Human Resource Business Partner (HRBP)

Zoomcar; California (MO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in robotics is excited to welcome its first HR Business Partner (HRBP) to build and define their HR practices. This strategic role requires a dynamic individual with extensive HR experience to enhance the employee lifecycle while fostering a positive culture. The HRBP will manage everything from employee relations to compliance, ensuring a thriving work environment in a fast-paced startup setting.

Benefits

Medical benefits

Dental coverage

Vision insurance

Flexible PTO

401(k) plan with employer match

Regular offsite events

Discretionary fund for productivity enhancements

Qualifications

• 10+ years in HR or related roles.
• Experience building processes from scratch.
• Knowledge of multi-state employment compliance.

Responsibilities

• Shape the entire employee experience from onboarding to offboarding.
• Lead performance management and employee engagement efforts.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws across states.

Skills

Communication

Project Management

Interpersonal Skills

Strategic Thinking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources

Tools

Gusto

UKG

Ethena

ClickUp

Notion

Airtable

HR automation platforms

Job description

Hi there! My name is Braelena (she/her), and I lead the Talent and People Operations team at GrayMatter Robotics. I love reading as much as I love investing in people, and I couldn't be more excited to add our first ever HRBP to my team!

When I started in 2023, we had 25 full-time employees; today, we've nearly quadrupled so, as you can imagine, I'm eager to find a teammate who's excited to build from scratch, enjoys touching every aspect of the employee lifecycle, and — above all — shares my obsession with creating a space where people are excited to show up every day.

You'll love this role because...

There's an opportunity to build, break, and build again in a crazy-fast environment

You'll get to have a lot of influence over culture, process and our people strategy

Your manager believes in empowering her team to work autonomously and hates micromanaging (like I would have the time)

You'll hate this role because...

There's an opportunity to build, break, and build again in a crazy-fast environment (not a typo)

A large portion of your role will be educating leadership on the "why" so you'll need to over communicate and always assume positive intent...especially when it's not easy

You'll be the sole HRBP so you'll have to build the processes as we execute against our goals which will test your grit, determination, and resilience

We know startups aren't for everyone — the lows can feel really low, but the highs are incredibly high. If you're someone who deeply loves the HR function and has little patience for fixed mindsets, join me on my mission to build spaces where people enjoy showing up every day, where talent thrives and the meaning of "HR" is redefined.

Role & Responsibilities

Our HRBP will own and shape the entire employee experience at GrayMatter Robotics, from onboarding to offboarding and everything in between. This is a strategic and hands-on role ideal for someone excited to build people systems from the ground up while ensuring compliance and driving culture. Aspects of this role include:

Employee Relations & Engagement

Serve as a trusted partner to managers and employees for day-to-day support and conflict resolution.

Lead employee engagement efforts, including surveys, recognition, and internal communications.

Plan company events, offsites, and culture-building initiatives.

Oversee off-boarding and exit processes.

Performance Management

Partner with leadership to build and run performance review cycles, feedback systems, and goal-setting processes (OKRs/KPIs).

Support managers with performance improvement plans (PIPs) and development conversations.

Facilitate calibration and promotion processes.

Learning & Development

Launch and manage training programs, including compliance, leadership, and technical development.

Redesign and implement career pathing and mentorship frameworks.

Benchmark salaries, maintain job levels, and evolve total rewards strategy.

Administer payroll and manage benefit vendor relationships.

Conduct market research on employee perks and benefits.

Administer and track all types of employee leave (e.g., FMLA, parental, PTO, disability), ensuring compliance and clear communication.

HR Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with employment laws across multiple states.

Maintain employee handbook and update HR policies as needed.

Lead investigations and handle employee relations issues responsibly.

Manage audit readiness and required documentation.

HR Operations & Systems

Own and maintain our HRIS system; ensure data integrity and analytics.

Optimize people processes for scale (onboarding, transitions, documentation).

Deliver HR metrics and insights to support decision-making.

Organizational Development

Partner with leadership on organizational design and job architecture.

Support change management initiatives and leadership effectiveness.

Facilitate diagnostics around team health and structure.

Assist with other HR-related tasks and projects, including but not limited to interview scheduling, hosting candidates onsite, employee events, and other initiatives as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

10+ years of industry experience in HR, people operations or similar roles.

2+ years building company-wide processes from scratch.

Proven knowledge of multi-state employment compliance (especially California) and risk mitigation.

Excellent communication, project management, and interpersonal skills.

Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Proven ability to think strategically and develop innovative solutions to HR challenges.

Must have authorization to work in the United States and maintain ongoing work authorization from time of hire through the duration of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.

Experience in both startup and enterprise environments, ideally having transitioned from enterprise to startups most recently.

HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP)

Experience using Gusto, UKG, Ethena, ClickUp, and other HR/project management tools.

Strong expertise in leveraging efficiency and automation tools (e.g., Notion, Scribe, Airtable, Slack integrations, HR automation platforms) to streamline workflows and scale operations.

Experience identifying, selecting, and managing outsourced HR service providers (e.g., PEOs, benefits brokers, third-party administrators).

GrayMatter Robotics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage and embrace applicants of all backgrounds to apply!

GrayMatter Robotics is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you require accommodations during the recruiting process, please contact [e-mail] to submit your request.

Please note: this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee in this role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation for this position includes the base salary range of $130,000 - $150,000 USD plus equity. We also provide comprehensive benefits and perks which include but are not limited to medical, dental, vision, flexible PTO, 401(k) plan + employer match, regular offsite events, a discretionary fund for enhancing productivity and so much more! The range listed on job postings reflect the minimum and maximum new hire salary across levels in Los Angeles, CA.