Founding Senior HR Generalist / People Operations Lead

What You Will Do

HR Ownership and Execution

• Own the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding end to end (equipment, accounts, orientation, first-week experience), role changes, offboarding, and terminations
• Maintain employment documentation and records, such as offer letters, employment agreements, and separation materials
• Ensure Rippling is clean and up-to-date
• Serve as the primary internal owner for HR processes, including when working with external vendors or outside counsel

Employee Relations and Compliance

• Apply strong working knowledge of California employment law and in-person workplace requirements to guide HR decisions
• Handle employee transitions, including terminations and severance, with consistency, care, and good judgment
• Partner with employment counsel as needed, translating guidance into practical, repeatable processes

Benefits, Payroll, and Programs

• Serve as go-to person benefits administration, including health plans and retirement programs, and manage relationships with brokers and providers
• Partner closely with Finance, and sometimes take the lead, on payroll accuracy and compliance
• Monitor and implement evolving compliance requirements across states as the company grows

Process and Systems

• Build and document clear HR workflows that scale with the business
• Introduce structure where processes are currently informal or evolving

What We’re Looking For

Experience

• 4-7 years of experience in HR
• Experience as an early or first HR hire of an early stage, venture backed startup
• Deep familiarity with HRIS systems (Rippling experience is a plus)
• Experience supporting teams in California, including familiarity with employment law and in-person workplace considerations
• Comfortable being the primary HR owner in a fast-moving environment
• Demonstrated experience handling employee transitions and terminations in a thoughtful, compliant way
• Strong understanding of payroll fundamentals and experience partnering with payroll providers

Working Style

• Practical, steady, and solutions-oriented
• Comfortable operating autonomously while knowing when to bring in partners
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and adjusting priorities as business needs evolve
• Enjoys building structure and clarity as a company grows

Bonus Points

• Experience building or supporting performance management processes
• Exposure to broader People Ops initiatives such as manager enablement, engagement, or culture programs
• Multi-state or scaling company experience

Perks & Benefits

• Catered lunch daily
• Dinner stipend
• $150/month wellness benefit (gym, fitness classes, mental health)
• 401(k) plan
• Commuter benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage