People Business Partner

Located onsite in Eugene, Oregon, this People Business Partner role supports a network of multi-unit restaurant operations across Portland and SW Washington. As a trusted HR partner to operational leadership, you will shape people strategy, oversee employee relations, onboarding, retention, and the overall employee experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate directly with the People Ops Director, Director of Operations, District Managers, and restaurant leaders to advance business performance through people strategy
• Provide HR guidance and support to operational leaders
• Partner with leaders on employee relations, compliance, and workforce strategy
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies and employment practices
• Coach leaders on employee relations, accountability, documentation, performance management, and difficult conversations
• Conduct or support employee investigations and provide practical, legally compliant guidance
• Analyze turnover, retention, engagement, staffing, and workforce trends to help leaders make informed decisions
• Support onboarding, leadership development, succession planning, and employee retention initiatives
• Assist in implementing and operationalizing new People Ops systems, processes, and enterprise initiatives
• Build trust and credibility with field leadership through responsiveness, empathy, and practical problem solving
• Support organizational change management and operational alignment across multiple restaurant locations

Requirements

• 6+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably supporting multi-unit operations
• Experience conducting employee relations investigations and advising leaders
• Strong understanding of employment law and HR compliance
• Ability to coach and influence operational leaders at multiple levels
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Experience using HRIS systems and workforce data to drive decisions
• QSR, restaurant, retail, hospitality, or other high-volume operational experience strongly preferred
• SHRM or HRCI certification required
• Ability to travel regularly throughout the Portland market and surrounding areas

Location & Travel

This role primarily supports the Portland and SW Washington area, with regular travel to restaurant locations and operational meetings across the region.

What makes someone successful in this role

• The ideal candidate is highly relational, approachable, emotionally intelligent, and confident coaching operational leaders in fast-paced environments. They balance empathy with accountability and influence without creating unnecessary friction. They are comfortable working with people metrics and operational data, able to build, interpret, and communicate datasets, trends, and workforce insights to support business decisions
• They can build credibility quickly with restaurant leadership and understand the pace, challenges, and culture of restaurant operations
• They enjoy building relationships, solving people problems, creating structures where needed, and helping leaders grow. They are energized by working directly with people and navigate change, coaching conversations, and operational complexity

Why JCK Restaurants

• Leadership
• Service
• Teamwork
• Fun
• Kindness