Director of Talent, Studs
$175-200k
+ Equity Incentive Plan
3+ days a week in office
Piercing studio
Be an early applicant
Piercing studio
201-500 employees
Be an early applicant
$175-200k
+ Equity Incentive Plan
3+ days a week in office
201-500 employees
Company mission
To become the most trusted national authority in Earscaping®.
Role
Who you are
- 10+ years of progressive HR/People experience in multi-state, exempt/non-exempt environments
- Strong ER track record, including investigations, accommodations, and performance management
- Demonstrated success as a trusted advisor to managers across both field and HQ teams
- Proven ability to design and deliver People programs (reviews, comp cycles, workforce planning)
- Experience scaling People processes in high-growth companies
- Strong project management skills; able to manage competing priorities with discipline
- Experience managing diverse People functions and coaching both specialists and generalists
- Skilled in preparing concise, executive-ready materials
- High judgment, discretion, and ability to influence senior leaders
What the job involves
- The Director of Talent is a senior leader on the People Team responsible for Studs’ employee relations, manager advisory, talent programs, and integration of core people operations
- This role leads three key functions and ensures “hire to retire” processes are effective, compliant, and scalable
- The Director owns employee relations across both Retail and HQ populations, serves as the primary advisor to managers, and drives company-wide People programs such as reviews, calibrations, compensation cycles, and workforce planning
- They manage the HR Operations & Compliance Manager, Retail Training & Talent Manager, and Office Manager/HR Admin, ensuring outputs are coordinated and aligned to company priorities
- This role balances hands-on casework and program execution with leadership of a small, multi-function team
- It requires disciplined delivery, strong judgment, and the ability to integrate across Retail, Finance, Legal, and People Operations to support Studs’ growth
- Lead employee relations cases, investigations, accommodations, and leaves of absence across Retail and HQ populations
- Serve as the primary advisor to managers (Regional, Studio, HQ) on performance management, corrective actions, and coaching
- Ensure consistent, compliant application of policies and maintain audit-ready documentation
- Escalate complex or high-risk cases to the VP of People while managing the full process directly
- Design and run People programs (e.g., reviews, calibrations, promotions, compensation cycles)
- Partner with Finance on workforce planning (headcount forecasts, labor cost models, org chart updates)
- Conduct compensation and pay equity studies (e.g., market benchmarking, band refreshes)
- Prepare executive-ready materials for leadership and Board discussions
- Act as a force multiplier for the VP of People by sequencing and executing programs that maximize impact and reduce executive load
- Manage and develop a cross-functional team spanning HR operations, retail training, and office administration to deliver compliant systems, effective onboarding, and coordinated people support
- Provide clear scopes, review outputs, and ensure accountability for deliverables. Support the VP of People in establishing team priorities and co-authoring and managing People Team roadmap to deliver on them
- Coach managers of managers (e.g., Regional Managers, HQ leads) to strengthen leadership capability
- Ensure operational processes (HRIS updates, compliance audits, documentation) are executed smoothly by the HRG in partnership with the Director of People Operations
- Partner with Retail leadership to ensure People programs and ER practices support daily studio operations
- Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, headcount, and compensation decisions
- Work with the Director of People Operations on HRIS accuracy, compliance tracking, payroll, and benefits
- Engage Legal/Compliance on ER escalations, policy updates, and audits
- Sequence People initiatives to avoid overloading the field or HQ
Our take
Conscious consumption and the influence of social media advertising have ushered in a new era of Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands targeting mindful millennials and Gen-Z customers. Among these brands, Studs has seized the opportunity, focusing on the ear-piercing market.
Studs does not merely provide ear-piercing services; it is crafting an entire experience for its customers. The company's leadership firmly believes that customers are increasingly using earrings to celebrate self-expression and mark significant milestones in their lives. Studs aims to build a brand that resonates with these precious moments, offering a unique approach to jewelry.
To achieve its vision, the company has embarked on a national expansion of its physical retail locations, now sporting 23 locations across the US with plans for more to open very soon. And with famous customers like Emma Chamberlain, Dixie D'Amelio and Rosalía, the company is truly on its way to cementing its place as a leader in the world of piercing.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
96% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Oct 2021
$20m
SERIES B
Nov 2019
$3m
SEED
Total funding: $23m
Company benefits
- Health & Wellness: A comprehensive benefits package that includes premium medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401k; life insurance; and lifestyle reimbursement.
- Paid Family Leave: Three months of paid family leave for all full-time corporate and retail employees (biological, adoptive, and foster parents are all eligible)
- Flexible Schedule: Ample paid time off plus a paid sabbatical after your first four years
- Transparency: Employees are given the information and context they need to succeed via feedback forums like Town Halls, AMAs, and weekly one-on-one’s
- Growth & Development: Trainings, performance reviews, and ongoing coaching to help you continuously grow professionally
- Studs Discounts: Discounts on piercings and products (we’ve got your friends and family covered too!)
Company HQ
Bowery, New York, NY
Leadership
Anna Harman
(Co-Founder & CEO)Prior to Studs, they were acting Chief Customer Officer at Jetblack. Also worked as Head of Operations at Fitz, a wardrobe tech company, and was COO of Research Analytics at Bridgewater Associates.
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