Vice President Operations Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

ExplorUS is a family-owned company with nearly 30 years of experience operating National, State, and local park concessions. We specialize in elevating and transforming underperforming park operations - enhancing financial performance while improving the visitor experience and strengthening partnerships with park agencies.

We're seeking a Vice President, Human Resources to provide strategic leadership and oversight of enterprise-wide HR operations supporting a workforce that is approximately 75% seasonal and hourly. This leader will bring deep expertise in high-volume, front-line workforce management and the unique demands of a cyclical labor environment.  This role is based in the corporate office in Overland Park, Kansas and is an 'in office' position.

Leading a team of 3 HR Directors, 18 HR Specialists and Managers, and 3 professionals focused on benefits, compliance, and employee relations, the VP HR will ensure the organization attracts, develops, and retains a high-performing workforce. As a key member of the leadership team, this individual will drive a compliant, equitable, and scalable people strategy while fostering engagement, accountability, and operational excellence across all locations.

At ExplorUS, we believe park concessions are more than a business - they are a responsibility. We are stewards of the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the parks entrusted to us and are committed to providing a level of hospitality that honors and enhances those places for generations to come.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year HR strategy aligned with organizational goals and workforce needs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team on all people matters.
• Drive organizational effectiveness through workforce planning, succession planning, and change management.
• Champion a culture of inclusion, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and performance oversight across HR leadership and specialist teams.
• Establish clear goals, KPIs, and service standards to drive accountability and operational excellence.
• Promote collaboration and alignment across HR functions to ensure integrated, high-impact service delivery.

Talent Acquisition - Front-Line & Seasonal Hiring

• Oversee HR Specialists executing front-line and seasonal hiring to meet workforce demands across locations and peak seasons.
• Partner with the Director of Talent Acquisition to align field execution with broader strategy.
• Ensure hiring processes are compliant, consistent, efficient, and candidate-friendly at scale.
• Collaborate with Field HR and Operations on seasonal workforce planning and hiring timelines.
• Maintain knowledge of high-volume sourcing, ATS platforms, and onboarding practices.
• Identify and escalate process gaps, capacity constraints, and compliance risks.

Employee Relations

• Oversee employee relations programs, ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant issue resolution.
• Guide HR teams in handling complex investigations, grievances, and disciplinary matters.
• Monitor trends to proactively mitigate organizational risk.
• Manage relationships with outside counsel on employment and legal matters.

Benefits Administration

• Oversee design, implementation, and administration of competitive benefits programs.
• Lead annual renewals, vendor management, and cost analysis.
• Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, FMLA, and other regulations.

Housing

• Oversee company-provided housing programs, including policies, occupancy, and compliance.
• Partner with operations and facilities to meet employee and organizational standards.
• Maintain housing policies aligned with regulations and company values.

Field HR Support

• Ensure consistent, high-quality HR support for field and remote locations.
• Establish scalable HR service delivery models.
• Partner with Operations to address workforce challenges and ensure consistent practices.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Oversee HR policy development, maintenance, and communication.
• Partner with legal counsel on employment, risk, and regulatory matters.

Data & Analytics

• Leverage HR systems to deliver metrics, dashboards, and insights for decision-making.
• Report on workforce trends, turnover, engagement, and program effectiveness.

• 8+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role managing HR teams. SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise across multiple HR disciplines, including employee relations, benefits, compliance, and multi-site or field HR operations.
• Experience in hospitality or other industries with large seasonal or hourly workforces (e.g., retail, logistics, or similar) strongly preferred.
• Significant experience supporting predominantly hourly, seasonal, or front-line workforces, with a proven ability to execute high-volume hiring at scale.
• Demonstrated success navigating organizational change, including implementing HR systems (e.g., payroll, ATS, LMS), building new functions, or realigning responsibilities across teams.
• Deep knowledge of federal and state employment laws, with a strong track record of ensuring organizational compliance and mitigating risk.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and hold accountable large, geographically distributed teams while fostering a culture of engagement and performance.
• Experience operating effectively in matrixed or evolving organizational structures, with the ability to collaborate across functions and influence at all levels.
• Strong executive presence with exceptional communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field required.

OMNI is honored to be retained in this search. We appreciate your referrals to professionals who may have an interest in this outstanding opportunity. Formal interest accepted through the OMNI Executive Career Portal. Please direct all inquiries to:

OMNI Human Resource Solutions

Michelle Anderson, Vice President, Executive Search - manderson@omnihrm.com

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers.