Director of Human Resources

Who is Cover Whale?

Cover Whale improves road safety by combining the insurance products we sell with our data-driven driver coaching and safety program. Our safety program is proven to save lives while delivering better insurance for our drivers. Recently acknowledged in Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers 2023 (forbes.com). 

We provide easy insurance options for our drivers at industry-leading insurance loss ratios for the insurance companies that support Cover Whale. The Commercial Auto and Trucking segment of the insurance industry badly needs our help and so do the hard-working drivers who have been struggling with ever-increasing insurance costs year after year. Join us in the mission!

The Role

The Director of HR at Cover Whale will play a critical role in aligning the HR/People strategy with the company's overarching mission and strategic objectives. This position is pivotal in fostering a culture of growth, inclusivity, and high performance during a period of hypergrowth. The Director will partner with executive leadership to shape the organizational culture, structure, and resources while streamlining communications on behalf of leadership. Key responsibilities include talent management, performance management, compensation and benefits design, employee relations, compliance and risk management, diversity and inclusion initiatives, HR operations, and learning and development. This role requires extensive HR/People leadership experience, strong knowledge of employment law, and excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.

The position offers a competitive salary range of $170K - $200K for candidates located in the NYC area.

Please note: This is an on-site/hybrid role with a requirement to be in the NYC office at least 2-3 times per week.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic People Leadership & Communications
• Develop and execute HR/People strategies that align with the organization's hypergrowth mission/strategic objectives.
• Partner with executive leadership to shape organizational culture, structure, and resourcing. 
• Streamlined communications on behalf of leadership on organizational changes, significant world events, etc.
• Talent Management
• Oversee recruitment, selection, and onboarding processes.
• Implement talent development and programs for career progression, employee retention, training, and leadership development.
• Conduct workforce, talent assessments (9Box) and succession planning.
• Performance Management
• Lead and manage the performance management system.
• Partner with executive leadership in implementing performance metrics/KPIs (scorecards) to elevate organizational efficiency, accountability, and performance.
• Compensation and Benefits
• Design competitive compensation and benefits packages.
• Benchmark and ensure benefits are competitive/compliant with laws/regulations.
• Employee Relations
• Serve as a link between senior leadership/management and employees.
• Manage progressive discipline, investigations, and grievance processes.
• Compliance and Risk Management
• Ensure HR policies and practices comply with current laws/regulations.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement necessary changes in partnership with our internal GC/employment legal team.
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace and track metrics/people analytics to report out to the Board on a quarterly basis.
• Monitor and adjust diversity/culture team initiatives/ERGs as needed.
• People/HR Operations
• Oversee daily workflow, including payroll, HRIS/Insperity administration, and records management.
• Implement efficient HR operations processes.
• Change Management
• Lead change management initiatives.
• Facilitate training and development programs.

Requirements

• BSc/BA and MSc/MA in HR, Business Administration or relevant fields.
• Extensive HR leadership experience. 
• Strong business acumen coupled with attention to the human factor. 
• Proven track record in developing and implementing HR strategies.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, compliance, and risk management.
• Outstanding interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and keen attention to detail.
• Proficient time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to swiftly adapt to the needs of the organization and employees.
• Capability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when appropriate.
• Skilled with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Proficient with or the ability to quickly learn the organization's HRIS, ATS, and talent management systems. Experience working with PEOs is a plus.

Benefits

• Health/Dental/Vision
• Life/Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Vacation Policy
• 401k – Employer Match
• Generous Parental Leave

Cover Whale works to maintain the best possible environment for our employees, where individuals can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to their processes, decisions, planning, and culture.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.