Job Description

People Manager, California

• California
• Human Resources & Recruitment

Woods & Co is partnering with a celebrated Milanese restaurant group to find a People Manager for their new Beverly Hills flagship. It opens in spring 2027 with around 120 employees, and more West Coast openings are planned.

This is a hands on role. You’ll own HR and California compliance for the restaurant, work closely with the chefs and GM, and help build the opening team. You’ll be on site, not running things from a head office.

What’s in it for you?

• $115,000 to $125,000 base plus a 5% bonus
• A flagship opening with a brand that has been running restaurants since 1936
• Room to grow your scope as the group adds more California locations
• Onboarding and ongoing support from an experienced national People team
• A direct line to the VP of People

What you’ll do:

• Be the restaurant’s California compliance expert across wage and hour, meal and rest breaks, overtime, tip pooling and pay notices
• Keep Cal/OSHA programs current, including the IIPP, the workplace violence prevention plan and injury reporting
• Manage leave, accommodations, investigations and harassment prevention training
• Coach the GM, Executive Chef and FOH/BOH leaders on performance, discipline and documentation
• Support recruiting through opening, working alongside the talent acquisition team
• Handle payroll inputs, benefits enrollment and day to day employee questions
• Report compliance risks and trends to the VP of People

What we’re looking for:

• HR experience in restaurants or hospitality, ideally across multiple locations
• Strong working knowledge of California employment law
• An operator who’s as comfortable in the kitchen as behind a desk
• Calm and practical when plans change, which they will during an opening
• Some recruiting experience
• Fluent Spanish is a big plus
• Available to start in January

If this sounds like you, apply now. We’re interviewing immediately.
For a confidential conversation, call Kate Beaumont on +1 (646) 323 2825 or email kate@woodsco.global

Woods & Co recruits across a wide range of roles and industries. If this opportunity isn’t quite right for you but you’re open to new opportunities, we’d still love to hear from you. Know someone who’d be a great fit? Refer them and if we successfully place them in a permanent role, we’ll send you a $250 gift voucher.

Woods & Co Recruitment is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate and proudly encourage applications from everyone, including individuals from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities of all ages.

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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