Director of People

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brings modern software, data, and automation to an environment that has historically relied on manual processes and outdated systems.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