Director of Human Resources & Administrative Operations

Location: Midtown Manhattan – New York, NY (In-Office 5 Days/Week)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $120,000 – $150,000 base salary (commensurate with experience)
Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, and additional company perks

Build a Strong People & Operations Foundation at One of New York’s Most Established Engineering Firms

Robert Derector Associates (RDA) is seeking a high-impact Director of Human Resources & Administrative Operations to lead HR strategy and execution while overseeing the daily operational excellence of our administrative support team.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced HR leader who thrives in a professional services environment (engineering, architecture, construction, real estate, or design), and who can operate as both a people-first culture leader and a structured, process-driven operations manager.

With approximately 200 employees, RDA is an established and growing engineering firm known for excellence, technical sophistication, and high-profile project work.

About Robert Derector Associates (RDA)

Founded in 1980, Robert Derector Associates is a full-service engineering design firm headquartered in New York City. RDA specializes in the design and commissioning of complex building systems, including MEP engineering, commissioning, and advanced building infrastructure modernization. (U.S. Green Building Council)

RDA’s expertise spans:

• MEP Engineering (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire/life safety systems) (Robert Derector Associates)
• Corporate workplace & tenant interior engineering (RDA delivers engineering solutions across millions of square feet annually) (Robert Derector Associates)
• Mission critical / data center consulting & systems uptime focus (RDMC division) (RDMC)
• Telecommunications, IT systems, audiovisual, and electronic security consulting (RDT division) (Robert Derector Associates)
• Energy & Sustainability consulting to improve building performance and reduce carbon impact (Robert Derector Associates)

RDA is recognized for engineering excellence, a client-first mindset, and a strong internal commitment to staff development and quality. (Robert Derector Associates)

The Opportunity

This role blends two critical functions:

1. Human Resources leadership (primary focus) – driving talent strategy, HR systems, employee relations, compliance, and culture
2. Administrative operations leadership – directly overseeing a team of approximately 10 administrative professionals, ensuring high service levels, consistency, accountability, and process excellence across office operations

You will serve as a trusted partner to leadership while operating hands-on within day-to-day workflows.

This position is in-office 5 days/week in Midtown Manhattan, with flexibility when needed to support work-life responsibilities and operational realities.

Key Responsibilities

Human Resources Leadership (Core Function)

• Lead the full lifecycle HR function across the organization (approximately 200 employees)
• Own HR policies, procedures, documentation, and compliance framework (NYC/NY labor best practices)
• Provide strategic leadership in:
• Talent acquisition and onboarding
• Performance management programs
• Compensation benchmarking and internal pay structure support
• Employee engagement initiatives and retention strategies
• Learning & development coordination
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for employee relations matters, workplace issues, coaching, and investigations as needed
• Ensure compliance with all applicable labor laws and HR administrative requirements
• Collaborate with executive leadership to evolve the company culture, values, and leadership expectations

Administrative Operations Leadership (Oversight Function)

• Manage and lead a team of ~10 administrative professionals supporting the business
• Set clear standards for service, responsiveness, workflow ownership, and professional communication
• Build scalable systems for:
• Office procedures and administrative workflows
• Document management practices
• Training/coverage plans and administrative continuity
• Partner with leadership and department heads to optimize internal support functions

Systems, Process, and Leadership

• Improve HR infrastructure through better tools, documentation, reporting, and operational metrics
• Create repeatable, disciplined workflows that support growth and reduce friction
• Drive accountability while maintaining a supportive, people-centered approach

Qualifications & Experience

Required Background

• 10–20 years of progressive experience in HR leadership, HR operations, or people operations
• Experience within engineering services, architecture, construction, real estate, or professional services
• Proven ability to operate in both strategic and hands-on HR environments
• Prior experience managing teams (ideally administrative or operational support functions)
• Strong knowledge of HR compliance fundamentals and best practices
• High emotional intelligence, professionalism, maturity, and discretion
• Strong process management and operations mindset (you enjoy building structure)

Preferred

• HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP)
• Experience scaling HR systems and introducing formal HR processes in a growing company
• Experience supporting leadership teams in high-performance environments

What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)

• HR function is running with clear structure, policies, and consistent execution
• Admin team has strong workflow clarity, cross-training, and accountability
• Onboarding and performance management become consistent and measurable
• Leadership has a trusted HR/ops partner to help elevate execution across teams
• Employee issues are handled proactively and professionally, with reduced operational risk

Compensation & Benefits

• $120,000 – $150,000 base salary (DOE)
• Full benefits package including health insurance options
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Additional company perks and support resources
• A stable, reputable firm with long-term opportunity and strong project pipeline

Why Join RDA?

This isn’t a “back-office HR role.” This is a leadership position where your work will directly impact:

• Company culture
• Employee retention
• Process excellence
• Operational consistency
• Professional growth systems

RDA is a firm with deep NYC roots and a modern, evolving platform—delivering high-level engineering design services across corporate workplace, infrastructure modernization, and mission critical environments. (LinkedIn)