People Ops Partner / Generalist (West Coast)

Sifted•South San Francisco, CA

9d•$75,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

The People Ops Partner / Generalist serves as Sifted’s primary employee relations and people-management resource for employees and managers throughout the Western Region. The position provides hands-on support with employee relations, performance management, corrective action, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, policy interpretation, manager coaching, and related People support. Its primary focus is employee relations and manager support, with additional responsibility for administrative People support, including onboarding, offboarding, employee documentation, HRIS administration, and other employee lifecycle activities. The role works directly with frontline employees and managers in a fast-paced, multi-location environment. It independently handles routine and moderately complex employee matters and escalates higher-risk issues to the People Ops Manager or senior leadership as appropriate. The position is based in Seattle, Washington, with a regular onsite presence across Sifted kitchens and client locations in the Seattle/Bellevue market. Periodic travel to other Western Region markets, including California and Colorado, may be required.

Requirements

At least 5–8 years of progressive Human Resources experience, with significant direct responsibility for employee relations.
Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations and supporting corrective action, performance management, and employee terminations.
Experience coaching frontline and mid-level managers through difficult employee situations.
Strong judgment and ability to independently manage routine and moderately complex employee relations matters while recognizing when escalation is appropriate.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and objectively document investigations, employee concerns, performance matters, and disciplinary decisions.
Ability to communicate calmly and professionally during sensitive or emotionally challenging conversations.
Strong understanding of confidentiality, documentation practices, and consistent application of company policies.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple active employee matters simultaneously.
Proficiency with Google Workspace and related business tools.
Ability to regularly travel between Seattle-area Sifted locations and periodically travel to other Western Region markets.
Must maintain a ServSafe Food Handler card; the company pays for it.
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand for long periods, and bend, squat, and reach.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting hourly employees and distributed or multi-location workforces.
Experience in hospitality, food service, retail, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, or another operational environment.
Familiarity with Washington and California employment requirements.
Experience working within an HRIS; Rippling experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary HR resource for Western Region employee relations matters, including complaints, conflicts, attendance issues, policy violations, misconduct, performance concerns, disciplinary matters, and manager support requests.
Conduct employee relations intake conversations and workplace investigations, including interviewing employees, managers, and witnesses; gathering documentation; recording findings; and identifying matters requiring escalation.
Coach managers on performance management, corrective action, employee communication, conflict resolution, attendance management, and difficult personnel decisions.
Support documented coaching, written warnings, performance improvement plans, final warnings, and terminations, helping ensure disciplinary decisions are documented and applied consistently.
Participate in disciplinary and termination conversations when HR involvement is appropriate, and provide follow-up support to employees and managers after significant employee relations matters.
Maintain clear, objective, timely, and confidential documentation for complaints, investigations, discipline, performance management, and terminations.
Identify elevated legal, compliance, employee safety, retaliation, accommodation, leave, or reputational risks and escalate them to the HR Manager or senior leadership as appropriate.
Guide employees and managers on Sifted policies and HR procedures and help ensure consistent policy implementation across Western Region locations.
Monitor recurring employee relations and people-management trends and partner with the HR Manager on opportunities to improve policies, manager training, documentation, and HR processes.
Maintain a visible and approachable HR presence in Sifted workplaces, building trusting relationships while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.
Partner with Managing Chefs, City Managers, Account Managers, Regional Managers, and other people leaders to address workplace issues, improve team management, and strengthen manager accountability.
Support manager HR training and help leaders understand when they can manage employee matters independently and when HR involvement is needed.
Assist with onboarding, offboarding, employee documentation, HRIS administration, employee status changes, exit interviews, file maintenance, and other HR administration.

Benefits

Company-sponsored health insurance plans, including a 100% company-paid HDHP, with vision and dental opt-in.
401(k) program after six months of employment.
Unlimited PTO.
Paid company holidays.
Paid winter break.
Monthly cell phone usage reimbursement.
Free lunch during meal service.
100% mileage reimbursement.
Opportunities to take on larger roles within the organization.
Company-paid ServSafe Food Handler card.