People Business Partner III, Engineering & Product

ZipRecruiter • Santa Monica, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

ZipRecruiter is seeking a People Business Partner III to support our Tech and Product organizations. This is an individual contributor role operating at a manager level in scope, influence, and ownership. In this role, you will serve as a strategic partner to senior leaders, helping shape and execute people strategies that drive business outcomes. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy, bringing a clear point of view and influencing decisions across organizational design, performance, and talent. The ideal candidate is a strong operator and advisor who can navigate ambiguity, challenge thinking, and translate business priorities into effective, scalable people solutions. You are comfortable working at both the strategic and executional levels, while maintaining a focus on impact, accountability, and continuous improvement.
You are willing to invite, receive, and act on constructive feedback. You ask thoughtful, sometimes challenging questions to uncover root issues and drive better outcomes. You demonstrate curiosity about the business and bring a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and risks. You value diverse perspectives and operate effectively in a highly collaborative environment.
This role reports to the Sr. Manager, People Business Partner (PBP) for Tech & Product.

Requirements

• Travel to other US offices, as needed
• Bachelors’ degree in Human Resources or relevant field
• 6+ years as a People Business Partner supporting senior leaders in Engineering and Product organizations
• Demonstrated ability to partner with VP-level stakeholders and above; includes strong coaching skills to challenge and develop leaders at multiple levels
• Proven experience leading organizational design, workforce planning, and change management initiatives
• Deep experience managing complex employee relations and performance issues with sound judgment and a balanced approach
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable people strategies that drive business outcomes
• Ability to operate independently, prioritize effectively, and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while navigating ambiguity and bringing clarity to evolving priorities
• Proven track record of driving cross-functional work and delivering results through others

Nice To Haves

• Experience in High-Growth or Scaled Tech Environments: Proven track record of supporting Tech/Product teams through periods of rapid scaling or organizational maturity
• Strategic Project Management: Demonstrated success leading large-scale, cross-functional HR programs that go beyond standard PBP duties

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary People partner to VP-level and senior leaders across Tech and Product, building strong relationships and influencing decisions on organizational effectiveness, talent, and performance
• Own and drive the people strategy for your aligned organizations, translating business priorities into clear, actionable plans and outcomes
• Lead workforce planning efforts, including org design, headcount strategy, and succession planning, ensuring alignment with business goals
• Partner with leaders to elevate performance standards by reinforcing expectations, guiding calibration discussions, and driving accountability across teams
• Coach and challenge leaders on complex topics including performance management, employee relations, team effectiveness, and organizational change
• Identify patterns and root causes across teams, and design scalable solutions that improve organizational health and efficiency
• Lead and support organizational changes such as restructures, leadership transitions, and team realignments, ensuring thoughtful planning, communication, and execution
• Leverage data, insights, and feedback to inform recommendations and influence decision-making at the leadership level
• Partner closely with cross-functional People teams, including Talent Acquisition, People Development, Compensation, and People Operations, to deliver integrated solutions
• Drive clarity in how People processes are applied within the business, ensuring leaders understand expectations and follow-through on key initiatives
• Identify opportunities to streamline or improve existing People programs and processes, focusing on scalability, consistency, and business impact

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Exceptional benefits package
• Flexible Vacation & Paid Time Off
• Employer-matched 401(k) plan
• A fun environment where work-life balance is valued
• equity, bonuses, commission, or other forms of compensation may also be provided as part of a total compensation package
• full range of medical, financial, and other benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior