People Partner
At a glance
Mid-level HR Business Partner & Generalist role at Nooks. San Francisco · full-time · $155,000–$190,000 base.
hrroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Coach managers on feedback, performance, team dynamics, career discussions and difficult employee conversations
- Handle employee relations and performance cases, including investigations, improvement plans, terminations and compliance
- Use regular reviews and check-ins to spot development needs, then help managers improve performance, engagement and retention
- Shape workforce plans, organizational design and change efforts, and guide decisions on rewards, leveling and succession
- Build people programs with the wider People team, covering performance, career growth, compensation and manager support
What you bring
- At least six years of HR business partner work in a fast-growing technology environment
- Strong experience handling employee relations and performance issues, including sensitive or complex cases
- You can coach managers effectively and earn trust with leaders at different levels
Who this fits
This suits a hands-on People partner who likes working close to leaders and employees, balancing individual coaching with organization-wide improvements. The role is based in San Francisco and requires three onsite days each week.
From the employer
About Nooks.ai:
Nooks is an applied AI lab building the Agent Workspace for GTM. We design AI agents that operate across the full sales action set, from account strategy to prospect research and outreach. Building 0→1 has never been easier, but selling at the speed of the market remains the last frontier for AI. Our mission is to 10x every seller by automating the busywork so they can focus on what humans do best: closing deals.
Today, over 1,500 customers run on Nooks, including Notion, HubSpot, Cursor, and Rippling. We’ve raised $70M+ from top VCs like Kleiner Perkins, which made its first sales-tech investment in over a decade with us. Since then, we’ve tripled ARR each year for 3 years running and grown a high-caliber team turning the art of sales into a scalable science.
About the Role:
Location: Hybrid / 3 days Onsite – San Francisco, CA
Nooks is growing quickly, and we’re looking for an experienced, strategic People Business Partner to help us scale our teams, managers, and organization alongside that growth.
This founding role will directly influence leadership, drive cultural impact, and enhance operational excellence across the company. You’ll partner closely with leaders and managers across the employee lifecycle - helping them build strong teams, navigate performance and employee relations, make thoughtful talent decisions, and evolve their organizations as we scale. As a trusted advisor, you will lead key initiatives and support managers and employees to build a strong, high-performing organization.
What you'll do:
Own and drive key People functions, including manager enablement (talent management, coaching, training), business strategy alignment (workforce planning, change management, analytics), people program development (performance management, compensation, succession planning), and employee relations (PIPs, investigations, terminations, compliance).
Use periodic evaluations and frequent touchpoints to identify individual, team, and manager development needs, make recommendations, and partner closely with managers to implement strategies that measurably improve performance, engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
Provide guidance and leadership in the following areas: total rewards, leveling, employee engagement, culture development, organizational design, change management, employee communications, and people development.
Coach managers across the full range of people leadership topics, including feedback, performance, team dynamics, career conversations, employee engagement, and difficult conversations.
Partner with the broader People team on company-wide programs including performance management, career development, compensation, engagement, and manager enablement.
Execute on other People or general operations responsibilities as required by the People team on an ad hoc basis.
We're looking for someone who has:
6-8+ years of HRBP experience within a high-growth tech environment.
Strong manager coaching skills and the ability to build credibility with leaders at multiple levels.
Deep experience managing employee relations and performance matters, including complex or sensitive situations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly in sensitive situations.
Ability to recognize patterns and build scalable solutions without introducing process for process’s sake.
Nice to haves:
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
Experience partnering with founders to shape people strategies that drive performance, engagement, and organizational success.
Experience working in an international company, with a preference for experience in Ireland or London.
You might be a great fit if:
You’re energized by being close to the business. You want to understand how a team actually works, what its leaders are trying to accomplish, and where people or organizational challenges could get in the way.
You’re equally comfortable challenging a senior leader, coaching a first-time manager, navigating a difficult employee situation, and stepping back to ask whether the organization itself needs to change.
Most importantly, you see People partnership as more than responding to issues: you want to help leaders build stronger organizations before those issues happen.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Nooks is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe in providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Nooks does not discriminate in hiring, promotion, compensation, or any other employment practices, and we are committed to ensuring a workplace that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply and join our team.