THE ROLE: Senior People Partner, West & South Markets The Senior People Partner, West & South Markets serves as the primary HR partner and strategic people resource for Levain Bakery's operations. This senior-level role provides hands-on support to store and district leaders across our West and South footprint currently spanning three Los Angeles-area locations, with Newport Beach opening soon, and three additional store openings planned in the west and south coast for 2027. The Senior People Partner leads HR functions including employee relations, leave management, workplace accommodations, legal compliance, and people initiatives that align with business objectives. This role serves as the People & Culture team's functional expert in legal compliance, wage/hour, and multi-state leave administration, with deep fluency in California employment law. The Senior People Partner is based in Los Angeles in a hybrid capacity, with regular presence at California bakery locations and periodic travel to Texas, Tennessee, and New York headquarters. What We're Looking For People-forward attitude with a keen understanding of the multi-state employee experience Passion for what you do - you're excited to leverage your expertise in California employment law, compliance, and leave management to protect both the business and our people Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills; team-oriented with a positive attitude across time zones and markets Maintain a high level of professionalism and courtesy: be adaptable, flexible, and patient Be open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement Be consistent, patient, and even keeled: remain calm under pressure when navigating complex compliance matters or employee relations situations High level of integrity, emotional intelligence, and discretion to handle complex, sensitive matters across multi-state locations Project management and time management skills to manage HR initiatives and meet key deadlines across a geographically distributed portfolio Leadership skills to collaborate with and informally mentor HR team peers Embody and promote the values and standards of Levain Bakery Job Responsibilities: Partnership & Leadership Support Partner with Store Managers and District/Regional Leaders across markets to support and manage human resources initiatives alongside operational and business goals Provide real-time guidance on performance management, leadership effectiveness, team development, and proactive solutions to address potential issues Serve as a trusted advisor during team member challenges, team member inquiries, and impactful operational changes Conduct regular store visits across West & South markets to assess culture, engagement, and people practices; partner with District Managers to provide insight and solution-oriented feedback Employee Relations & Compliance Manage and resolve employee relations matters promptly and fairly across markets Conduct investigations and ensure consistent documentation and follow-through Ensure stores operate in compliance with employment laws, company policies, and wage/hour standards with particular focus on California PAGA, meal/rest break requirements, and multi-state wage/hour compliance Proactively mitigate risk through training and leader coaching Monitor trends, identify risk areas, and recommend process improvements to enhance compliance and employee experience Leave & Workplace Accommodation Management Own leave of absence administration for all West & South markets, including CFRA, CA PDL, CA Paid Family Leave, SDI, CA Paid Sick Leave, FMLA, and applicable TX and TN leave requirements Serve as the People & Culture team's primary resource on California leave law compliance Serve as primary HR contact for employees and leaders regarding leave eligibility, documentation, timelines, and return-to-work processes Manage leave cases end-to-end, including reviewing medical certifications, tracking usage, maintaining accurate records, and coordinating with payroll Facilitate the interactive process for workplace accommodations in compliance with ADA and applicable California law Evaluate accommodation requests, assess operational impact, and partner with leaders to implement reasonable solutions Maintain detailed, confidential documentation to mitigate legal and compliance risk Provide guidance and training to store and district leaders on leave administration and accommodation best practices Engagement & Culture Analyze engagement results at the store and district level across markets and partner on action plans Support culture-building initiatives aligned with company values Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives in the field Identify trends impacting retention and recommend proactive solutions Workforce Management Support workforce planning, onboarding, and staffing optimization across CA, TX, and TN Partner with Talent Acquisition to address NBO hiring needs and staffing for new market openings Ensure and provide guidance to store leaders for adherence to labor laws, regulations, and reporting requirements Support and guide leaders through performance reviews, corrective action, and talent calibration processes Identify high-potential talent and provide recommendations to support development and succession planning at the store level Training & Development Facilitate or support HR training sessions for store leaders across markets Partner with District Managers on opportunities for onboarding, feedback, accountability, and development planning Reinforce consistent execution of people programs across all locations Support new bakery opening HR preparation, including pre-opening onboarding and team setup for CA, TX, and TN openings Organizational Change Management Support implementation of company-wide HR initiatives across markets Ensure clear communication and smooth execution of organizational changes Effectively manage, support, and communicate HR team goals and initiatives with broader business goals Develop and implement strategies to strengthen relationships between HR and field leadership Legal Compliance Serve as the People & Culture team's functional expert on legal compliance and matters across multi-state operations Partner with the Senior Director and payroll team to ensure pay accuracy, classification compliance, and wage/hour adherence across CA, TX, and Maintain current knowledge of California, Texas, and Tennessee employment law developments; communicate relevant changes to the broader team and field leadership Support pay band reviews, compensation analysis, and offer benchmarking for West & South markets Advise on PAGA exposure mitigation, wage statements, final pay compliance, and other California-specific payroll obligations Provide guidance on employee classification (exempt/non-exempt) and contractor/employee distinctions across all covered states Requirements: Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required 5-8+ years of progressive HR experience, including multi-state business partner experience required Deep knowledge of California employment law required - PAGA, CFRA, PDL, CA PFL, SDI, meal/rest, wage/hour Hands-on experience administering multi-state leave of absence programs; California leave administration required Prior experience in employee relations and performance management required Experience in multi-site, retail, hospitality, or fast-paced environments preferred Working knowledge of Texas and/or Tennessee employment law a strong plus Experience managing employee relations investigations Experience working with HRIS systems; UKG experience a plus Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Bilingual in Spanish preferred SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred Must be based in Los Angeles; Ability to travel once a month Compensation & Benefits $120,000-$130,000 + 15% annual bonus potential Health, Vision, Dental Insurance Employer-funded Healthcare Reimbursement Account Additional supplemental benefits: Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Bike-Share Reimbursement 14 Weeks Fully Paid Parental Leave Four Weeks of Paid Time Off 401K with 3.5% Company Match