Berkeley HR Lead — Build & Own People Ops Across Locations

Orion Placement; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Vision insurance

Job summary

Confidential Employer. in Berkeley seeks an hands-on HR leader to build and lead our HR department, shaping policies, employee relations, and talent development across multiple Bay Area locations.

You will partner with leadership to strengthen culture, oversee recruitment, onboarding, and compliance with California labor laws. This is an on-site, full-time role requiring Spanish proficiency and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands-on HR experience, ideally supporting frontline employees.
• Strong employee relations, HR operations, and performance management experience.
• Conversational Spanish required; fluency preferred.
• Practical knowledge of California labor and employment laws.
• Experience developing or improving HR policies, processes, or systems.
• Ability to independently manage HR responsibilities in a growing, multi-location business.
• Comfortable working on-site in Berkeley and traveling to nearby locations.
• Experience in food production, retail, hospitality, or manufacturing is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; HR certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and continuously improve our HR department, systems, policies, and procedures.
• Manage employee relations, conflict resolution, performance management, and workplace concerns.
• Partner with leadership and frontline managers to strengthen workplace culture and employee engagement.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, workforce planning, and employee development across multiple locations.
• Ensure compliance with California labor and employment laws, including hiring, discipline, and terminations.
• Manage HR records, employee benefits administration, and compensation processes.
• Support managers with coaching, training, and practical HR guidance.
• Visit our Bay Area locations regularly to develop strong relationships with employees and leadership.

Skills

HR operations

Employee relations

Performance management

On-site work

Education

Bachelor's degree

HR certifications

Job description

Confidential Employer. in Berkeley seeks an hands-on HR leader to build and lead our HR department, shaping policies, employee relations, and talent development across multiple Bay Area locations.

You will partner with leadership to strengthen culture, oversee recruitment, onboarding, and compliance with California labor laws. This is an on-site, full-time role requiring Spanish proficiency and travel as needed.