Director of Human Resources

Barbaricum is seeking a highly experienced Director of Human Resources to lead and scale our HR function in support of a growing government contracting organization of approximately 200 employees. This leader will be responsible for HR strategy and execution across talent acquisition support, employee relations, compliance, performance management, benefits, and HR operations. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in government contracting environments, with experience supporting cleared personnel, managing HR compliance requirements, and serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership. Responsibilities: HR Leadership & Strategy Serve as the senior HR leader for Barbaricum, providing strategic guidance to executive leadership. Build and execute HR policies, procedures, and programs that support growth, retention, and performance. Develop HR metrics and reporting to support decision-making (turnover, hiring velocity, performance trends, etc.). Compliance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state employment laws and regulations. Support government contracting compliance requirements (FAR/DFARS awareness preferred). Maintain HR documentation practices aligned with audit-readiness and best practices. Oversee employee investigations, corrective actions, and terminations in a legally compliant manner. Employee Relations & Culture Serve as a primary point of contact for employee relations matters and conflict resolution. Lead employee engagement initiatives and drive a culture of accountability, professionalism, and mission focus. Partner with leadership to strengthen performance management and professional development programs. Talent Acquisition Support Partner with recruiting teams and hiring managers to improve hiring processes and candidate experience. Support hiring strategies for cleared and specialized technical personnel. Assist in workforce planning, retention strategies, and organizational design. Compensation, Benefits & HR Operations Manage job classifications, and salary benchmarking. Oversee benefits programs and vendor relationships for benefits. Own HRIS systems, onboarding/offboarding processes, and employee records management. Lead annual performance review cycles. Team Development & HR Infrastructure Lead and develop scalable HR support. Create and refine SOPs, handbooks, and internal HR training for managers. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field. 10+ years of progressive HR experience 3+ years in HR leadership (Director). Demonstrated experience leading HR programs across compliance, employee relations, and HR operations. Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices. Proven ability to advise senior leaders and influence decision-making. Preferred Qualifications Experience in a government contracting (GovCon) environment strongly preferred. Familiarity with cleared workforces and supporting contracts with federal agencies. Experience supporting rapid growth organizations (100–500 employees). SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar certification preferred. Experience with HRIS platforms Key Competencies Executive presence and strong business judgment Strong communication and conflict resolution skills High attention to compliance and documentation Ability to build scalable HR systems and processes Data-driven and process-oriented Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment