Head of Human Resources

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, CA seeks a hands-on HR leader to build and scale our people practices across multiple Bay Area locations. You will lead the HR function, shape policies, and partner with leadership to drive engagement, performance, and culture.

As a hands-on HR professional, you will own recruitment, employee relations, compliance with California laws, and compensation processes on-site. This is a full-time, on-site role with room to grow as the company expands.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands‑on human resources 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.

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

Hands-on HR experience

Employee relations

HR operations

California labor laws

Policy development

Frontline employee support

On-site work readiness

Spanish language ability

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

HR certifications (plus)

Job description

Pay: $85,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year

Why This Is a Great Opportunity

• Build Something From the Ground Up: Take ownership of our HR department and shape the people practices that support our growing business.
• Make a Real Impact: Work directly with leadership to create meaningful improvements for employees across multiple locations.
• Lead With Purpose: Help build a positive, supportive workplace where frontline teams feel valued and empowered.
• Enjoy True Ownership: Bring your ideas to life by improving HR systems, policies, employee relations, and talent development.
• Grow With Us: Join a dynamic, expanding company where your leadership will directly influence our future.

Location

Berkeley, CA — Full-Time, On-Site

Join our team in Berkeley and enjoy a hands-on leadership role with opportunities to connect with employees across our Bay Area locations.

Compensation: $85,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience.

Note

We are looking for a hands-on HR professional with strong frontline employee relations experience who is excited to build and lead an HR department. Conversational Spanish is required, fluency is preferred, and candidates must be comfortable working on-site and visiting nearby company locations.

About Us

Confidential Employer.

We are a growing food production and retail company passionate about quality, teamwork, and creating an exceptional experience for our customers. As we expand, we're looking for a people-focused HR leader who can build the foundation for a thriving workplace and help our employees succeed.

Job Description

• 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.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of hands‑on human resources 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 preferred; HR certifications are a plus.

Why You Will Love Working Here

This is more than an HR management position. It's an opportunity to build something meaningful, shape how our team grows, and become a trusted partner to leadership. You'll have the freedom to contribute ideas, solve real challenges, and make a lasting difference in a growing company that values its people.

JPC - 2876

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance