Regional Human Resources Director

At Gensler, we design for people. We leverage our global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. We’re not just designers. We are story tellers, collaborators, innovators, and thought leaders. Fueled by passion and entrepreneurial spirit, our people generate new ideas to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems. Simply put, we come to work every day to design a more resilient, inclusive, and equitable future for communities and cities around the world.

Our team member focused, “people first” culture and “one firm-firm” philosophy allows us to work seamlessly across geographies and align individual interests with career opportunities wherever they exist. Gensler’s mission is to “Create a Better World Through the Power of Design,” and we do that with a deep commitment to our clients and by fostering a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive work environment that enables our people to do their best work, pursue their personal passions and realize their full professional potential.

The Hub

The Hub is a diverse team of experts, creatives, and technicians focused on delivering business operations excellence for the firm across the globe. We do this by partnering with our design practice, as a resource for information and a destination for problem solving and thought leadership. As caretakers of the firm’s culture, we are passionate advocates for our people, ensuring that our actions and investments bring value to team members and clients everywhere, every day.

Our strength lies in our ability to seamlessly integrate work across Hub studios and with the other communities in the firm. We are fiscal stewards, idea generators and people connectors working with colleagues inside the firm and clients outside the firm to drive impact and outcomes that bring measurable and lasting results. Agile, approachable, and decidedly un-corporate, we are the go-to transformational business operations leaders in the firm.

Your Role

As the Hub’s Regional Human Resources Director, you will provide overall strategy, design, delivery, and management of the Hub’s HR programs and services (total rewards & operations, talent development, talent acquisition) supporting more than 300 members of the Hub community. You will be involved with and accountable for the employee experience for members working in thirty offices across ten countries. You will be a key leader in the Hub, reporting directly to the Hub’s Co-Leaders and the firm’s Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs).

This is an opportunity for an experienced HR Leader to understand the business of design and work with creative leaders to develop strategies that align with our culture and values and foster exceptional work experiences for our team members. Over the past six decades, our success stemmed from our ability to recruit, keep, and reward the best professionals in the design industry.  

We are seeking an individual with a strategic mindset and clear growth orientation. You should have a proven record of bringing innovative talent strategies to life. You will leverage AI‑enabled insights and technologies to enhance talent strategies and lead innovative people‑centered outcomes. You will leverage your professional and peer network to bring industry best practices, trends and other external benchmarks to the firm to help inform strategy and decision-making. Comfortable speaking and presenting in front of peers and Hub leaders, you should be a thought leader and, over time, become a trusted advisor, with strength in building relationships across our networked organization. You should have experience successfully managing cross-functional projects and working across geographies, time zones, cultures, and all levels of leadership and staff. Success in the Hub comes from leveraging expertise in relationship building to create outcomes through influence rather than relying on a resume, work history, or job title.

The Hub community is geographically dispersed, with high concentrations in major cities around the world. This opportunity is for someone who wants to work alongside a dynamic group of Hub leaders in our Los Angeles office. We believe we are better when we are together, so the position is for someone who will have an in-office presence with us, 5 days a week.

What You Will Do

People Strategy

• Play a key role in leading the Hub’s people strategies, acting as a strategic business partner, thought leader, and change agent

• Provide strategic guidance on people related initiatives and organizational opportunities

• Continuously work to advance the people strategy and growth of a global firm

• Pro-actively translate business needs of the Hub into people-oriented solutions

• Work to attract and retain top talent through employee engagement strategies

• Oversee leadership pipeline and succession planning activity for the Hub

• Manage, develop, and mentor the Hub HR team, which includes team members in other locations

HR Design & Delivery

• With Hub HR Centers of Excellence teams, develop effective recruiting, learning and talent development programs and initiatives for the Hub

• Lead and support the execution of HR and Talent programs, initiatives, tools, and technologies in the Hub

• Revamp the Hub’s onboarding strategy and execution, with a focus on introducing new hires to the business of design (as most Hub team members do not come from architecture or design backgrounds)

• Innovate existing processes and procedures and share successes and best practices with other regions, while recognizing and adapting to the key differences between the Hub and other regions

• Resolve Employee Relations (ER) issues promptly and discreetly; recommend appropriate options to leaders when dealing with ER

• Counsel leaders through Professional Development Plans (PDPs), Appointments/Promotions and Developmental Reviews

Hub Recruiting, Compensation, & HR Operations

• Partner with HR Business Partners in geographic regions to address the needs of Hub leaders and team members in those regions and offices

• Manage recruiting for the Hub across the globe

• Lead on compensation setting (bonuses and base salaries) for the 300+ members of the Hub, acting as a strategic partner with the firmwide compensation team and collaborating with Hub Leaders

• Work with the HR Operations Director on the Hub’s HR related budget and expenses

• Working with the Hub’s Regional Operating Officer (ROO), understand the firm’s business from an operations and financial perspective and take actions that will innovate HR processes and/or improve the Hub’s cost structure

• Become a valued partner during strategic planning alongside Hub Studio leaders  

• Develop a deep understanding of Hub studios strategies and team members, as needed, for involvement in resource deployment decisions across the Hub

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Human Resources, or related field required

• We believe the training behind a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) credential, or the equivalent, is essential to bring strategic thinking and vision to this role

• 15+ years’ experience in Human Resources with demonstrated strategic and operational knowledge of core HR fundamentals, including strategy, and delivery of services and programs

• Preference for HR experience within a global organizational context

• AI curiosity, literacy and experience with AI‑powered HR technologies

• Proven success in employee lifecycle (recruiting, onboarding, performance management, talent development, talent management)

• Experience building HR programs from the ground up and/or transforming an HR organization to best-in-class status

• Experience as part of a team that scaled or grew a business

• Strong business acumen and a proven record of partnering with and influencing all levels of leadership to design and implement effective HR programs and services

• Ability to measure and track HR effectiveness through use of key metrics and performance indicators

• Excellent communication, organizational, and Emotional Intelligence capabilities

• Agile and comfortable in a dynamic and fast-paced environment

***The base salary is estimated to be between $200k-$220k plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience***

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Awareness Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.