Senior Director of Human Resources at Polsinelli

At Polsinelli, What a Law Firm Should Be is not just our tagline, it is what we live every day. We strive to create an environment where our team members are encouraged to bring their creativity and professional passions into the workplace so that they can thrive. Are you a strategic leader with a passion for people, organizational culture, and talent development? We have the perfect role for an innovative professional like you!

Polsinelli PC is seeking a Senior Director of Human Resources (HR) in our Kansas City office. The Senior Director of Human Resources provides strategic leadership and hands-on execution across all HR functions. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), this role ensures HR strategies, policies, and programs align with the firm’s strategic objectives, growth plans, and culture. Key areas of responsibility include balancing day-to-day HR operations with long-term strategy to help create and maintain a high-performing workforce; overseeing all aspects of HR including staff recruiting, employee onboarding and offboarding, benefits administration, employee relations and performance management, HR systems, and data and regulatory compliance.

Core Responsibilities

HR Leadership

• Partner with firm leadership to design and implement HR strategies that support the firm’s strategic plan, culture, and long-term goals. Position HR as a proactive partner by advising the firm’s leadership, including the C-Team and lawyer leaders on HR strategies specific to law firms.
• Provide leadership for the HR organization, managing and developing the HR team to deliver excellent client service and support across the firm. Clarify and streamline the HR organization and operations by defining roles within the team, setting clear performance expectations and building HR’s capacity to anticipate and proactively address attorney and professional staff growth.
• Develop and manage the annual departmental budget to include forecasting operational needs, using data to support decision making and investing in strategic priorities as identify by the firm’s leadership.
  
  

Core HR Operations

• Manage HR operations, including staff recruiting, employee onboarding and offboarding, benefits administration, employee relations and performance management, HR systems, and data and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee the implementation, communication, and ongoing maintenance of firmwide and HR policies, ensuring they are firmly understood, consistently applied, and regularly updated to support compliance and operational efficiency.
• Lead and manage team members tasked with ensuring compliance with employment laws (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEOC, OSHA, etc.) and maintain up-to-date HR policies, handbooks, and procedures.
• Oversee and guide the recruiting team in driving professional staff recruitment and onboarding for all employees. Develop and manage third-party search firm partnerships.
• Develop and oversee professional staff development and career growth programs that strengthen the firm’s overall professional staff.
• Oversee the firm’s employee offboarding process, coordinating across HR, IT, Finance, and legal practice groups to ensure a timely transition out of the firm. Knowledge transfer and completion of all administrative requirements.
• Oversee the Human Resources Information System (HRIS), ensuring data accuracy, security, and effective use of technology to support HR operations. Use HR analytics and benchmarking to identify workforce trends, drive retention, and maintain competitive practices.
• Develop and strengthen outside vendor relationships as it relates to HR technology, benefits, and other relationships as necessary.
  
  

Employee Relations and Performance Management

• Oversee investigations, conflict resolution, disciplinary processes, and employee relations to ensure fairness and consistency.
• Provide leadership to the team on employee relations, serving as a trusted resource to address workplace concerns, guide managers through sensitive situations, and ensure issues are resolved consistently, professionally, and in alignment with firm policies.
• Oversee performance management including identifying and addressing performance issues, coaching managers on corrective action, developing performance improvement plans, and ensuring fair, timely, and well-documented processes that support accountability and development.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Professional HR certification (SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Experience in a professional services or law firm environment strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior management role.
• Demonstrated expertise in employment law, employee relations, and overall best practices in those disciplines.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms (experience with UKG is a plus), data analytics, and Microsoft Office suite, including internal document management systems and the ability to use data to drive decisions.
• Demonstrated integrity, discretion, and ability to build trust at all levels of an organization.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, collaborate, and build relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a commitment to accuracy, precision, and confidentiality.
  
  

Polsinelli PC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender identity and expression, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, ancestry, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.