HR Business Partner - Technology

Mill•San Bruno, CA

About The Position

Mill is a waste prevention technology company developing systems and infrastructure to keep food in the food system and out of landfills. The HR Business Partner will initially support hardware, software, and product teams, partnering with engineering leaders on team growth, management practices, and performance. The role will evolve with Mill’s roadmap and may expand to support additional teams as the company grows. Reporting to the Head of People, this person will work closely with Recruiting and People Operations. The role calls for someone comfortable working with engineers, communicating directly, and shifting between strategic work and hands-on execution. Responsibilities include supporting leaders with team design and hiring, coaching managers, leading engineering performance and talent processes, advising on employee relations and work authorization, and contributing to the company’s performance and compensation philosophy. In the first 3 to 6 months, the HR Business Partner will build relationships with engineering and product leaders, identify where People support is most needed, address an early priority, become the day-to-day partner for engineering managers, help plan hiring and succession for critical roles, lead the next engineering performance and talent review cycle, and contribute to the performance and compensation philosophy.

Requirements

10+ years of experience as an HR business partner or HR generalist.
Credibility with technical leaders and comfort having direct, challenging conversations.
Hands-on experience coaching managers and running performance and talent review cycles.
Sound judgment in employee relations, including knowing when to involve Legal or a specialist.
Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to move between high-level strategy and detailed execution.
Ability to use data to communicate a clear story in small meetings and company-wide settings.
Working knowledge of US employment law and work authorization, including visa sponsorship and renewals.
Interest in Mill’s mission to prevent waste.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting engineering, hardware, or product teams at a growing company.
Experience supporting teams in more than one country.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary People partner for engineering and product leaders on team design, hiring plans, performance, and employee relations.
Coach managers on setting expectations, giving direct feedback, and developing their teams.
Run engineering performance, promotion, and talent review cycles, and help leaders calibrate across hardware and software.
Partner with Recruiting on engineering hiring plans, role levels, and onboarding and ramp-up for new hires.
Partner with Legal and outside counsel on engineering-team work authorization, including visa renewals and sponsorship.
Help leaders plan team changes as the company moves toward launch, including backup plans for critical roles.
Develop materials for technical leaders as part of the manager development program.
Use data such as attrition, ramp time, and engagement to identify issues and propose practical solutions.
Help shape the company’s performance and compensation philosophy.
Participate in company-wide People initiatives and take on other projects as the company grows.
Build relationships with engineering and product leaders and identify where People support matters most.
Help develop hiring, succession, and ramp-up plans for critical engineering roles with Recruiting and the head of engineering.
Lead the next engineering performance and talent review cycle, including calibration across hardware and software.