The People Operations Generalist will support the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding to off-boarding, while ensuring compliance, improving HR systems, and fostering a positive workplace culture in a fast-paced stealth-mode battery startup. This role reports to the Head of People and is critical in building and scaling the People Operations function from the ground up.
What You'll Do
- Own onboarding and off-boarding processes for salaried, hourly, and contract employees.
- Serve as a first point of contact for employee questions related to policies, benefits, payroll, and systems.
- Support employee engagement initiatives and culture programs.
- Assist with performance review cycles and feedback processes.
- Maintain employee records in the HRIS and ensure data accuracy.
- Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
- Assist with I-9 verification, E-Verify, and audit readiness.
- Help manage leaves of absence, accommodations, and workplace policies.
- Partner with managers on employee relations matters, escalating when needed.
- Support benefits administration (enrollments, changes, questions).
- Partner with payroll providers to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
- Assist with open enrollment and benefits communications.
- Help implement and optimize People Operations tools and workflows.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, documentation and create and maintain SOPs, guides, and internal resources.
What We're Looking For
- 5+ years of experience in People Operations, HR Generalist, People Partner, Employee Experience, or a similar role.
- 4+ years of experience with HRIS systems, payroll processing, and benefits platforms.
- 1+ year of experience working in employee relations, performance management, or employee coaching.
- Working knowledge of U.S. employment laws and compliance, with depth of experience in California (including but not limited to: wage & hour compliance, LOA, FMLA, PDL, FEHA, and employee classifications).
- Combination of startup (less than 300 employees) and mid-size+ company experience (1k+ employees).
Nice to Have
- Experience with Rippling (or willingness to learn).
- Proven ability to build HR infrastructure from the ground up.
- Strong documentation skills and process improvement mindset.
- Experience operating in ambiguity and maintaining attention to detail.
- Background as a liaison or connector in personal or professional communities.
Technical Stack
- Rippling (HRIS, payroll, benefits)
Team & Environment
- Part of the People Operations department; collaborative with leadership and managers across the company
- Stealth-mode startup; team size not specified but implied to be small with growth trajectory
- Reports to Head of People
Benefits & Compensation
- Flexible Work Schedule: Determine your working hours based on personal and family needs.
- Health Care: Medical, vision, and dental insurance offered through Rippling’s PEO for employees and dependents.
- Hybrid Work Environment: Flexibility to work remotely with some onsite expectations.
- Flexible Vacation: Unlimited PTO policy allowing time off as needed.
- Competitive compensation, benefits, and equity.
Compensation includes a base salary range of $110,000 - $165,000, determined by market rate, candidate experience, interview performance, and geographic location. Equity is offered as part of total compensation.
Work Mode
- Hybrid role with options for remote work within the United States, requiring travel to the San Jose, CA office one week per month.
- Local candidates may work onsite 3-5 days per week.
- Flexible arrangements available for Bay Area and remote U.S. candidates.
We are an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.