AKIRA DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

AKIRA is a fast-growing women's fashion brand with 40+ retail stores nationwide and a thriving eCommerce business. Our brand is bold, our pace is fast, and our people are everything. We believe in ownership, accountability, and delivering standout customer service.

The Position: Director of Human Resources

Location: Chicago, Full-time Onsite
Hybrid between Chicago, IL (Headquarters) & Bolingbrook

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Director of Human Resources to lead and elevate our Human Resources function across multiple locations. This role is responsible for aligning people's strategies with business objectives, driving operational excellence, and serving as a key advisor to leadership. The ideal candidate will bring deep HR expertise, strong business acumen, and the ability to manage both strategic initiatives and daily operations in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the sole HR Leader for the organization, responsible for building a scalable HR infrastructure.

• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on all people-related matters.

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws, as well as internal policies and procedures.

• Manage complex employee relations and advise leaders across retail, warehouse, and corporate teams, supporting 1,000+ employees.

• Oversee benefits administration, payroll, compensation planning, and compliance with all applicable employment laws.

• Partner closely with an external HCM provider to deliver best-in-class HR practices and scalable infrastructure.

• Lead full-cycle recruitment and onboarding to attract and retain diverse, high-quality talent.

• Oversee risk management efforts, including workers' compensation, safety compliance, and liability insurance programs.

• Develop and implement training and development programs to support growth, performance and succession planning.

• Maintain HR systems and ensure data integrity across employee records, HRIS, and support platforms (e.g., Zendesk).

• Champion a positive workplace culture through engagement initiatives, employee relations, and retention strategies.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading HR Functions within a retail and multi-unit environment.

• Track record of transforming HR teams and implementing modern systems.

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field (HR certification preferred).

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years in HR Ops or Payroll leadership.

• Proven experience setting up HR operations in a startup or high-growth environment and partnering with external HCM providers

• Strong knowledge of iSolved or similar HRIS and ATS platforms, with the ability to design, integrate, and optimize systems to support recruitment, onboarding, payroll, and compliance workflows.

• In-depth knowledge of employment law, HR compliance, and organizational development practices.

• Strategic mindset with strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Familiarity with compliance audits and regulatory reporting across multiple geographies.

Benefits and Perks:
AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full-time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet Insurance, Life, LTD, FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA, Flex Transit (CTA), 401(k), and a generous employee discount. We’re committed to internal growth, providing meaningful development and career advancement opportunities.

Compensation:
At AKIRA, we are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. Compensation for this position will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.

Job Type: Full-Time