(Part-Time) People Operations Lead

What We're About

At BrewBird, we believe in building a sustainable future in coffee. We’re developing a technology platform to scale the $100 billion specialty coffee market, while working with top local and national roasters to bring the highest quality cup of coffee to every home and office. BrewBird is backed by some of the world’s best venture funds.

We’re a passionate team of builders who use technology to craft elegant and delightful solutions to challenging real world problems.

Role Overview

We’re looking for a Fractional People Operations Lead to own the day-to-day People operations at BrewBird as a part-time employee (~10–15 hours/week, including one day per week on-site at our SF Bay Area office). You’ll be the sole HR practitioner, responsible for keeping the full employee lifecycle running smoothly — from benefits and payroll to employee relations and compliance.

This is an operational role where you will report to the CEO and execute independently. The right person is comfortable operating autonomously in a startup environment, is familiar working with a PEO and EOR, and can handle sensitive situations with good judgment.

Responsibilities

Benefits, Payroll & Compensation Administration

• Administer benefits programs (medical, dental, vision, 401k, FSA, commuter) through the company’s PEO platform
• Manage annual open enrollment, communicate plan changes, and handle employee benefits questions
• Coordinate payroll operations including commission runs, expense reimbursements, and final paychecks
• Maintain compensation records and support the CEO on comp decisions with market data as needed

Onboarding & Offboarding

• Own the full onboarding process: offer letter generation, background checks, IT and equipment provisioning, system access setup, and first-day logistics
• Manage international employee administration through the company’s Employer of Record provider
• Execute offboarding procedures: system access revocation, equipment recovery, COBRA notifications, final paycheck coordination, and exit logistics

Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain the employee handbook and company policies; draft updates as employment law or company practices evolve
• Ensure compliance with California employment regulations, including leave administration, wage and hour requirements, and posting obligations
• Manage contractor and consultant compliance: NDA facilitation, consulting agreement administration, and contractor classification review
• Maintain personnel files, I-9 documentation, and required state/federal filings

Employee Relations

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee HR questions and concerns
• Support managers on performance issues: PIP documentation, coaching guidance, and escalation to outside counsel when needed
• Manage terminations and separations end-to-end, including separation agreement coordination and exit conversations
• Handle accommodation requests, leave of absence administration, and workplace investigation support

HR Operations & Systems

• Own the HRIS/PEO platform: employee records, workflow configuration, reporting, and troubleshooting
• Administer the performance review cycle: configure reviews, track completion, and distribute review packets
• Manage HR vendor relationships (IT provider, device procurement, e-signature platform, outside counsel)
• Support recruiting operations as needed: job postings, candidate coordination, and offer process administration

What We're Looking For

• 6–10 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years as a generalist or HR manager operating independently
• Startup or high-growth company experience, ideally in the 20–100 employee range where you were the primary or sole HR person
• Strong California employment law knowledge — you’ve handled terminations, accommodation requests, and leave administration without needing to be told what to do
• Experience with a PEO platform (Rippling, Justworks, TriNet, or similar) and comfort administering benefits, payroll, and compliance through it
• Comfort with ambiguity and independent judgment — this role has no HR manager above it; you need to know when to act and when to escalate
• Strong written communication for policy drafting, employee communications, and separation documentation
• Based in or near the San Francisco Bay Area, with the ability to be on-site one day per week
• Experience coordinating with outside employment counsel is a strong plus
• International HR exposure (EOR administration) is a plus but not required

Compensation & Benefits

This is a part-time, non-exempt W2 position. Pay is hourly, ranging from $55–$90/hour depending on experience, for actual hours worked. We expect approximately 10–15 hours per week, including one day per week on-site at our San Francisco Bay Area office, with flexibility around the remaining hours and scheduling. BrewBird will provide a company laptop and any other equipment needed to perform the role.

At BrewBird, we put our people first. In addition to a competitive compensation package with meaningful early stage equity, we provide our employees with flexible paid time off to relax and recharge. We also offer a generous employer paid healthcare coverage, 401k plan, flexible work environment, and a commuter stipend for mass transit or parking.

BrewBird is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, and encourage all qualified applicants to apply.