Director of People Operations

About the Role

An exceptional opportunity to lead people operations at a successful and self-sufficient startup that combines consumer products and biotechnology.

As the Director of People Operations (and the first dedicated people leader within the company), you will be responsible for developing HR strategies and improving existing processes to support team growth and business objectives. You will be reporting directly to the COO and working closely with all individuals within the organization to strengthen our people-first culture and enhance the overall employee experience at ZBiotics. The role is for you if you thrive in a startup environment where you are energized by balancing hands-on execution with impactful strategic initiatives. This is a hybrid role. You’ll be supporting our in-person (HQ/Lab located in the San Francisco Bay Area) and remote teams.

About ZBiotics

At ZBiotics, we make genetically engineered probiotics that improve daily life. Our mission is to create, brand, and sell GMOs that people love. As a group of motivated yet down-to-earth people, we are fueled by two things: a love for science and a commitment to being people-first. GMO products like ours – designed to directly benefit the consumers who use them – are the future. As the first to market, we believe it’s our duty to set a high bar for product quality, safety, and transparency for others to follow.

In 2019, we launched the world’s first genetically engineered probiotic: ZBiotics® Pre-Alcohol—a 15mL probiotic drink designed to break down an alcohol byproduct that leads to rough mornings after drinking. Since then, ZBiotics’ business has continued to grow rapidly year over year, and this fall we launched our second product: ZBiotics® Sugar-to-Fiber—a probiotic drink mix that converts sugar from your diet into fiber in your gut, contributing to microbiome health.

ZBiotics is a profitable post-Series A startup headquartered in San Francisco and backed by venture investors such as Y Combinator, Khosla Ventures, Spring Tide Capital, and Social+Capital, among others.

Your Responsibilities

This job is intended to be a leadership position, with you helping the team at ZBiotics simultaneously enjoy work more fully, become operationally more effective, and move towards our mission and vision. To do that, you’ll improve the HR infrastructure and empower people to reach their full potential at ZBiotics.

HR Thought Leadership

• People Strategy: Own headcount planning, budgeting, salary tracking, pay bands, compensation & benefits, and organizational design to align with company goals.
• Trusted Advisor: Provide guidance to employees and leadership on all people-related matters.
• Management Development: Coordinate training and coaching to improve manager and team effectiveness.
• Culture: Actively contribute to company culture initiatives such as our Culture Colony, Best Place to Work goals, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee.

Talent Management

• Recruitment: Attract top talent aligned with both the role and company culture, ensuring interviewers are adequately trained to deliver a great candidate experience.
• Onboarding: Facilitate new hire integration and help managers to deliver quality onboarding experiences. Host onboarding for on-site employees.
• Ongoing development & Performance reviews: Offer opportunities for employee growth and career development through training and coaching. Manage the performance review process.
• Retention & Transitions: Create a positive and engaging work environment to promote talent retention. Manage promotions, lateral moves, and exits in alignment with ZBiotics values.

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Oversee conflict resolution, the employee complaints process, and workplace investigations with fairness, confidentiality, and adherence to legal standards.
• Conduct employee engagement surveys and implement insights to improve the employee experience.
• Implement strategies to enhance team communication, ensuring clear, effective, and collaborative dialogue across all levels of the organization.
• Organize team events, including company-wide offsites, ideation retreats, and remote events to build team cohesion.
• Use welcome baskets and swag to promote a strong sense of belonging.

HR Operations and Administration

• Ensure compliance with evolving labor laws and regulations across all locations. Mitigate risk through effective HR policies and procedures.
• Create and maintain the Employee Handbook.
• Manage employee documentation, with proper security and access rules in place.
• Oversee procurement, onboarding/off-boarding of hardware, and provide support for employee tech needs.
• PEO management, payroll and benefits administration.
• Optimize on-site working conditions, including office/lab design, and manage landlord and workspace relationships (e.g., WeWork, Lab).

About You

• You are a strategic people operator who also rolls up your sleeves, capable of thoughtfully and collaboratively crafting HR functions that support both onsite and remote teams.
• You deeply care about people on both a personal and professional level. You have high emotional intelligence and great judgment.
• You know that one size does not fit all, and you are excited to adapt your approach according to what is best for ZBiotics’ team and culture—and all the wonderful quirks that make us unique.

Desired qualifications are listed below. However, we recognize that ZBiotics is relatively unique in its position straddling biotechnology and consumer products, so even if your experience does not perfectly match the description below, but you’re excited about the opportunity, please apply!

• 7+ years working in various functions within Human Resources / People Operations
• Training in Human Resources skills and knowledge. (e.g., SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP from Society for Human Resource Management, or PHR or SPHR from Human Resources Certification Institute)
• Comprehensive talent management skills throughout an employee’s lifecycle at a company
• Knowledge of HR systems, tools, platforms, PEO frameworks, and benefit options
• Knowledge of compensation planning methodologies & philosophies, including knowledge of startup equity, options, and market practices
• In-depth knowledge of labor law and HR compliance best practices
• Business acumen and analytical skills to assist with strategic planning
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
• Project management and event planning skills
• Prior management experience

Additional helpful experiences include…

• Experience with in-person teams is a plus
• Software, hardware, & IT acumen is a plus
• Office administration skill (landlord negotiation, space management, etc.) is a plus
• Coaching skills is a plus

This role is perfect for you if…

• You enjoy building things and have a growth mindset. You are excited to craft an entire HR function from scratch.
• You love working closely with all individuals on a team—from the founders to the newest hires—and giving the people you work with leverage through your Human Resources superpower!
• You deeply care about people and believe that a team works best when they’re happy, given true autonomy, and their work-life balance is a genuine priority.
• You embody the ZBiotics values of People-first, Integrity, Citizenship, and Science.
  • People-first - We always put people first, especially our customers.
  • Integrity - We communicate honestly and deliver high quality always.
  • Citizenship - We are inclusive and committed to doing what’s right.
  • Science - We question our own assumptions and adapt to new data.

Benefits

We believe in a life well-lived. ZBiotics offers competitive benefits for a life outside of work, including: health / dental, 401(k) matching, a minimum PTO policy (with unlimited time off), 16 weeks fully paid parental leave, a home office stipend, transit benefits for those in the San Francisco Bay Area, and access to coworking office space if based in or visiting San Francisco. This role requires working on-site one to two days a week at our HQ office, one to two days a month with our lab team in Mountain View, California, some travel for all-hands meetings twice a year, and facility and conference visits as-needed for the responsibilities of the position.

The base salary for this position is $170,000 / year, and will include additional equity. Relocation assistance is available to candidates located outside of the Bay Area.

We encourage you to apply …

At ZBiotics, we value our differences, and we encourage all – especially those whose identities are traditionally underrepresented in tech organizations – to apply.

To expedite your consideration, please apply directly on our website HERE.