People Operations, Senior Associate

Skip To Job Description Available Position (Company name withheld) People Operations, Senior Associate San Francisco, CA Full Time Mid Level Share About ZBioticsAt ZBiotics, we make genetically engineered probiotics that improve daily life. As a group of motivated, yet down-to-earth people, we are fueled by two things: a love for science and a commitment to being people-first. GMO products like ours, built to create benefits for people in their daily lives, are the future. As the first to market, we believe it's our duty to set a high bar for product quality, safety, and transparency for others to follow.In 2019, ZBiotics launched Pre-Alcohol, the world’s first genetically engineered probiotic designed to break down the alcohol byproduct that leads to rough mornings after drinking. In 2024, we launched a genetically engineered probiotic drink mix, Sugar-to-Fiber, that creates fiber from the food you eat. This revolutionary product helps to improve the diversity of gut bacteria and overall gut health.With a full line of genetically engineered probiotics in development, our team is growing. We’re looking for people as excited as we are to build this new category of consumer products. ZBiotics is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by venture investors including Y Combinator and Khosla Ventures, among others.About the RoleZBiotics is growing and so is the complexity of taking care of our people. As a People Operations Senior Associate, you’ll be the operational backbone of our People function: the person who turns strategy into systems, keeps our HR infrastructure running smoothly, and ensures every ZBioneer experiences a consistent, high-quality people experience from day one through their entire tenure.This role sits within a lean, high-ownership People Ops team. You’ll report directly to the Senior Director of People Operations and work closely with our Director of Talent Acquisition. You’ll own the day-to-day execution of employee lifecycle operations and play a hands-on role across key employee programs and recruitment efforts. If you’re a people-first operator who cares deeply about doing things right, and gets satisfaction from the operational work that helps a team function at its best, this role is for you.This is a remote role supporting a hybrid in-person and distributed remote team but may include travel to the San Francisco, CA area. Your ResponsibilitiesHR Compliance & Policy InfrastructureContribute to the development and maintenance of ZBiotics’ core HR policy materials—including the Employee Handbook—ensuring they are compliant, current, aligned with ZBiotics values, and practical for a growing team.Work closely with the Senior Director of People Operations and General Counsel to stay up to date on labor laws and regulations across our operating locations, flagging issues proactively and updating policies accordingly.Document and maintain a repeatable set of People Ops operating procedures that create consistency and reduce reliance on institutional memory.Manage employee documentation with appropriate security and access controls in place.Employee Lifecycle OperationsOwn the full administrative employee lifecycle: onboarding logistics, HRIS data integrity, employment changes, offboarding, and everything in between.Partner with the Senior Director of People Ops and Director of Talent Acquisition to continuously improve the onboarding experience—making sure every new ZBioneer feels set up for success from day one.Manage payroll and benefits administration in partnership with our PEO, including open enrollment and day-to-day employee inquiries.Administer leaves of absence across all applicable leave types (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, and others), coordinating with employees, managers, and our third-party leave administrator to ensure compliance and a smooth experience.Serve as a knowledgeable, empathetic  and people-first point of contact for employee HR...