Director, Human Resources Business Partner

About Us

Since 1935, we've been on a mission to bring a little extra happiness to everyday life and inspire connections over food. We select the finest ingredients the world has to offer, craft premium products made with love, and never settle for shortcuts. We believe that when we share our food, we share a part of ourselves — and that's the only way we'd put our name on it. Today, our small family company has grown into a national leader in specialty olives, peppers, and sauces under the leadership of CEO Jeff Mezzetta, and our commitment to quality has never wavered. With an 80-year legacy behind us and a bright future ahead, we're seeking passionate, driven candidates to help us bring our cherished family traditions to a new generation.

Job Overview

The ideal candidate will have an immediate connection to our Core Ingredients: Crunchy Crunchy: We are hungry for excellence. Own It: We think and act as an owner – with appetite, initiative, and responsibility. Connection: We build authentic relationships that foster trust and open communications. Vibrance: We come to work eager and passionate about fulfilling our vision. When we share our work, we share a part of who we are. Mezzetta is searching for a strategic Director, People Ops, who puts people first and helps our teams, and our business, thrive.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the company talent framework; drive consistent talent assessments and calibration in partnership with the VP, People Ops and leadership.
• Build and maintain the succession map for critical roles.
• Design, pilot, and scale the Career Framework, creating role clarity and credible growth paths for employees.
• Own learning and development: identify capability gaps and build practical development programs, including manager and leader capability in talent practices.
• Support leadership development initiatives, including the Leadership Operating System and Predictive Index assessments.
• Partner with the Director, People Operations and leadership on organizational and operational effectiveness initiatives.
• Own the employee engagement strategy from end to end: surveys, insights, action planning, and visible follow through.
• Design and launch the company Recognition & Reward Program, built on direct employee input, and champion adoption.
• Translate Mezzetta's core ingredients of Crunchy Crunchy, Own It, Connection, and Vibrance into observable behaviors reinforced through hiring, onboarding, recognition, and everyday leadership practices.
• Own talent acquisition strategy and outcomes, with limited recruiter support.
• Depending on budget and hiring needs, this leader should be prepared to flex into hands-on, full cycle recruiting at times, including sourcing and screening.
• Translate Mezzetta's core ingredients of Crunchy Crunchy, Own It, Connection, and Vibrance into observable behaviors reinforced through hiring, onboarding, recognition, and everyday leadership practices.
• Lead select or critical searches when needed.
• Strengthen hiring manager interviewing and selection capability, and ensure the candidate experience reflects the Mezzetta employer brand.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MSHR) or HR certification (SPHR or SHRM) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including experience owning talent management, engagement, or culture programs at a director or senior manager level.
• Proven ability to design and execute talent, engagement, and culture programs from concept through adoption, not just recommend them.
• Strong strategic thinking paired with an operator mindset; comfortable moving between the whiteboard and the work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience crafting communications for employees and presenting to senior leaders.
• Strong data fluency and the ability to analyze engagement, retention, and talent data and translate insights into action.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and coach leaders and managers without formal authority.
• Experience managing or directing team members, contractors, or agency partners and holding them accountable for outcomes.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to handle sensitive talent and organizational information with confidentiality.
• Full cycle recruiting experience, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and closing, plus experience directing recruiters or agencies; able to run searches directly when resourcing requires.
• Strong project and change management skills; highly organized with a track record of delivering quality work on time.
• Experience with talent assessment and development tools (e.g., Predictive Index or similar) preferred.
• Experience building employer brand and internal communications programs preferred.
• AI proficiency (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.).

Pay

$180,000—$190,000 USD

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace

All of us share in the responsibility of fulfilling this commitment and creating a culture where our team can thrive. We embrace diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where you know you belong. Part of that commitment includes a zero-tolerance policy and being an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All of us share in the responsibility of fulfilling this commitment and creating a culture where our team can thrive.