People Business Partner

Stealth-mode Battery Startup; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Schedule

Health Care

Hybrid Work Environment

Flexible Vacation

Job summary

Stealth-mode Battery Startup in San Jose is seeking its first People Business Partner to build out internal infrastructure for leaders, managers, and teams as we scale.

This senior IC role blends strategy and execution, advising on organizational design, talent decisions, coaching managers, and launching scalable People initiatives.

You will partner with Talent, People Ops, and executives, shaping policies and processes to support a growth-focused, high-impact company.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience across People, HR business partnering, or related generalist roles.
• Experience in a high-growth startup or similarly fast-changing environment.
• Working knowledge of employment law and employee-relations practices in California.
• Significant experience coaching managers, including new and first-time managers, through real-world leadership and performance challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead a strategic People or organizational initiative from concept through execution.
• Broad HR knowledge, including performance management, employee relations, organizational design, talent planning, and core employment practices.
• Experience handling complex or sensitive employee situations with empathy, discretion, and appropriate risk awareness.
• A low-ego, collaborative approach and genuine willingness to do what a growing company needs.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the business by translating priorities into practical talent and People plans.
• Coach and develop managers, especially new and first-time managers, on leadership habits and feedback.
• Lead strategic People initiatives from definition through implementation and iteration.
• Provide broad People support across employee relations, performance, compensation, and engagement, with cross-team collaboration.

Skills

HR business partnering

Coaching managers

Organizational design

Talent planning

Performance management

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

California employment law

Job description

Job Title: Senior People Business Partner

Location: Hybrid - San Jose, CA

Department: People

Reports to: VP, People

About the Company

We are a stealth-mode startup developing cutting-edge battery technology. Our mission is to revolutionize battery technology to accelerate the global transition to clean energy. By leveraging innovative materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and next-generation energy storage architectures, we are building the future of sustainable energy.

We’re really excited about the potential of our technology, product, and mission, and have chosen to remain in stealth mode.

About the Role

We are looking for our first People Business Partner. This person will be tasked with driving the build out of internal infrastructure which supports our leaders, managers, and teams to do their best work as we scale.

This is a senior individual-contributor role for an experienced People generalist who can move comfortably between strategy and execution. You’ll advise leaders on organizational and talent decisions, coach managers through the everyday challenges of leading teams, and take ownership of company-wide People initiatives. You’ll also pitch in wherever needed - whether that means navigating a sensitive employee situation, improving a core process, or turning an ambiguous business need into a practical program.

As our first People Business Partner, you won’t inherit a finished playbook. You’ll help create one. You’ll partner closely with Talent, People Operations, business leaders, and the VP, People to establish a trusted, scalable model that fits the needs of a growing startup.

What You’ll Do

Partner with the business

• Build trusted relationships with leaders and managers, developing a strong understanding of their teams, goals, and organizational challenges.
• Translate company priorities into practical talent, organizational, and People plans.
• Advise leaders on workforce planning, organizational design, team effectiveness, role clarity, and change management.
• Use employee feedback, People data, and business context to identify trends and recommend action.

Coach and develop managers

• Serve as a hands-on coach to managers, with particular emphasis on helping new and first-time managers build confidence and sound leadership habits.
• Guide managers through feedback, performance expectations, career conversations, team dynamics, and difficult conversations.
• Design and deliver practical manager resources, workshops, and development experiences.

Lead strategic People work

• Own one or more high-impact, company-wide People initiatives from problem definition through implementation and iteration.
• Help evolve programs such as performance management, manager development, engagement, career development, workforce planning, or organizational effectiveness.
• Develop solutions that are appropriately lightweight for today and able to scale with the company.

Provide broad People support

• Advise on employee relations matters with sound judgment, discretion, consistency, and care.
• Support performance review, talent planning, compensation, promotion, and engagement cycles.
• Partner with People Operations, Recruiting, Finance, Legal, and other teams to ensure a coordinated employee experience.

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years of progressive experience across People, HR business partnering, or related generalist roles.
• Experience in a high-growth startup or similarly fast-changing environment.
• Working knowledge of employment law and employee-relations practices in California.
• Significant experience coaching managers, including new and first-time managers, through real-world leadership and performance challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead a strategic People or organizational initiative from concept through execution.
• Broad HR knowledge, including performance management, employee relations, organizational design, talent planning, and core employment practices.
• Experience handling complex or sensitive employee situations with empathy, discretion, and appropriate risk awareness.
• A low-ego, collaborative approach and genuine willingness to do what a growing company needs.

How You’ll Make an Impact

In your first year, you will have:

• Established strong, trusted partnerships with leaders and managers across the company.
• Created a consistent and useful coaching experience for new and developing managers.
• Led a meaningful strategic People initiative that addresses an important company need.
• Improved how managers approach feedback, performance, development, and difficult conversations.
• Identify and implement scalable People practices without adding unnecessary processes or red tape.
• Help define what excellent People partnership looks like.

What It’s Like to Work with Us

Hybrid Onsite Expectations

While much of the team is in person (given the nature of our business), this is a hybrid role. We believe our People team should be connected to the employees and part of that connection requires in person interaction. This role has an onsite requirement of 3 days per week.

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible Work Schedule: Getting the job done isn’t always 9 AM to 5 PM. Work with your manager to determine your working hours so you get things done when it works for you and your family.
• Health Care: We are currently under Rippling’s PEO and offer medical, vision, dental insurance to keep you and your dependents covered.
• Hybrid Work Environment: While most of the company is in office most days, this role is hybrid, and expected to be onsite 3 days per week minimum.
• Flexible Vacation: We offer flexible PTO, so you can get the time off you need that works for you. Don’t worry, unlike most startups, you will be encouraged to take it.

Why Join Us

• Help build people practices from the ground up
• Work closely with leadership and have real impact
• Be part of a mission-driven company tackling meaningful problems
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and equity

Expected Compensation

Base Salary Range: $170,000 - $195,000

• Base salary is based on many factors such as: market rate, candidate’s level of experience, interview performance, and geographic location.
• All full time employees receive equity as a part of their compensation package. If we get to the offer stage, your recruiter or manager will discuss the details.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.