Job details

Director, People Partners

Get a free resume review

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, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia. We’re the fastest-growing pet health & wellness startup in the country and would love 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

As the Director, People Partners, you will lead and develop a high-performing team of incredible People Partners, ensuring they have the systems, guidance, and support to drive a best-in-class employee experience. You will act as a strategic partner to leadership, aligning People strategies with business objectives while scaling the function to support rapid company growth.

You will also foster leadership excellence by acting as a trusted sounding board to fellow leaders, equipping them with the necessary skills to enable a high-performing culture of accountability and heart. Success for this role is leading a thriving People Partners function that is highly trusted, proactive, and deeply embedded in the business while scaling people strategies that drive retention and support the infrastructure necessary to sustain rapid growth.

Role & Responsibilities

Develop, mentor, and empower the People Partner team through ongoing coaching, structured feedback, and professional development initiatives.
Expand upon the existing HRBP operational infrastructure to support the organization through a high growth phase of the company lifecycle and beyond.
Partner with senior leadership in crafting people programs, compensation, and benefits that effectively attract and retain top talent across both grooming and corporate teams.
Collaborate with leaders and managers to identify key retention drivers and deploy targeted initiatives that enhance engagement, job satisfaction, and reduce regrettable attrition.
Guide all day-to-day employee relations activity by supporting People Partners in problem solving, policy enforcement, and conflict resolution.
Own the execution of key people programs, including; LOAs, accommodations, and injury reporting.
Drive performance management and progressive discipline by enabling clear, fair, and consistent policies that empower managers to navigate complex situations with confidence and accountability.
Build and lead execution of end-to-end annual performance review processes, including timeline management, system configuration, stakeholder training, and calibration sessions, while working closely with People Ops on aligning compensation review cycles with performance management.
Partner with Recruiting, People Ops, and L&D to align hiring, incentive programs, and development pathways with organizational needs and growth, while driving the creation of development pathways for every position across the organization that support professional growth and succession planning.
Work closely with the Manager, People Experience to drive retention through strategic employee engagement and satisfaction initiatives.
Minimize risk by driving compliance – implementing and maintaining scalable policies, training programs, and audit processes that ensure a fair and ethical workplace.
Act as a People Partner to fellow Directors, provide recommendations and solutions that support their development individually and the development and effectiveness of their teams.
Partner with senior leaders on long-term vision and strategy that positions the company to achieve our ambitious goals while fully realizing Barkbus as the employer of choice for groomers across the country.
Champion Barkbus’s values in every interaction to build trust across all levels of the organization

Qualifications & Experience

Must be both a people and dog lover!
10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including direct management of an HRBP/People Partner team.
SHRM-SCP or PHR certification is highly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to lead a People Partner team through rapid growth while scaling beyond 600+ employees
A unique ability to dig deep into the weeds to understand complexity while maintaining a clear vision of the company’s overarching goals.
Deep understanding of the nuances between supporting an hourly non-exempt workforce and corporate teams.
Extensive expertise in employment and labor compliance at federal, state, and municipality levels.
Exceptional stakeholder management—ability to influence and gain buy-in through thoughtful, clear communication that is tailored based on varying levels and audiences across the organization.
A sky-high EQ - strong self-regulation when navigating challenging situations, ability to set and uphold boundaries, and an aptitude for understanding the underlying cause of people's actions and behaviors.
Highly resilient, patient, and trustworthy. Energizes the people around you.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive Base Salary: $145K-$165K, 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 who celebrates diversity. Come as you are.

#LI-Remote

Average salary estimate

$155000 / YEARLY (est.)

min

max

$145000K

$165000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Director, People Partners, Barkbus

Are you a passionate people leader with a love for dogs? Barkbus, the nation's premier mobile dog grooming company, is searching for a Director, People Partners to join our ambitious team! Here at Barkbus, we blend the creativity of a startup with the energy of tech innovation, and we’re all about delivering joy to pets and their owners across the country. In this exciting role, you’ll lead a talented team of People Partners, ensuring they have all the tools and support to create an exceptional employee experience. You will work closely with our leadership to align people strategies with our business objectives, driving culture while we scale at a remarkable pace. Your ability to cultivate relationships will empower you to act as a trusted advisor, nurturing a high-performing, accountable atmosphere within the team. From developing and mentoring your team to crafting compelling programs for talent retention, you will play a key role in shaping the future of Barkbus and its people. If you’re eager to make a meaningful impact and help us establish a beloved pet brand, come join the Barkbus family and help us build something extraordinary!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Director, People Partners Role at Barkbus

What responsibilities does the Director, People Partners have at Barkbus?

The Director, People Partners at Barkbus is responsible for leading and developing a high-performing team of People Partners, ensuring they receive support and guidance to enhance the employee experience. Key responsibilities include crafting people programs that attract talent, managing employee relations, and driving performance management processes while scaling HR operations to meet the demands of rapid growth.