Highwire Coffee Roasters
Reports To: Founders
Location: Hybrid – San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland, CA)
Status: Full-Time
Position Summary
Highwire Coffee Roasters is seeking a pragmatic, people-first Human Resources Business
Partner (HRBP) to support and strengthen our growing retail and production teams. This role
will serve as a strategic and operational partner to leadership and store management across all
people functions including employee relations, performance management, recruiting support,
compliance, coaching, organizational development, and culture.
This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, can balance empathy
with accountability, and is energized by helping operators build strong teams and sustainable
people practices. The ideal candidate understands hospitality and retail environments,
communicates clearly and professionally, and can navigate complexity with sound judgment and
calm execution.
Core Responsibilities
Employee Relations & Performance Management
Serve as the primary HR partner for store managers, operations leaders, and production
leadership
Provide guidance and coaching on employee relations matters, workplace investigations,
corrective actions, conflict resolution, and performance management
Support leaders in delivering timely, consistent, and legally compliant accountability
processes
Partner with leadership to improve communication standards, professionalism, and
workplace culture
Help reduce organizational risk through proactive coaching, documentation, and policy
alignment
Leadership Coaching & Operational Partnership
Build trusted relationships with leaders across retail, roastery, and support operations
Coach managers on leadership effectiveness, team engagement, staffing, retention, and
communication
Support organizational planning, succession planning, and talent development efforts
Participate in operational meetings and help translate business priorities into people
strategies
Recruiting & Onboarding
Partner with hiring managers on staffing strategy and workforce planning
Support recruiting coordination, interview processes, and hiring best practices
Ensure onboarding experiences are organized, welcoming, and operationally effective
Assist in developing training and onboarding resources for retail and production teams
Compliance & Policy Administration
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
Maintain and support HR policies, handbook standards, and workplace procedures
Partner with outside counsel or consultants when needed regarding employee matters
Support leave administration, accommodations, wage and hour compliance, and
documentation practices
Manage day-to-day HR administration including HRIS data integrity, personnel file
maintenance, offer letters, status change processing, and employment verifications
Culture & Employee Experience
Help reinforce Highwire’s culture through thoughtful communication, consistency, and
leadership partnership
Support employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, and feedback
mechanisms
Assist in creating a workplace environment rooted in professionalism, hospitality,
accountability, and inclusion
Qualifications
3–5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in hospitality, retail, food &
beverage, or multi-unit operations
Strong working knowledge of California employment law and employee relations
practices
Experience supporting frontline operational teams in fast-paced environments
Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive and confidential situations with discretion and
professionalism
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day execution
Experience with investigations, corrective actions, and coaching managers preferred
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred
PHR/SPHR or SHRM certification is a plus
Role Structure
Hybrid role based in the San Francisco Bay Area; must be able to work in person at
Oakland locations as needed
Regular in-person presence at Highwire store locations and roastery across Oakland and
the Bay Area
Some evening or weekend availability may occasionally be required based on business
needs
Representation at collective bargaining sessions as the HR point of contact for
management
At Highwire, we believe exceptional hospitality starts internally. We’re looking for someone who
can help us build strong leaders, healthy teams, and operational consistency while preserving the
humanity and warmth that define our brand.
Robert Myers and Rich Avella first met in the mid-1990s and share an approach to coffee we call "approachable excellence".
Our shops are welcoming spaces where we connect around our enthusiasm for coffee, our communities, and our love of music. Our coffees are always the freshest green coffees available in any season and we roast them along a roast spectrum that captures the range of coffee lovers' tastes from lighter, bright Single Origins, to the deeper chocolatey body-forward coffees typical of a darker roasted coffee.