People Partner - New York, NY

At Blue Bottle, our mission is to connect the world to delicious coffee. From seed to cup, we elevate the craft of coffee in everything we do. We strive to build a better tomorrow by investing in what matters: a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet.

At Blue Bottle, our mission is to connect the world to delicious coffee. From seed to cup, we elevate the craft of coffee in everything we do. We strive to build a better tomorrow by investing in what matters: a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet.

About the job

Blue Bottle is writing a new chapter to the story and traditions of coffee and hospitality, and the People Partner, NYC Metro, will help us support the company and culture to do it. Under the direction of the Sr. Director, U.S. People,  this is an amazing opportunity to serve as a strategic advisor to cafe leadership, aligning people strategy with business objectives at one of the fastest-growing specialty coffee and consumer brands in the world. Blue Bottlers love our company, products, and mission - a great foundation from which to make Blue Bottle the place to start and pursue a career in world-class hospitality and delicious food & beverage.

This is a hybrid role, and employees are required to be based within 50 miles of the following Blue Bottle Coffee geographic location: New York City Metro

You Will:

• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to cafe leadership, providing guidance and support on day-to-day people matters, reviews, performance management, and other people-related matters.

• Partner with business leaders on workforce planning and talent strategy, identify and mitigate retention risks, strengthen leadership capability and high-performing teams, and proactively support succession planning.

• Conduct regular cafe visits to assess the team dynamics, leadership effectiveness, and overall organizational health, leveraging observations and data to identify trends and recommend proactive people strategies to strengthen team member engagement and increase workforce effectiveness.

• Synthesize field insights, workforce analytics, and stakeholder feedback to influence the strategic direction of People initiatives, operational priorities, and team member development investments. 

• Maintain cross-functional partnerships across the People function to ensure company-wide programs are strategically designed, effectively deployed, and continuously improved based on business need, impact, and team member feedback.

• Lead cross-functional project teams to deliver strategic People initiatives on time and to specification, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals and measurable business impact. 

• Maintain expertise in all regulatory requirements and HR best practices across the assigned geographies, proactively advising leadership on compliance risks and emerging trends. 

• Partner with People Relations to ensure consistent, positive team member experience across the cafes while honoring all regulatory obligations.

You are

• A strategic thinker who combines business acumen, data-driven insights, and sound judgment to make high-impact people decisions. 

• An influential people leader who builds trust at all levels and serves as a credible advisor on complex people and organizational matters. 

• Someone who champions talent development and high performance, balancing advocacy for team member growth with the ability to address performance gaps and drive accountability. 

• A collaborative business partner who builds trust-based relationships with all levels of Blue Bottlers and can influence at all levels of the company.

• A clear, compelling communicator who can translate complex people strategies into actionable plans and present confidently to all levels of leadership. 

• Highly organized and results-oriented, with the ability to manage competing priorities in an evolving environment.

You have

• 6+ years of progressive HR experience, including at least 4 years as a People Partner (HRBP) supporting multi-unit food & beverage, retail hospitality, or similar operationally complex environments. 

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree, SPHR/SHRM-SCP certification, or equivalent experience preferred. 

• Expertise in federal, state, and local employment law, labor & employee relations, and regulatory compliance, with specific experience in NYC Fair Work Week and Earned Safe and Sick Time regulations. 

• Demonstrated expertise across the full spectrum of HR disciplines-including new location openings, talent management, compensation and benefits strategy, and workforce planning-with the ability to apply strategic judgment to complex, market-specific situations. 

• Superb judgement and integrity with the ability to make sound, timely decisions that balance risk, business impact, and employee experience. 

A few benefits we offer:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for eligible employees starting on your first day

• Best-in-class coffee training and continuing education

• Free membership into the Specialty Coffee Association of America and discounts on events (including Expos and Championships)

• 401(k) plan

• Paid time off & paid volunteer hours

• 50% discount on all products, both online and in-cafe; this includes food, beverages, whole-bean coffee, and merchandise

• Flexible spending account & commuter benefits

• Employee Assistance Program

• Additional benefits information

At Blue Bottle Coffee, you’ll be a vital part of our guests’ experience and a crucial link in delivering the most delicious coffee we can find to every person who walks through our doors, be it in person or online. If you’re ready to bring beautiful and thoughtfully rendered experiences to life, please apply and join us.   Blue Bottle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business’s needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind in the hiring process or in the workplace.   We comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations that allow qualified applicants/employees to perform the essential functions of the job.  We also provide reasonable religious accommodations to applicants/employees to allow them to practice their bona fide religious beliefs. To request an accommodation, contact your People Partner.   We may refuse to hire relatives of present employees if doing so could result in actual or potential problems in supervision, security, safety, or morale, or if doing so could create other conflicts of interest.   We will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.   We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.