Director of People Full Time

Role is 3 day hybrid in San Francisco OR Long Beach, CA

About the Company

We are a high-growth, venture-backed technology company rethinking how a traditionally offline, operationally complex industry works. Our platform brings modern software, data, and automation to an environment that has historically relied on manual processes and outdated systems.

We are building a lean, ambitious team focused on solving real-world problems at scale — and doing so with high standards, strong ownership, and a culture that values speed, accountability, and trust.

The Role

We’re looking for a Senior Manager or Director, of People to help scale the organization from ~40 employees to 100+ and beyond, while preserving a high-performance, people-first culture.

While we partner with a PEO, this person will be the sole internal owner of HR and recruiting, acting as the architect of our people systems, policies, and culture. You’ll work closely with leadership to design the structure and processes that support growth without sacrificing what makes a startup environment special.

This role requires a rare blend of big-company rigor and startup pragmatism — someone who knows how to bring structure, compliance, and best practices into a fast-moving organization without slowing it down.

Key Responsibilities

Policy & People Infrastructure

• Design, refine, and communicate HR policies aligned with compliance requirements, labor laws, and industry best practices
• Develop and implement a clear compensation philosophy balancing market competitiveness and internal equity
• Strengthen performance management frameworks to drive accountability while fitting the company’s stage and culture
• Advocate for and implement competitive benefits programs appropriate for a growing team

Performance & Change Management

• Establish clear performance standards and a culture of regular, direct feedback
• Build and deliver manager training focused on leadership, accountability, and effective feedback
• Coach leaders through difficult conversations and performance improvement plans
• Navigate the tension between startup autonomy and necessary operational structure
• Proactively address cultural friction as the organization matures
• Serve as a trusted, visible partner across the company for people, talent, and culture

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Handle employee relations matters with discretion, fairness, and sound judgment
• Ensure compliance with employment law, workforce classifications, and ethical standards
• Manage accommodations, leaves, investigations, and disciplinary processes

Talent & Recruiting

• Partner with leadership on workforce planning, org design, and succession planning
• Review and continuously improve onboarding experiences
• Own and administer the ATS (e.g., Lever, Ashby), including interview plans, permissions, and workflows

HR Operations

• Own HRIS administration, payroll coordination, and benefits enrollment
• Generate workforce analytics and insights to support leadership decision-making
• Manage the full employee lifecycle from offer to off boarding

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3–4+ years in a generalist or people-manager role
• Experience working with a PEO (e.g., Justworks or similar)
• Background supporting both hourly and salaried employees
• Proven ability to operate effectively in high-growth startups while applying structured HR best practices
• Hands-on experience developing HR policies across compensation, compliance, and performance management
• Demonstrated success improving accountability, feedback, and performance culture
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Psychology, or a related field