Sr. HR Manager

Summary

Reporting to the SVP, Human Resources

Key Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruiting efforts for Football and Academy operations, including workforce planning, sourcing strategy, candidate experience, and hiring manager partnership.
• Partner with leadership to identify staffing needs and develop clear, compelling, and inclusive job descriptions.
• Collaborate with Legal and League partners to ensure compliant recruitment, immigration, relocation, and work authorization processes.
• Oversee and continuously improve onboarding programs to ensure a seamless and engaging new hire experience.
• Champion a culture of continuous learning and professional development across the Sharp HealthCare Performance Center.
• Facilitate annual compliance, safeguarding, and professional development training programs.
• Evaluate training effectiveness and recommend data-informed improvements to enhance employee growth and organizational impact.
• Support leadership development and performance-focused people practices across Football and Academy teams.
• Serve as a trusted HR advisor to employees and leaders on employee relations, performance, workplace concerns, and organizational effectiveness.
• Partner with leadership to cultivate a high-performance, inclusive, and values-driven culture.
• Lead employee engagement, recognition, and team-building initiatives that strengthen connection, development, and retention.
• Reinforce a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous feedback, and professional growth.
• Support and help execute internal events and culture-building initiatives at the Performance Center.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including California labor regulations.
• Maintain oversight of onboarding compliance requirements, including I-9 administration, background checks, work authorization, and required trainings.
• Support the administration and enforcement of HR and safeguarding policies and procedures in alignment with League and governing body standards.
• Monitor regulatory updates and HR best practices and proactively recommend policy or process improvements.
• Manage sensitive and complex employment matters with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Partner with employees to support benefits education and resolution of benefit-related inquiries.
• Collaborate with Operations leadership to support workplace safety protocols and employee well-being initiatives at the Sharp HealthCare Performance Center.
• Promote a culture of safety, wellness, and employee care across Football and Academy operations.
• Serve as the Club’s Student-Athlete Safety Lead for the Sharp HealthCare Performance Center, and San Diego FC's Right to Dream Academy environment.
• Lead safeguarding education, training, reporting protocols, and risk mitigation efforts in alignment with MLS, U.S. Soccer, FIFA, and Club standards.
• Conduct and oversee safeguarding-related risk assessments, investigations, and policy implementation as needed.
• Partner cross-functionally to maintain a safe, supportive, and compliant environment for all student-athletes, employees, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Candidates can meet the requirements with a combination of experience in the following areas:
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably within professional sports, athletics, academy, educational, or high-performance environments.
• Experience supporting multi-cultural teams and/or global organizations strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of safeguarding practices, California employment law, and HR compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with MLS, U.S. Soccer, FIFA, and immigration/work authorization processes preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information and navigate complex employee matters with sound judgment and professionalism.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred

Work Environment

This role is based onsite in El Cajon, California, with regular partnership and collaboration with the Human Resources team and broader Club leadership based at Headquarters in Little Italy. Must be available to support occasional evenings, weekends, and Club events as needed.