HR Director

HR Director

Company: Arete Health PT Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Industry: Healthcare Work Model: Onsite Contract: Permanent Salary: $100,000 - $130,000 per year

About the Role

Arete Health PT is seeking a hands-on, strategic Director of Human Resources to lead and scale HR operations for a growing outpatient orthopedic physical therapy organization. This senior-level role supports clinic teams, including Physical Therapists (PTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), front office staff, and clinic directors. You will own the full employee lifecycle and are expected to blend HR leadership, expertise in Rippling HRIS, benefits administration, and operational execution within a multi-site healthcare environment.

Key Responsibilities

HR Leadership & Clinic Partnership

• Partner with executive leadership and clinic directors on workforce planning, retention, and growth strategies.
• Support the launch of new clinics and the development of staffing models.
• Advise leaders on employee relations, performance management, and team development.
• Reinforce a patient-first, service-driven culture.

HRIS Administration (Rippling)

• Serve as the primary administrator for Rippling HRIS.
• Build and manage workflows for onboarding, job changes, and offboarding processes.
• Ensure data accuracy, reporting capabilities, and audit readiness.
• Collaborate with Finance and Payroll on system integrations and data integrity.

Benefits Administration

• Oversee health, dental, vision, retirement, and ancillary benefits programs.
• Manage the open enrollment process and vendor relationships.
• Support employees with benefits education and inquiries.

Employee Lifecycle Management

• Own the onboarding experience for both new graduate and experienced clinicians.
• Manage offboarding processes and gather exit insights.
• Administer Leave of Absence (LOA) programs.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Maintain HR policies and the employee handbook.
• Support performance management processes.

Projects & Growth Initiatives

• Lead HR projects that support clinic expansion and organizational scalability.
• Improve HR processes to enhance employee experience and retention.
• Support mentorship programs and clinician development pathways.

Requirements

Qualifications

• 5-8+ years of HR experience with demonstrated leadership responsibilities.
• Experience in the healthcare industry or multi-site environments.
• Strong HRIS experience (Rippling experience is preferred).
• Solid knowledge of benefits administration and employment law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in outpatient physical therapy or rehabilitation settings.
• Experience in high-growth or multi-location organizations.
• Relevant HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR).

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strategic and hands-on leadership capabilities.
• Strong systems and analytical mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Adaptability in fast-paced environments.

Why Join Us?

Arete Health is a growing, patient-centric outpatient physical therapy provider focused on excellence in clinical outcomes, team culture, and operational performance. We empower our therapists and support teams to thrive in an environment that values care, integrity, and innovation. At Arete Health, we believe that leadership is about people first. You’ll play a key role in scaling a mission-driven organization that puts patients and providers at the center of everything we do.

Arete Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.