HR Manager

About the role

We are currently seeking an experienced HR Manager for our Fairfax, VA headquarters office, with a strong focus on employee relations, talent and performance management, and compliance to support Operational Leadership. The ideal candidate will ensure that HR policies and practices meet legal and regulatory requirements, foster a positive workplace culture through effective employee relations strategies, and work closely with leaders to develop plans for high‑potential employees to ensure readiness for strategic promotions. This position serves as a support member of the operational management team for a defined internal client base, actively supporting discussions and helping drive best practices across functions while ensuring focus on people management. Dewberry prides itself on a culture of collaboration where in‑person interaction with clients and colleagues is essential for exchanging ideas, successful project delivery, developing meaningful professional relationships, gaining mentorship, and developing the workforce. Although flexible schedules are offered, in‑person presence is prioritized. Dewberry is a leading market‑facing professional services firm with more than 60 locations and 2,500 professionals nationwide; our people set us apart, and we seek exceptional talent to deliver the highest quality services on innovative, complex projects. Our commitment to excellence stems from personal integrity and the “Dewberry at Work” attributes that have inspired employee success for over half a century.

Responsibilities

• Partners with HR and Business Unit leadership to implement and deliver HR programs, including talent management, succession planning, workforce planning, and skills assessment and development.
• Guides managers through progressively complex HR issues by providing sound personnel advice to managers in their assigned region.
• Manages employee relations cases and takes the lead on employee investigations and compliance cases.
• Drives the HR and company strategy in close coordination with managers.
• Assists in the development of management by providing appropriate tools, insight and feedback, working closely with the training and development team in identifying appropriate resources.
• Acts as a primary point of contact for HR related issues, counseling, development, and general information from the employees and managers in the region to which they are assigned.
• Proactively drives HR processes, company policies and corporate culture with the business units.
• Manages complex HR projects cross‑functionally.
• Builds a strong business relationship with designated internal client base, including both managers and employees, with a primary focus on employee engagement and retention.
• Actively identifies gaps in processes, development, retention strategies and other HR related areas and actively proposes and assists in the implementation of changes that facilitate the goals and objectives of the employee population to which they are assigned.
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of policies, procedures, local legislation, and labor laws to reduce legal risks and ensure compliance; collaborates with the legal department as needed.
• Acts as the performance improvement driver and assists in driving positive changes working closely with the management team to effect those changes.
• Responsible for facilitating conversations relative to succession planning with a focus on key talent and roles, supporting Operational Leadership.
• Partners with Compensation and Benefits team to handle complex compensation, benefits