Interim Head of Human Resources

This is a remote position.

Our client, a highgrowth quickservice restaurant brand based in the U.S., is seeking an experienced Interim Head of HR to provide strategic and operational leadership during a pivotal expansion phase. The company has a strong culinary focus and a proven business model, supported by leading investors, and is now scaling through franchising.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and analyze the current organizational structure across corporate, restaurant, and franchise support roles, proposing adjustments to better align with growth objectives.
  

• Define and document clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for leadership and missioncritical positions.
  

• Develop succession plans to address highrisk roles, assessing internal talent readiness and creating interim coverage strategies.
  

• Launch leadership development initiatives, including coaching for GMs, multiunit managers, and HQ leaders to ensure consistent performance in existing and new locations.
  

• Lead interim recruitment efforts for priority corporate, restaurant, and management positions during the transition period.
  

• Design or optimize recruiting infrastructure, including ATS implementation, hiring workflows, and structured interview frameworks.
  

• Refresh employer branding to reflect growth goals, ensuring consistency across LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and industryspecific platforms.
  

• Review and update employee handbooks to maintain compliance with state and local regulations (e.g., California) and franchise labor standards.
  

• Conduct compliance audits to ensure adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws, including franchisespecific requirements.
  

• Provide HR business partner support for employee relations, investigations, corrective actions, and terminations.
  

• Develop or revise Affirmative Action Plans (AAP) to meet regulatory and organizational needs.
  

• Assess compensation structures, bonus programs, and incentives for market competitiveness and scalability.
  

• Evaluate benefits packages for cost efficiency and impact on employee retention.
  

• Propose shortterm retention incentives or bonuses to stabilize key operational roles during leadership transitions.
  

• Audit existing HR technology (HRISATS) and recommend upgrades to support multilocation HR management.
  

• Deliver regular dashboards and analytics on headcount, turnover, recruitment metrics, and other KPIs.
  

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and leadership team on organizational challenges, people strategy, and change management.
  

• Prepare human capital updates for Board and investor presentations.
  

• Document all initiatives and ensure seamless knowledge transfer to the permanent HR leader upon hire.
  

• 
  

  
  

  Requirements

  • 10+ years of HR leadership experience, including interim or fractional CPOVP roles.
    

  • Background in multiunit restaurant, hospitality, or retail industries.
    

  • Experience supporting franchise systems is highly preferred.
    

  • Proven ability to scale HR operations efficiently and compliantly.
    

  • Strong operational agility—able to execute handson work while advising on strategy.
    

  • Qualifications
    

    • Expertise in organizational design, talent acquisition, and compliance.
      

    • Strong analytical skills with experience in HR reporting and dashboards.
      

    • Exceptional communication and leadership coaching abilities.
      

    • Ability to travel occasionally.
      

    • 
      

      
      

      Benefits

      • Fulltime, temporary (3–6 months) with a mix of onsite (San Francisco) and remote work.
        

      • Opportunity to shape HR strategy for a fastgrowing brand.
        

      • Competitive compensation and potential for performancebased incentives.
        

      •