Director of Human Resources
Job Description
About Takanock
Founded in 2023, Takanock, LLC tackles the data center industry's core challenge of developing shovel-ready data center sites by leveraging decades of experience in site selection, power generation, energy markets and infrastructure. Takanock focuses on Tier I and Tier II markets where demand for data centers is greatest and power constraints are most acute. By bringing our own on-site generation and unlocking grid capacity where others struggle, we accelerate deployment timelines and ensure Continuity of Power℠. Takanock is dedicated to solving the most complex challenges at the intersection of the digital and energy industries.
Takanock is headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, and through our additional offices in Fulton, Maryland and Austin, Texas, we focus on developing data center and power projects across the United States. Our expanding team brings a unique combination of technical expertise, market foresight, and regulatory knowledge. With the backing of a $500 million equity commitment, we are well positioned to support rapid growth through modern, secure, and scalable technology solutions.
Location
This role is based in Traverse City, MI.
About the Director of Human Resources Role
Takanock is seeking a Director of Human Resources to lead the technical side of our HR function. Reporting to the VP of Treasury & Operations, this role will oversee payroll, payroll tax, benefits administration, employment compliance, and our core HR system in Workday. Advanced, hands-on Workday HCM experience is required. We are looking for deep expertise in at least one of payroll, benefits, or HRIS operations, with working knowledge of the others.
This person will help lead Takanock's move from a PEO to an in-house payroll, benefits, and compliance model, working alongside our implementation partner, and will then run those functions day to day. This is an opportunity to build a technical HR and payroll foundation from the ground up at a fast-growing company.
Essential Functions & Key Responsibilities
Payroll & Payroll Tax
- Run multi-state payroll end to end, ensuring accurate and timely pay, deductions, and reporting.
- Own payroll tax filings, reconciliations, audits, and year-end reporting.
- Partner with Finance and Accounting on payroll accounting, controls, and reconciliations.
Benefits Administration
- Administer employee benefits and insurance programs, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, and leave of absence coordination.
- Run open enrollment and manage new hire and life-event enrollments, eligibility, and employee benefits questions.
- Manage relationships with benefits brokers, carriers, and vendors, including renewals and billing reconciliation.
- Support benefit plan compliance and reporting.
Employment Compliance
- Own compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment, wage and hour, and payroll tax requirements across Takanock's locations.
- Maintain required postings, I-9/employment eligibility verification, and compliance documentation.
- Develop and maintain HR policies and procedures, and monitor regulatory changes.
HR Systems & Data (Workday)
- Serve as the owner and day-to-day power user of Workday HCM, including employee data, job changes, business processes, and workflows.
- Maintain data integrity and audit readiness, and build HR, payroll, and benefits reporting for leadership.
- Manage integrations and drive system improvements as the company scales.
In-House Transition
- Help lead Takanock's move from a PEO to an in-house payroll, benefits, and compliance model, partnering with our implementation team on the Workday Payroll rollout.
- Support state tax and employment registrations and the selection of standalone payroll tax, benefits, and insurance vendors.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 8+ years of HR operations experience, with deep expertise in at least one of the following: multi-state payroll and payroll tax, benefits administration, or HRIS operations.
- Workday HCM experience is required: hands-on, advanced, day-to-day use as a power user.
- Working knowledge of multi-state payroll tax, wage and hour, leave laws, and employment compliance requirements.
- High degree of discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential employee, payroll, and financial data.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent follow-through and attention to detail.
- Proactive, self-directed approach, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving processes and priorities.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer visa sponsorship, now or in the future.
Experience & Qualifications
Strong candidates will bring one or more of the following:
- Experience owning end-to-end payroll processing across multiple states, including payroll tax filings, reconciliations, audits, and year-end reporting.
- Experience managing benefits and insurance administration, including open enrollment, eligibility, leave coordination, renewals, and plan compliance reporting.
- Experience managing multi-state employment compliance, including state registrations, required postings, I-9/employment eligibility verification, and policy development.
- Experience owning HRIS data integrity, workflows, integrations, and reporting, with the ability to partner closely with Finance and Accounting.
- Experience selecting, implementing, and managing payroll, benefits, and HR technology vendors.
- Ability to build processes, controls, and documentation from scratch and operate effectively without fully mature infrastructure.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience implementing Workday Payroll.
- Experience leading a transition from a PEO to an in-house payroll, benefits, and compliance model.
- Experience administering employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, and managing carriers and brokers.
- Professional certification such as CPP, SHRM-CP/SCP, or PHR/SPHR.
- Experience in energy, infrastructure, construction, or a related industry.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation for this position will be commensurate with experience and includes an annual bonus and additional incentives.
Takanock provides competitive compensation and benefits, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, a 401(k) plan with company contributions, unlimited PTO, a monthly mobile phone stipend, and company-paid parking.
Next Steps
If you are interested and qualified, please apply here. Qualified applicants will receive a response.