People Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Reporting to  : Head of People

Location :

NYC, DC, PA, JFK Airport locations & growing footprint (field-based role)

Travel Requirement : 75-80% travel throughout assigned territory

About Pret a Manger

Pret a Manger is a beloved international food retailer known for freshly made sandwiches, salads, and organic coffee. Our commitment to quality ingredients, exceptional customer service, and putting our team members first has established us as a leader in the quick-service restaurant industry.

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic People Manager to serve as a key partner to Area Operations Leadership and the primary HR business partner for our Shop teams across NYC, DC, PA, JFK locations & growing footprint. This field-based role requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced retail environment and can provide hands-on HR support.

Essential Requirements

The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field with a minimum of 3-5 years of People Manager experience, preferably in Quick Service Restaurant, retail, or multi-location hospitality environments. This position requires extensive travel (75-80% of the time). Ideally, the candidate is a self-starter who is comfortable making independent decisions in the field.

Core Competencies

Employee Relations & Compliance : The successful candidate will have proven experience managing employee relations cases in high-turnover, fast-paced environments, including conducting workplace investigations involving harassment, discrimination, and policy violations. General knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws is required, along with a comprehensive understanding of wage and hour compliance, including break and meal period requirements. Experience with union-related matters is preferred.

Manager Development & Talent Pipeline Management : The ideal candidate brings experience in workforce planning to identify and develop both internal talent pipelines through succession planning and external recruitment channels that align with business growth objectives. This role involves coaching of shop managers to enhance their people management skills, including effective recruitment strategies, interviewing techniques, candidate selection, and building strong retention programs. The People Manager will train managers on progressive discipline procedures, legal compliance requirements, and proper documentation skills for performance issues, incidents, and corrective actions, ultimately developing their capabilities to lead high-performing teams. Experience with union environments is preferred.

Communication & Relationship Building : Exceptional interpersonal skills are essential for connecting with diverse team members across multiple locations. Bilingual capabilities (English / Spanish) are strongly preferred. The role requires someone comfortable working independently while maintaining strong partnership with area leadership and demonstrating the ability to build trust quickly with shop teams and managers through regular site visits and hands-on support.

Additionally, this role involves serving as the primary liaison between Shops and Benefits / Payroll to ensure seamless execution of general HR processes. You will facilitate communication and problem-solving between these departments and other administrative matters that impact Shops. This includes coordinating with payroll and time-keeping discrepancies and ensuring that shop teams receive timely support for routine HR administrative needs. Additionally, you will be collaborating with HR colleagues to identify process improvements, implement standardized practices across locations, and develop efficient systems that enable Pret to scale operations seamlessly while maintaining our high standards of people management.

HRIS & Data Management : Proficiency with Human Resource Information Systems is essential such as ADP Workforce Now and Harri, with primary responsibility for training and coaching Shop Managers on proper data entry procedures during onboarding, promotions, shop transfers, and other employee lifecycle events. This role involves ensuring managers understand system requirements, providing ongoing support for HRIS processes, and generating reports that support decision-making for both HR and area leadership. While managers maintain day-to-day data entry responsibilities, the People Manager serves as the system expert and trainer to ensure accurate and consistent information across all locations.

Pret a Manger is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.

• Pret Behaviors

Passion

Clear Communication

Team Working

Great Execution

Business Sense

Realizing Potential

Open to Change

One Pret

Thoughtful Leadership

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