Jennifer Seidner

About Jennifer Seidner

With over 20 years of progressive HR leadership in the fast-paced retail and restaurant industries, I bring a strategic yet people-first approach to building cultures that drive business results. I have led people initiatives for large-scale corporations and growing small businesses with a strong focus on talent, DEI, leadership development and employee engagement.I’m passionate about turning HR into a strategic force for growth. I’m a trusted advisor to CEOs and executive teams, and I bring a balanced approach—blending empathy with execution.Here are some of the areas where I bring deep experience:Building and leading HR teamsHiring and retaining top talentDeveloping leaders at all levelsCreating positive, inclusive culturesDriving employee engagement and performanceManaging change and transformationUsing data to guide HR decisionsOverseeing compensation, benefits, and rewardsPartnering with the C-suite on people strategy

Experience

1. Chief People Officer

   Torchy's Tacos

   Sep 2025 — Present · Austin, TX, US

   As Chief People Officer, I serve as a strategic partner to our CEO, Board of Directors, and leadership team, driving a people-first strategy that fuels Torchy’s growth and “Damn Good” culture. I lead all facets of the People function—including HR strategy, talent acquisition, total rewards, organizational development, and HR business partnerships —while ensuring we attract, develop, and retain top talent across our rapidly expanding restaurant brand.Strategic HR Leadership: Shape long-term people strategies and governance in partnership with the Board’s Compensation Committee, aligning talent and rewards programs to the company’s mission and growth objectives. • Culture & Values Stewardship: Champion our Mission, Vision, and TORCHYS values, embedding them in recognition programs, leadership development, and team-member experiences. • Executive & Organizational Development: Recruit, onboard, and coach C-suite leaders; design leadership pipelines and multi-year development programs to strengthen our bench and build future-ready capabilities. • Total Rewards & People Operations: Oversee compensation, benefits, and recognition strategies—balancing fiscal discipline with competitive offerings that drive engagement and retention. • Change Leadership: Guide the organization through transformation—whether market expansion, organizational redesigns, or new technology implementations—ensuring transparent communication and a positive team-member experience.

Education

• Missouri State University

  Bible/Biblical Studies

  2001 — 2002

• Drury University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Philosophy and Religious Studies

  1997 — 2001

Skills

• Talent Management
• Workforce Planning
• Leadership Development
• Hiring
• Talent Acquisition
• Onboarding
• Labor Relations
• Insight Generation
• College Recruiting
• Human Resources
• Personnel Management
• Candidate Selection
• Employee Relations
• Strategy
• Succession Planning
• Time Management
• Performance Management
• Employee Training
• Recruiting
• Applicant Tracking Systems
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Sourcing
• Leadership
• Program Development
• Team Building
• Management