Senior HR & Recruitment Lead

HR & Recruitment Lead

Location: Houston, TX (On-site / Hybrid)

Position Type: Full-Time

Department: Human Resources

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic HR & Recruitment Lead to drive our talent strategy and oversee day-to-day HR operations in Houston, TX. In this dual-impact role, you will lead end-to-end talent acquisition while serving as our subject matter expert in workforce compliance, immigration, employee benefits, and policy administration.

The ideal candidate blends hands-on recruiting skill with deep expertise in Texas and federal employment law, visa sponsorship management, and complex health benefit administration.

Key Responsibilities

1. Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

• Lead full-lifecycle recruitment for technical, corporate, and operational positions across the organization.
• Partner with hiring managers to define job requirements, build tailored sourcing pipelines, and deliver an exceptional candidate experience.
• Leverage modern ATS platforms and AI-driven sourcing techniques while maintaining human-in-the-loop compliance standards.
• Manage headhunters, external recruitment vendors, and local university network partnerships in the Greater Houston region.

2. Immigration & Visa Management

• Serve as the internal point of contact for corporate immigration matters, including non-immigrant and immigrant visa processes (H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, Green Cards, PERM).
• Partner directly with immigration legal counsel to track application statuses, manage RFEs, and handle visa renewals or transfers.
• Oversee Form I-9 verification, E-Verify compliance, and re-verification audits for international employees.

3. HR Compliance & Policy Administration

• Ensure strict adherence to federal, state (Texas), and local employment regulations (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEO, OSHA).
• Maintain and update the Employee Handbook, safety standards, and operational HR policies.
• Oversee AI compliance protocols in hiring tools in accordance with Texas regulatory updates.
• Conduct periodic internal compliance audits covering pay equity, job classifications, and personnel files.

4. Benefits & Health Insurance Administration

• Manage annual open enrollment, benefits vendor relationships, and plan renewals (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k).
• Serve as the primary contact for employee inquiries regarding health benefits, claims escalation, and leave management (FMLA, short/long-term disability).
• Ensure ERISA, COBRA, and ACA compliance across all employee benefit schemes.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3+ years specifically in a Lead/Senior HR role.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Certifications: SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP or PHR/SPHR strongly preferred.
• Immigration Knowledge: Demonstrated experience handling U.S. work authorizations, visa processing, and working with external immigration counsel.
• Compliance Expertise: Deep understanding of Texas Labor Code and federal labor laws.
• HR Systems: Hands-on experience with modern HRIS
• Soft Skills: Outstanding communication skills, high emotional intelligence, and strong problem-solving capabilities in complex situations.