Reporting to the Executive Director, the Senior Human Resources Manager, will serve as a supportive business partner, working with the functional leaders of the Aquarium to help drive and support business strategies. This role will also collaborate closely with the Corporate Property Support Center (PSC) HR team to implement company-wide initiatives and directives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and compliance with policies and best practices
About Us:
As a Herschend property, Adventure Aquarium is in the business of creating memories worth repeating by greatly exceeding guest expectations, serving others, creating emotional connections, and seeking constant improvement. Stewardship, guest satisfaction, and team member satisfaction are our core areas of focus. We aim to be a great place to work for great people!
What You’ll Do:
· Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders on employee relations matters, performance management, conflict resolution, and workforce planning.
· Lead and support employee engagement initiatives, including post-survey action planning, recognition programs, and culture-building efforts.
· Analyze workforce metrics, including turnover, retention, recruiting effectiveness, and engagement, and provide recommendations to senior leadership.
· Facilitate performance review processes and support leaders in setting goals, providing feedback, and developing team members.
· Coach and develop managers in leadership best practices, employee development, and effective people management.
· Develop and implement strategies to improve employee retention, team member satisfaction, and organizational effectiveness.
· Champion team member recognition programs that reinforce organizational values and desired behaviors.
· Manage leave of absence and accommodation processes in partnership with corporate HR and legal resources.
· Monitor industry trends and HR best practices and recommend innovative approaches to talent attraction, retention, and development.
· Participate as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
· Develop and implement recruitment strategies for a diverse workforce (full-time and part-time, frontline, animal care, and administrative).
· Manage the onboarding and offboarding process in partnership with the Operations team.
· Collaborate with the PSC on projects related to compensation, benefits, talent management, employee relations, compliance, and talent development to ensure consistency and effectiveness across the organization.
· Serve as EEO and Unemployment liaison.
· Partner with the Property Safety team to facilitate injury-related and random drug screening tests.
· Work with the PSC HRIS team to ensure effective management of employee records.
· Model and reflect the Aquarium culture to guests, partners, direct reports, peers, and PSC.
· Provide leadership for one exempt HR team member.
· Develop and manage the HR budget.
· Other duties as assigned.
What You’ll Bring:
· Bachelor's degree in human resources or another business-related field is preferred.
· 7+ years of relevant work experience; experience in for-profit attractions, theme parks, museums, hospitality, retail, or sports franchises is strongly preferred.
· A minimum of 4 years’ leadership experience is required.
· Experience leading multiple HR subject areas, including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, succession planning, and training and development.
· HRIS, ATS, and LMS experience, UKG PRO or Workday a plus
· Expertise and passion for cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders
· Detail-oriented with strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to responsibly handle sensitive, confidential material.
· Ability to travel locally to attend networking events both during and outside of scheduled hours
· Fully in-office schedule to include two weekend days each month
Who You Are:
You strive for excellence in all you do. You are friendly and communicate well with employees at all levels. You are excited about joining a company that operates as a team, working together to achieve the same goals.
What You Get:
· Base salary ranging from $85,000 - $100,000 with 10% annual bonus potential
· Comprehensive benefits plan through Cigna
· 2 weeks’ vacation, 1-week personal time, 1-week sick time, 8 paid holidays; all based on a full calendar year
· 401(k) with company match and Profit-Sharing Plan after 3 months of service
· Day one access to fully & partially funded tuition assistance programs through our GROW U education program.
· Free admission and General Admission tickets annually, to be given to family and friends.
· Complimentary tickets to local attractions when available.
· 30% Discount in our Retail and Photo areas and in-house food vendors.
About Herschend
Herschend is the world’s largest family-owned themed attractions company, with 12,000+ passionate hosts collectively entertaining 15 million families each year.
The heart of Herschend’s success has long been the world-renowned hospitality that’s rooted in our DNA. We call it Heartspitality®. It’s a unique culture that blends our ethos of Leading with Love and our purpose of Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating® to create real impact and joy that spreads through our hosts to our guests and out into our communities.
Herschend’s portfolio of more than two dozen beloved family entertainment brands across North America includes iconic award-winning destinations such as Dollywood® Parks & Resorts, Silver Dollar City® Company, Adventure Aquarium®, Callaway Resort & Gardens®, Kentucky Kingdom Theme & Water Park®, Newport Aquarium®, The Vancouver Aquarium® and Wild Adventures®. In addition to its premier themed attractions, Herschend is proud to steward the World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters® legacy and provide immersive content and experiences through our Herschend Entertainment Studios® and Pink Adventure Tours® brands.
As an equal-opportunity employer, we strive to provide environments where every host, guest, and partner feel welcome, valued, and loved. We firmly believe that words and actions matter, which is why all individuals are to be treated equally and with respect.
