Partner strategically with Talent Acquisition to address pipeline gaps and improve quality of hire.

• Contribute and support talent assessments, and succession planning at the district level.

• Identify and partner with district/regional managers to develop high-potential leaders, strengthening bench readiness and internal mobility.

• Ensure consistent, performance-driven talent practices across all supported locations.

Leadership Development & Capability Building

• Coach and support development of District and Store leadership teams to enhance performance, accountability, and people leadership capability.

• Lead and facilitate advanced HR and leadership development sessions.

• Drive consistent execution of performance management and development processes across the region.

• Manage, mentor, and support field HR team members.

Organizational Change & Alignment

• Drive and execute on people strategy for leadership transitions, organization restructuring, and department initiatives.

• Guide and support comprehensive change management plans to ensure smooth adoption and minimal operational disruption.

• Translate and support organization HR strategy into practical field execution plans.

• Oversee policy and handbook alignment to ensure compliance and consistency with business objectives.

• Strengthen cross-functional partnerships to ensure HR is viewed as a strategic business driver.

Required skills and qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.

• 7+ years of management experience in HR for retail/hospitality/food companies; prior team management/people coaching experience strongly preferred.

• Prior experience with a company in growth mode strongly preferred.

• Aptitude for problem-solving and thorough knowledge of HR procedures and policies.

• Experience in a senior level HR managerial role for multi-state locations required.

• Resourceful mindset and strong attention to detail.

• Superior knowledge of national laws and regulations related to employment.

• Experience working with HRIS systems and workforce analytics, UKG experience is a plus.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, Microsoft, etc.

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.

• Fluent in Spanish both written and verbal communication required.

• Ability to work in person at our NYC office and excitement to work in our retail bakeries and commissary; this role is 75% in office and/or on site.

Compensation & Benefits

• $115-125k + 15% annual bonus potential

• Health, Vision, Dental Insurance

• Employer-funded Healthcare Reimbursement Account

• Additional supplemental benefits: Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Bike-Share Reimbursement

• 14 Weeks Fully Paid Parental Leave

• Four Weeks of Paid Time Off

• 401K with 3.5% Company Match

Our vision is to give rise to lifelong memories, and our mission is to bring together people who treat their work and the craft of baking and all who come to visit with great care.