People Business Partner - Tech

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.

• 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.

• 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.