Human Resources Business Partner

Pressed Cafe; Nashua (NH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pressed Cafe is seeking an HR Business Partner to serve as a trusted advisor to Operations leadership. Based at the Nashua home office with travel to restaurants in MA/NH, you will guide employee relations, compliance, and people practices to support growth.

You will lead investigations, coach managers, and partner with the Chief People Officer on complex matters, while shaping a high-performance culture and a great Team Member experience.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive HR experience with employee relations focus.
• Experience supporting multi-location hourly workforce (hospitality/retail preferred).
• Proven ability to independently lead investigations and guide leaders.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws in MA/NH and safety/leave processes.
• Proficiency with HRIS, MS 365 and workforce reporting; strong PM skills.
• Professional certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Operations leadership to execute people strategies for growth.
• Lead employee relations investigations from start to finish.
• Coach managers on performance, conflict resolution and communication.
• Support performance reviews, succession planning and internal mobility.
• Ensure compliance with federal, MA and NH laws across locations.
• Develop scalable HR processes and tools for restaurant operations.

Skills

HR generalist

employee relations

investigations

policy compliance

communication

HR analytics

Spanish or Portuguese (assets)

HRIS

Microsoft 365

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or Business Administration

SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR or SPHR certification (assets)

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft 365

Job description

About the Role

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) is a trusted advisor to Operations leadership, partnering with District Managers and General Managers to execute people strategies that drive performance and growth. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this full-time, in-person role is based at our Home Office in Nashua, New Hampshire, with regular travel to our restaurants and commissary throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Your responsibilities span the full Team Member lifecycle, from talent acquisition and onboarding through engagement, performance management, development and retention. You will provide practical guidance on employee relations, workplace safety and compliance, while partnering with restaurant leaders to address workforce challenges and strengthen day-to-day people practices.

This is a highly visible, field-facing role where credibility is built through presence, sound judgment and follow-through. As Pressed Cafe grows, you will help shape our people practices, strengthen leadership capability and create a Team Member experience that supports long-term success.

What You’ll Do

PARTNER WITH THE BUSINESS

• Serve as trusted advisor and primary HR partner to Operations leadership, District Managers and General Managers, providing strategic counsel and practical guidance.
• Partner with Operations leadership to develop and execute people strategies aligned with business objectives, workforce needs and growth.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with leaders and Team Members through regular restaurant visits, proactive engagement and responsive support.
• Develop a deep understanding of restaurant operations, workforce dynamics and business priorities to deliver relevant, solutions-oriented HR support.
• Translate field observations, workforce trends and operational challenges into actionable recommendations for the Chief People Officer.

LEAD EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

• Serve as a trusted, approachable resource for Team Member concerns, ensuring timely, fair and consistent resolution.
• Independently lead thorough, objective and well-documented workplace investigations, from interviews through findings, recommendations and follow-up.
• Coach managers on conflict resolution, performance concerns, corrective action and respectful communication.
• Partner with the Chief People Officer on complex or sensitive matters, exercising sound judgment on escalation, risk and the need for legal guidance.
• Follow through on every concern to reinforce accountability, prevent retaliation and promote a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace.

BUILD A HIGH-PERFORMANCE CULTURE

• Partner with restaurant leaders to cultivate an engaging, rewarding culture aligned with our mission: Great People, Great Food, Great Coffee.
• Strengthen management effectiveness by coaching leaders to set clear expectations, deliver meaningful feedback, recognize performance and address concerns early.
• Support performance management, talent reviews, internal mobility, succession planning and leadership development.
• Evaluate internal promotion trends and leadership bench strength to support succession readiness and future restaurant openings.
• Partner with Learning & Development to identify training needs and implement programs that drive Team Member performance and exceptional guest experiences.
• Facilitate HR training for restaurant leaders and Team Members on employee relations, workplace conduct, performance management and people management fundamentals.
• Champion engagement, recognition and retention initiatives that reinforce our values and strengthen team culture.

OWN THE TEAM MEMBER EXPERIENCE

• Partner with Talent Acquisition and restaurant leaders on workforce planning, staffing priorities, candidate selection and hiring practices.
• Drive a consistent, welcoming onboarding experience that equips new Team Members to succeed.
• Conduct check-ins, stay interviews and exit interviews to gather feedback, identify trends and improve the Team Member experience.
• Guide Team Members and managers on policies, benefits, resources, development opportunities and employment processes.
• Support effective offboarding, with appropriate documentation, communication and coordination with internal partners.
• Promote clear and accessible communication across a diverse, multilingual workforce so Team Members understand expectations, policies and available support.

CHAMPION COMPLIANCE, SAFETY & PEOPLE PRACTICES

• Ensure consistent, effective implementation of company policies, People initiatives and HR processes across assigned locations.
• Provide guidance on compliance with federal, Massachusetts and New Hampshire employment laws and company standards.
• Partner with Operations on workplace health and safety, incident response, workers' compensation claims and return-to-work.
• Manage the interactive accommodation process and coordinate leave in accordance with legal requirements and company policy.
• Collaborate with Payroll to ensure accurate, timely processing of employee changes and documentation.
• Lead policy rollouts, compliance training, required acknowledgments and audits through consistent execution and completion.
• Maintain accurate, complete and confidential employee records and investigation files.
• Proactively identify compliance risks and procedural gaps, and strengthen controls, consistency and accountability.

DRIVE PEOPLE ANALYTICS & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Use people analytics to monitor turnover, retention, engagement and internal mobility, translating insights into actionable business recommendations.
• Partner with Operations leadership to identify workforce and employee relations challenges, evaluate root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Measure the effectiveness of People programs and bring leading HR practices into continuous improvement of policies, programs and processes.
• Develop scalable HR processes, manager resources and practical tools that promote consistency and leadership effectiveness.
• Lead HR projects, technology implementations and change initiatives while maintaining responsive support for restaurant operations.

What You Bring

• 6+ years of progressive, hands‑on HR experience, including HR Generalist responsibilities, significant employee relations work and direct partnership with operational leaders.
• Experience supporting a multi‑location, hourly workforce. Restaurant, hospitality or retail experience strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to independently lead investigations and guide leaders through complex employee relations matters.
• Strong working knowledge of employment law, preferably in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, plus practical experience with workers' compensation, safety, accommodations and leave.
• Proficiency with HRIS, Microsoft 365 and workforce reporting, with strong analytical and project management skills.
• Exceptional integrity, discretion and communication skills that build trust at every level.
• A valid driver's license, reliable transportation and flexibility to connect with Team Members across shifts.
• A bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR or SPHR certification and proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese are assets.

HOW YOU WORK

• You take ownership. You bring urgency, follow through and hold yourself accountable.
• You exercise sound judgment. You balance Team Member needs, business priorities and organizational risk.
• You build trust. You are approachable, direct and consistent, especially in difficult conversations.
• You lead through action. You move easily from strategic guidance to rolling up your sleeves.
• You remain composed. You bring professionalism and discretion to sensitive situations.
• You challenge the status quo. You stay curious and look for ways to simplify, strengthen and improve how we work.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.