Associate, People Operations

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 Associate, People Operations, you will serve as a key operational partner within the People Ops team, supporting the function by driving efficient, compliant, and scalable processes across the employee lifecycle. You will own critical workflows that support onboarding, HRIS data integrity, employee support, and compliance administration as the company continues growing our team of 260+ groomers, 60 corp team members and 70 international support team members.

This role bridges tactical execution and operational ownership. You will independently execute high-impact processes while partnering closely with the Sr. Manager, People Ops to strengthen infrastructure and support scalable systems.

What You’ll Own:

• Own and execute onboarding and administrative offboarding workflows, collaborating with Grooming Ops and People team members to ensure compliant documentation, system access setup and removal, and smooth employee lifecycle transitions

• Support the execution and continuous improvement of People Ops processes, leveraging systems and automation to drive efficiency and scalability

• Maintain People data accuracy and reporting integrity, supporting process improvements through routine audits and data validation

• Support compliance administration across the People function, including workplace policies and practices, employee benefits processes, and federal and multi-state reporting requirements, ensuring documentation, audits, and day-to-day operations align with applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Manage early-stage employee lifecycle workflows - from offer through Day 1 readiness - ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a seamless transition to active employment, including offer letter preparation, background check coordination, account provisioning, orientation scheduling, and I-9 verification.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee inquiries related to People Ops policies, benefits, and compliance, providing timely and professional support

• Maintain and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency, operational clarity, and process efficiency

• Maintain HRIS data integrity through regular audits, accurate record-keeping, and reporting support (Rippling experience preferred)

• Build and maintain strong working knowledge of Rippling reporting, supporting routine People data requests and collaborating with People Ops leadership on more complex reporting and analysis initiatives.

• Support People Ops initiatives and projects by executing assigned workstreams and contributing to process and system improvements

• Manage HR documentation and mail intake, ensuring timely processing, secure record-keeping, and accurate personnel file maintenance

• Partner with People Ops leadership to support compliance initiatives and ensure adherence to federal, state, and local labor laws by staying up to date on employment regulations, supporting audits and reporting requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• 2+ years of experience in People Operations or Human Resources.

• PHR or SPHR certification preferred.

• Deep knowledge of HR systems, a strong preference for prior Rippling experience!

• Experience with people analytics and a working knowledge of benefits trends and compensation planning is a strong plus, but not required

• Highly detail-oriented with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Fluent in Google Suite and Slack

• Strong confidentiality skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information appropriately.

• A love of dogs! 🐶

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive Base Salary: $75-85K, based on experience.

• 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.

Join us on this exciting journey as we continue to grow and make our mark in the pet industry!

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