Human Resources Manager

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) | New York, NY

$85,000 - $90,000 + Bonus Eligible | Full-Time | Exempt | On-Site

Lead People. Shape Culture. Drive Business Success.

At SSP America, we believe great businesses are built by great people. As a People Leader, you'll serve as a trusted advisor to operational leadership, helping shape workforce strategy, strengthen leadership capability, foster employee engagement, and create an exceptional workplace culture.

This is much more than a traditional HR role.

You'll partner directly with General Managers and operational leaders across one of our busiest airport locations, influencing critical business decisions through talent strategy, employee and labor relations, workforce planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where people strategy drives business results, we want to hear from you.

Competitive Compensation & Benefits

• $95,000 - $100,000 annual salary based on experience
• Bonus eligibility
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Benefits, including Life, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Pet Insurance
• SSP 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave

Build Your Career with SSP

At SSP America, we invest in our leaders and promote from within. This role provides a pathway to Regional People Leader, Director, and Center of Excellence opportunities.

You'll gain:

• Direct experience supporting a dynamic unionized workforce
• Exposure to high-level labor and employee relations strategy
• Leadership development programs and mentorship from senior HR leaders
• Cross-functional collaboration with Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Payroll, and Operations leadership teams

Business Partnership & Strategic Leadership

Serve as the primary HR Business Partner for airport operations leadership, helping drive business performance through strategic initiatives.

You will:

• Partner with operational leaders on business planning, workforce planning, staffing strategy, performance management, and organizational effectiveness
• Translate business objectives into talent, engagement, retention, and leadership development strategies
• Lead change management initiatives and employee communications
• Collaborate with Regional and Corporate People teams to execute enterprise-wide priorities
• Utilize workforce insights, labor trends, and productivity data to improve operational outcomes

Employee & Labor Relations

Champion a positive employee experience while ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant workplace practices.

You will:

• Coach leaders on performance management, attendance, employee relations, and corrective action
• Conduct workplace investigations and ensure timely resolution of complex employee matters
• Administer grievances and interpret collective bargaining agreements
• Build and maintain productive relationships with union representatives
• Partner with Labor Relations on escalated issues and strategic workforce matters

Talent & Leadership Development

Help build the next generation of leaders.

You will:

• Coach and develop General Managers and Assistant Managers
• Deliver leadership development programs for frontline and mid-level leaders
• Lead succession planning and talent review initiatives
• Partner with Talent Acquisition on recruiting and workforce planning strategies
• Drive onboarding, orientation, engagement, and recognition programs that strengthen culture and retention

Compliance & Risk Management

Support a culture of accountability and operational excellence.

You will:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
• Maintain airport badging, I-9, and HR records compliance
• Conduct HR audits and proactively identify compliance risks
• Support ADA, FMLA, Workers' Compensation, and leave administration processes in partnership with operations and leave management teams

People Analytics & Workforce Insights

Leverage data to influence business decisions.

You will:

• Monitor and report on turnover, retention, attendance, engagement, absenteeism, and overtime
• Analyze workforce trends and exit feedback to identify opportunities for improvement
• Use staffing and recruiting metrics to guide hiring strategies
• Build business cases for people initiatives using labor and turnover data
• Forecast workforce needs to support operational growth and business objectives

• Support 10 restaurant locations within JFK International Airport (JFK)
• Influence the employee experience for approximately 250 team members
• Support a unionized workforce environment
• Partners across a diverse portfolio of national, local, and proprietary restaurant brands
• Work primarily on-site at JKF

What Success Looks Like

Within your first year:

• Operations leaders view you as a trusted strategic business partner
• Managers proactively seek your expertise in people decisions
• Employee turnover and open position aging improve against baseline measures
• Employee relations matters are handled consistently, thoroughly, and on time

Union relationships remain productive and grievances are resolved effectively at the lowest appropriate level

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience supporting multi-site operations
• Experience as an HR Generalist, HR Manager, HR Business Partner, or comparable role
• Proven ability to coach and influence operational leaders
• Strong employee relations, investigations, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws
• Ability to interpret workforce data and translate insights into business action
• Demonstrated success influencing without direct authority in fast-paced operational environments
• Ability to work on-site at JKF airport

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting multi-unit environments such as hospitality, restaurants, retail, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, distribution, or other high-volume operations
• Experience supporting unionized workforces
• Experience partnering directly with operations leaders on workforce planning, engagement, retention, and succession initiatives
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification

Join SSP America

This is a unique opportunity to influence both people and business outcomes at one of the nation's busiest airports. If you're a strategic HR professional who enjoys building strong partnerships, developing leaders, and creating exceptional employee experiences, we'd love to meet you.

SSP America is an equal opportunity employer. All decisions concerning the employment relationship will be made without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. SSP America will provide reasonable accommodations during the application and interview process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws.

SSP America is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.