People Business Partner

About the role

Are you energized by supporting teams in rocketship mode—where learning outpaces process manuals, and each day brings new puzzles? At Chainguard, we’re rewriting how organizations build secure, scalable, people-centric cultures—one Chainguardian at a time.

As our People Business Partner, you’ll be a champion for our people and a strategic thought partner to our leaders. You’ll build trusted relationships, design high-impact programs, and coach a community that moves fast and cares deeply about the work we do (and how we do it). You’ll be a sounding board for executives, guide managers through sticky challenges, and help set the foundation for a truly inclusive, fun, and high-performing workplace. You’ll play a pivotal role in scaling our People practices while keeping empathy and excellence at the center.

What you’ll do

• Coach, mentor, and provide timely feedback to Chainguardians, helping them grow and thrive.
• Guide people leaders through performance management (think: quarterly/annual reviews, continuous feedback, and clear growth paths).
• Deliver practical, real-talk training to managers on People policies, talent development, and all the quirky things that pop up in a scaling start-up.
• Collaborate with the broader People and Talent teams to deliver programs that attract, retain and engage talent.
• Investigate and resolve employee relations concerns thoughtfully and swiftly, always protecting trust and psychological safety.
• Foster an inclusive work culture (because representation, belonging, and good vibes matter).
• Collaborate with leaders on promotion processes, compensation cycles, and talent planning—making sure every Chainguardian feels seen and valued.
• Interpret and apply People policies with consistency and common sense, keeping us compliant wherever our Chainguardians sit.
• Use data, not guesswork—track, report, and analyze People metrics to inform decisions and drive better outcomes.
• Bring fresh ideas to People programs and never shy away from challenging the status quo.

What we’re looking for

• 6+ years of progressive HR/People experience, including at least 2–4 years in a true Business Partner role (supporting managers/leaders directly).
• Sound judgment, able to assess risk while moving the business forward.
• Hands-on experience with performance management, employee relations, and People analytics/reporting in high-growth, high-change environments.
• Project management and change management skills; you run programs (not just meetings).
• Adaptability and resilience—you stay steady under pressure and bring creativity to challenges.
• Experience operating in a tech start-up (bonus points for scaling global teams).
• Influence and strategic problem-solving chops; you’re comfortable having tough conversations and shaping solutions.
• Relationship-building superpowers—people trust you, and you earn it.
• Strong working knowledge of employment laws and regulations across multiple states.
• Communicates with clarity and empathy across all formats—written, verbal, or digital
• Brings analytical rigor and pragmatism—decisions are grounded in data as well as context.