Director of Human Resources Operations

Our people-centered, “People First” culture and “One Firm-Firm” motto promotes integrated teams that unite to shape the future of cities. Gensler’s vision is to “Create a Better World through the Power of Design,” and we do that by our deep commitment to our clients and by fostering a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive environment that enables our people to create impactful solutions together.

Your Role 

This is a unique opportunity for an exceptional operations leader with a passion to understand the business of design and a desire to work with creative leaders globally to join Gensler. The Firm is not only looking for a talented operations professional, but someone who is enthusiastic, curious and driven to build relationships across the Firm’s practice and join in its effort to realize on its commitment to enhance the human experience though the power of design.  

Reporting to the Co-Chief Human Resource Officers, the Director of Human Resources Operations will serve as a strategic human resources leader and will be a part of the design and execution of the strategic plan of the HR team, improving processes, prioritizing activities, constructively challenging assumptions, bringing innovation, and ensuring a strong and stable infrastructure to align our HR strategies with our Firm’s business objectives.  The Director of HR Operations will be instrumental in helping grow and build the strategy and execution of our HR programs including but not limited to compensation, benefits, retirement, engagement, talent acquisition, employment compliance and talent development.

What You Will Do

• Be an influential leader to the HR group and a highly collaborative business partner across all areas of the business. Demonstrate the ability to go deep within specific areas, as well as to develop strategies in alignment with the Firm’s vision and consistent with the Firm’s culture.  

• Demonstrate thought leadership on the development of strategies and approaches, advising and leading the implementation of new projects and initiatives; be familiar with the strategic plans of the Firm and translate that into HR Operations program and goals. 

• Serve as an action-oriented advisor and partner in the development, execution, and ongoing evaluation of strategic plans and growth.  

• Evaluate the current state of HR operations; ensure operational support on all people related initiatives and find opportunities to implement both tactical and innovative solutions to increase efficiency and enhance the team member experience.  

• Establish credibility and strong working relationships with stakeholders across the Firm, including Global and Regional HR teams, Finance, Legal and other Firm communities.  

• Identify and drive strategic initiatives in a collaborative manner by establishing strong credibility, relationships and influence across the Firm.  

• Coordinate the development and analytical review of the administrative expense budget, monthly expense analysis and expense forecasting, personnel and other operating performance data to track performance against plan. Includes working with Senior Leadership, cost center managers, Finance management, as well as various other areas and levels of the Firm.  

Your Qualifications

• Experience: 15+ years of experience in HR and leadership roles in a global professional services, business services, or other creative, customer-centric global organization. The candidate we seek must be highly agile, have exceptional leadership skills, and possess a strong professional background, bachelor's degree in human resources or related field. 

• Relationship Building and Collaboration: Ability to build strong relationships characterized by mutual respect, loyalty, co-operation and trust at all levels within an organization and demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively. Sensitive to the unique culture and characteristics of a partnership-run business. Ability to effectively manage multiple stakeholders to advance large-scale initiatives and projects.  

• Judgement and Problem Solving: Ability to identify and clearly define organization problems. Proactive resolution of problems by taking ownership of them, gathering relevant information (including expertise from others), systemically analyzing them and identifying a range of strategies for dealing with them and engaging in active follow-up to ensure resolution.  

• Persuasiveness and Communications: Well-developed consensus-building skills, including considerable diplomacy and the ability to build effective coalitions. Highly articulate, listen actively and can convey complex ideas tactfully, persuasively and effectively.  

• Building and Motivating Teams: Successfully build, develop and lead teams committed to organizational goals by fostering collaboration and continual learning among team members. Ability to translate business goals into specific objectives for each team member and hold people accountable for results. Identify and keep others focused on the important metrics for the business.  

• Endurance and Adaptability: High capacity for work and show passion, energy and a “roll-up-your- sleeves” attitude. Professional flexibility and sensitivity to balance and deal with the priorities and interests of multiple stakeholders in different environments. Maintain a positive, professional image in all interactions.  

• Business Acumen: Financially literate and can quickly grasp the key performance drivers for an industry or organization. Broad understanding of general economic and business trends which may affect the Firm and its clients.  

Life at Gensler

Collaborative Leadership Model Collaborative and influential leadership sets Gensler apart. Gensler has organically grown to be the largest design firm in the world by maintaining a clear focus on its culture and deep investment in its talent. Gensler’s total worldwide revenue for fiscal year 2021 was $1.235 billion (USD).  

Employee Owned, Debt-Free    Gensler is 100% employee owned by its Principals and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The firm carries no debt. Every year throughout its history, in periods of growth and through every recession, the Firm has been profitable and has shared those profits with its employees through bonuses, profit sharing plans and through its ESOP. Over the past quarter century, Gensler’s Principal and ESOP stock have both outperformed the S&P 500.  

One-Firm Firm, People First  Gensler is One Firm globally. Entrepreneurial in spirit, the Firm is aligned around its Guiding Principles and People First culture.  

Climate Action Through Design  Gensler’s portfolio is already designed to save over 17 million metric tons of CO2 from being emitted on a yearly basis. Gensler is highly focused on doing more and has set a goal of having every building they design net carbon zero by 2030.  

Equal Opportunity & Inclusion  Gensler is committed to driving change across the design industry, its client relationships, and its communities. Dedicated to leading this change by starting from within, the Firm’s efforts to promote equal opportunity include strategic initiatives at multiple scales across the Firm and in multiple regions/offices. Gensler is also taking action to deepen its understanding of equal opportunities in partnership with its clients and the communities in which it operates in order to create purposeful, inclusive, and resilient spaces for everyone.  

Recent Accolades 

• Fast Company 2021 Best Workplaces for Innovators  

• Fast Company 2021 World’s Most Innovative Companies  

• Fast Company 2021 World Changing Ideas Award  

• Glassdoor “Best Places to Work 2020”  

• Forbes “America’s Best Employers for Diversity” in 2020  

• Architectural Record 2020 Top 300, #1 Architecture Firm  

• Interior Design 2021 Top 100 Giants, #1 Overall Firm  

• Building Design + Construction 2020 World Architecture 100, #1 Overall Firm  

• ENR 2020 Top 500 Design Firms, #1 Architecture Firm  

**The compensation range for this location is between $165k-$180k base plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience**