Associate, People Business Partner

About Us

Barkbus is the nation's premier mobile dog grooming company. We are dog-loving creatives, operators, technologists, and entrepreneurs taking a Silicon Valley startup approach to disrupt and modernize the fragmented legacy pet grooming industry. Driven by our mission to deliver joy to pets and their people, we're proud to operate across California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia. We’re the fastest-growing pet health & wellness startup in the country and would love for you to join us in building the nation’s beloved pet brand.

Who We Are

We’re a collaborative, high-quality team of dog-lovers that solves problems with thoughtfulness, empathy, and speed. We have a big dream: to build a generational company that remakes the pet health & wellness industry nationally. We’re a fun, ambitious group that is working to build something new in pet care. We move with high velocity, collaborate closely, and deliver results faster than anyone in the market. We want your time at Barkbus to be the greatest time of your career. If you’re ready to build the future of pet care with high standards and speed, come on board. We need exceptional people to help us build something new in the world.

About This Role

The People Business Partner plays a vital role in supporting the day-to-day people experience for our hourly non-exempt workforce, partnering closely with the Manager, People Business Partner to execute people programs, respond to employee needs, and ensure consistent, compliant, and empathetic people practices across the field.

This role is ideal for an HR professional who thrives in high-touch environments, enjoys supporting hourly, non-exempt employees, and brings both operational rigor and human-centered care to their work. You will serve as a trusted first point of contact for our rapidly growing team of 300+ Pet Stylists, helping them navigate policies, benefits, leave, and workplace concerns while reinforcing Barkbus values in every interaction.

Role & Responsibilities

• Own the execution of core People programs, including benefits administration, leaves of absence, accommodations, workers’ compensation, and injury reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to SOPs and policies.

• Track, document, and support employee relations matters, maintaining accurate records, timely follow-up, and alignment with company policies and employment practices.

• Partner with people managers to provide guidance, documentation support, and preparation for conversations related to performance, feedback, attendance, and development.

• Ensure People policies are applied consistently and practically for groomers, balancing operational realities with business needs.

• Serve as a key liaison between the People team, Operations, and Pet Stylists, enabling clear, consistent communication and alignment.

• Act as a trusted, day-to-day resource for Pet Stylists in the field, helping them feel supported, informed, and heard.

• Support engagement, retention, and well-being initiatives for Pet Stylists, contributing insights informed by real-time field experience.

• Identify, document, and analyze trends, recurring questions, and pain points to inform improvements to policies, training, and employee resources.

• Champion Barkbus’s values in every interaction, fostering a culture of empathetic accountability, fairness, and consistency.

• Communicate clearly, professionally, and accessibly with a predominantly hourly workforce in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

• Partner closely with the Manager, People Business Partner to continuously improve the groomer experience and People processes.

Qualifications & Experience

• 2-4 years of experience in HRBP, People Operations or a similar role supporting hourly, non-exempt employees.

• Working knowledge of U.S. federal and state labor laws, with the ability to apply them effectively in real-world employee situations; experience navigating California labor laws strongly preferred.

• Experience supporting a high-volume, non-exempt workforce (100+ employees) without sacrificing quality or care.

• Exposure to benefits administration, leave management, workers’ compensation, or accommodations is strongly preferred.

• High emotional intelligence, strong judgment, and the ability to navigate sensitive situations with discretion.

• Thoughtful communicator who can tailor messaging to non-exempt employees, managers, and cross-functional partners.

• A people and dog lover who is energized by supporting frontline teams.

Compensation & Benefits

• $75k - 85k salary based on experience.

• Stock options upon required tenure.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement Savings Plan to support your future.

• Pet Insurance to keep your furry friends healthy.

• Monthly cell phone stipend to stay connected.

• ClassPass membership to support your fitness and wellness goals.

Equal Opportunity

Barkbus is an equal-opportunity employer that celebrates diversity. Come as you are.