Dandelion Chocolate · 1 day ago
Director of People Operations
San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$100K/yr - $115K/yr
5+ years expDandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in San Francisco’s Mission District. They are seeking a Director of People Operations to lead talent, culture, and operational initiatives that support their people-first mission and values-driven culture.
Consumer GoodsFood and BeverageMarketingRestaurantsRetailSnack Food
Responsibilities
Leadership Support – We see People Operations primarily as serving the leaders of our teams, helping them develop long-term succession plans, translate the company values to each team’s day-to-day success, and providing them the resources and coaching to best build, align, and lead their teams
Exec Relations – People Operations is a key strategic function at Dandelion, and you’ll join a collaborative culture where Pops is trusted, valued, and central to our success. You’ll report to the CXO and work closely with the CEO, CFO, and COO to align people strategy with business priorities — from informing labor budgets and hiring plans, to preparing teams for peak holiday operations, to ensuring our traditions and internal systems continue to reflect our values as we grow
Cultural Programming – Our People Operations calendar includes origin trips, professional development, bike repair day, Thanksgiving potlucks, and many other traditions that bring our values to life. You’ll champion these rituals while thoughtfully evolving for scale – ensuring our cultural touchpoints remain meaningful as we grow from 8-10 locations to many more, and potentially another factory
People Operations – People Operations at Dandelion spans many disciplines including recruiting, benefits and compliance, professional development, leveling, IT and facilities, community and neighbor relations, and, on occasion, personnel matters. No one person can do everything, so you’ll lead through thoughtful collaboration and delegation – working closely with our CXO, legal advisors, IT partners, seasonal recruiters, and long-time HR colleagues to ensure each area is well supported
Technical evaluations – From timeclocks, scheduling, checklists, benefits, IT vendors, security cameras, and LMS systems, work with stakeholders to determine which tools provide the right features and efficiencies for the upcoming 3-5 years of our business
Recruiting & Team Building – Thoughtful hiring is one of the most important investments we make in our future. Each year, we aim to place key hires early so team members are well trained and supported heading into our holiday season. You’ll steward relationships with a small network of recruiters, agencies, community groups, and alumni partners to build a strong, diverse candidate pool. You’ll oversee sourcing strategies, scheduling, and initial screens, and maintain clear, thoughtful notes to support hiring managers in making great decisions. We track the health of our recruiting function through turnover and are especially proud of the long tenures and internal growth that result from this care
Seasonal Staffing – During the holiday season, we welcome 40-50 additional team members through our alumni community, hiring, and partner agencies. You’ll help create a positive, well-organized seasonal experience for both managers and team members, supporting strong onboarding, clear communication, and thoughtful transitions at the end of each season
Other tasks as necessary – Our culture is grounded in kindness, humility, and a shared belief that no one is above rolling up their sleeves. We are a close-knit team, and especially during the holidays, we show up for one another with generosity and flexibility. We’re looking for someone who brings curiosity, adaptability, and strong follow-through — someone who takes pride in learning what’s needed and seeing important work through
Qualification
Required
Long tenures – Shaping culture takes time, and we're especially impressed by candidates who have demonstrated sustained commitment, ideally through four or more years in recent roles, along with a clear trajectory of growth or impact. While we understand that careers are rarely linear, we're most excited by leaders who have contributed to multi-year, cross-functional programs and invested deeply in the teams they've supported
Previous recruiting experience – Prior recruiting experience is a significant advantage. You'll partner closely with managers to understand the skills and qualities they seek in candidates and to ensure roles are thoughtfully positioned in the market. You'll often work with leaders during high-pressure periods, and we value experience supporting, steadying, and guiding managers with an even-keeled, fair, and can-do approach
Professionalism & discretion – You bring calm judgment and integrity to sensitive situations and never traffic in gossip or speculation. You're trusted to handle confidential information with care, maintain secure documentation practices, and exercise sound judgment in both digital and in-person settings. Experience in roles involving mediation, confidentiality, or complex interpersonal dynamics is a plus
Organizational skills – You are organized, reliable, and attentive to detail. You value punctuality, respond thoughtfully and promptly to communication, and keep hiring and personnel materials well documented and easy to navigate
Technical fluency – You're comfortable working across modern HR and collaboration tools, including Google Workspace, Rippling, JazzHR, and, as needed, Canva or Figma
Team & interpersonal skills – You're perceptive, empathetic, and skilled at reading group dynamics. You put others at ease, navigate organizational complexity with humility, and ask thoughtful questions that help teams stay aligned and focused
Benefits
Paid time off for vacation and sick time
Industry-leading subsidy on medical, dental, and vision insurance through Kaiser, Blue Shield, and the Guardian
30% discount on all Dandelion products
$150 annual Dandelion Chocolate gift card
Chocolate and pastry tasting opportunities
Free beverages and snacks
FSA benefits
Commuter benefits
Professional development training
Safety shoe reimbursement for qualifying positions
CPR training
Safety training
Trips to origin
Opportunities to travel to our Japan locations
Paid time to work on manager-approved internal committees that are essential to the organization
Company
Dandelion Chocolate
Dandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate factory offering chocolate made from carefully roasted beans and organic cane sugar.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$10M2025-12-25Series C
2021-05-03Pre Seed
2016-06-14Pre Seed· $5M
Leadership Team
Cameron Ring
Founder
Recent News
Seattle TechFlash
2025-06-04
San Francisco Chronicle
2024-04-09
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