Head of People Operations

Bonfirevc; California; On-site; USD 197,000 - 257,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

Unlimited paid vacation

7 weeks baby bonding time

401(k) matching

Employee stock option plan

Remote/hybrid flexibility

Wellness programs

Job summary

ChowNow is seeking a Head of People Operations to partner with the CEO and executive team, aligning talent strategy with business goals. You will lead organizational design, workforce planning, leadership development, recruiting strategy, and scalable people programs, coaching leaders to improve effectiveness.

You will oversee the People & Culture and Recruiting teams, shaping data-driven people initiatives for a remote US-based role with preference for the Los Angeles area.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience guiding People functions.
• Experience partnering with CEOs and executive teams on strategy.
• Deep expertise in organizational design, workforce planning, and performance management.
• Strong executive coaching and leader development background.
• Experience leading change and scaling organizations during growth.
• Knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Data-driven approach to improving people processes and metrics.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary strategic People partner to the CEO and executive team.
• Lead organizational design initiatives, including team structure and roles.
• Develop workforce planning strategies and drive leadership development.
• Oversee executive recruiting strategy and critical hiring decisions.
• Coach leaders through organizational change and team effectiveness.
• Design leadership programs to improve leadership capability.
• Use analytics to identify risks and measure program impact.
• Improve HR processes and systems for efficiency and scalability, with AI where appropriate.
• Provide leadership for People teams and ensure operational excellence.

Skills

Executive leadership

HR strategy

Organizational design

Workforce planning

Executive coaching

Change management

Data analytics

Stakeholder management

People programs

Communication

Education

SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification

Job description

Are you passionate about building high-performing organizations and helping leaders bring out the best in their teams? Do you thrive on partnering with executives, solving complex people challenges, and shaping talent strategies that drive business results? If you enjoy influencing organizational design, developing leaders, and creating scalable people programs, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

About Us:

ChowNow is one of the leading players in off-premise restaurant technology. As takeout becomes a vital revenue stream for independent restaurants, our platform helps owners focus on what they do best—serving great food—by offering solutions across the entire digital dining experience. From building branded websites and mobile apps, to powering online orders, managing menus, consolidating delivery, and running targeted marketing, we give restaurants the tools to grow on their own terms.

We support thousands of restaurants across North America, helping process $1B+ in gross food sales while saving our partners over $700M in third-party commission fees.

Founded in 2012, we’ve navigated rapid growth and transformation—from startup roots through the pandemic boom—and are now beginning an exciting new era under our CEO, Kanika Soni. As we evolve with new leadership and cutting-edge tools, we’re deepening our commitment to helping local restaurants thrive in the digital economy.

About the Position:

As our Head of People Operations, you will serve as the strategic people leader for the organization, partnering closely with the CEO and executive team to align talent strategy with business objectives. While the existing People team is well-positioned to continue managing day-to-day HR operations, this role will focus on organizational effectiveness, executive coaching, workforce planning, leadership development, recruiting strategy, and building scalable people programs. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable influencing executive decisions, leading organizational change, and rolling up their sleeves to drive execution across People & Culture.

Reports to the Chief Executive Officer and will oversee the People & Culture and the Recruiting team.

This is a remote role based in the United States with a preference for candidates in the Los Angeles area. Please note: ChowNow is not eligible to employ in every state and the recruiting team will confirm location and eligibility before moving past initial stages.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT YOU:

You put restaurants first. You deeply understand the importance of local restaurants and put them at the center of everything you do. You aim to help them not only survive but thrive.

You celebrate diversity. You recognize that diversity and inclusivity matter. You’re committed to progress, which means everyone gets the support and resources they need, no matter who they are. You have an ability to listen to other team members' ideas and can thrive in an environment that embraces individuality. Everyone’s voice counts.

You raise your hand. You consistently go above and beyond what is asked of you. You help your peers accomplish their tasks while also excelling at accomplishing your own. When you have a smart idea, you raise your hand and share it.

You keep reaching. You set clear ambitious goals. You don’t allow yourself to become complacent with where you’re at and what you’ve done, so you seek out new opportunities and challenges.

Specifically, you will:

• Serve as the primary strategic People partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.

• Lead organizational design initiatives, including team structure, role clarity, spans and layers, and organizational effectiveness.

• Develop and execute workforce planning strategies aligned with business priorities and growth plans.
  Drive performance management, succession planning, and talent review processes to strengthen leadership bench and organizational capability.

• Oversee executive recruiting strategy and partner with leaders on critical hiring decisions and talent assessment.

• Coach leaders through organizational change, employee relations, leadership challenges, and team effectiveness.

• Design and implement leadership development and manager capability programs that improve leadership effectiveness across the organization.

• Use people analytics and business data to identify organizational risks, inform decisions, and measure the effectiveness of people programs.

• Evaluate and improve People processes, systems, and operating models to increase efficiency and scalability, including thoughtful use of automation and AI where appropriate.

• Provide leadership and development for the People team while ensuring continued operational excellence across HR, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Compliance, and Employee Experience.

You Should Apply If You Have:

• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, including leading the People function for a dynamic organization.

• Experience overseeing Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, and Learning & Development functions.

• Demonstrated success partnering with CEOs and executive leadership teams on organizational strategy.

• Deep expertise in organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and performance management.

• Strong executive coaching and leadership development experience.

• Experience leading organizational change, restructures, and scaling organizations through periods of growth or transformation.

• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.

• Experience building and improving people processes using data and metrics.

• Excellent communication, influence, and stakeholder management skills.

• Advanced HR certification (SPHR, SHRM-SCP) is preferred.

• Bonus: Experience supporting employees in Canada, with knowledge of provincial employment laws (particularly British Columbia and Ontario).

About Our Benefits:

• Estimated Base Salary: $197,000-$257,000 (depending on candidate experience and location)
• The salary range listed reflects base compensation only. This position is also eligible to participate in the company's performance bonus program, which provides an additional variable pay opportunity based on company performance
• Ongoing training and growth opportunities.
• A "Best Place to Work" winner multiple times where we focus on creating a great employee experience.
• Rock solid medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Mental Health Coverage - we offer several programs to support your mental health and wellness goals.
• Unlimited Paid Vacation. We expect you to work hard, but still enjoy your personal life
• 7 weeks of baby bonding time for all new parents (within the first year of birth or adoption), 8 Weeks of Paid Pregnancy Leave.
• 401(k) Matching
• Employer-contributing student loan assistance program or continuing education reimbursement program
• Employee Stock Incentive Plan.
• Pet insurance for your fur babies
• Consistent & fair leadership: we’ll share info, set clear goals, show you respect, and treat everyone fairly.
• Enough freedom to spread your wings while still holding you accountable.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.

As one of ChowNow’s core values, “Celebrates Diversity”, we are committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment. ChowNow is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status or any legally protected status. We are committed to developing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment, if you require any accommodation, please let us know at your earliest convenience and we’ll work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

Read here about your California privacy rights: https://get.chownow.com/legal/california-privacy-rights-act/