Director, People Operations

About Unreal

We're on a mission to unjunk the world, starting with our favorite food group: CHOCOLATE.

Our story began when two kids who loved candy got tired of being told they couldn't eat it. All their favorites were filled with artificial ingredients, excess sugar, and stuff they couldn't pronounce. Why did something that tasted so good have to be so bad for them? OR DID IT?

That question inspired our mission: to unjunk the world. Unreal was born, and it sparked a ripple of change. With real, simple ingredients, no artificial anything, way less sugar, and unbelievable taste, those kids proved that better was possible (and, well, better).

Today, we're shaking up an old-school industry, winning over a devoted fanbase, and showing up on more and more shelves every day.

Job Summary

The Director, People Operations will own and continuously improve the core infrastructure that shapes the employee lifecycle at Unreal, including total rewards, payroll, compliance, employee relations, people systems, onboarding, and offboarding. This leader will be both strategic and hands-on, ensuring our People Ops foundation is consistent, compliant, and scalable as Unreal grows. Because of our stage and size, this role covers a broad range of responsibilities that in larger organizations might be split across multiple positions. 

Over the next 12–18 months, success in this role means building the systems and processes that set us up for scale, elevating programs we already have in place, and serving as a trusted thought partner to the VP of People & Business Operations. The Director, People Operations will collaborate closely with the Director, Org Development & Culture, who owns performance management, learning & development, employee engagement, Unreal’s People Partner office, culture initiatives, and the Manager, Talent Acquisition & Strategy, who leads recruiting, workforce planning, and employer brand. Together, this trio will ensure Unreal attracts, develops, engages, and supports our people while scaling with integrity and staying true to our values.

The Director, People Operations will be a vital member of the Unreal People team and report directly to the VP, People & Business Operations. 

What You’ll Do

• Lead and continuously improve core People Ops programs across total rewards, payroll, compliance, employee relations, HR systems, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Lead the benchmarking, analysis, and administration of compensation and benefits programs to keep them competitive and transparent; partner with the Director, Org Development & Culture to shape Unreal’s compensation philosophy. 
• Fully own payroll operations end-to-end, including processing, compliance, audits, and employee support, ensuring accuracy and timeliness every pay cycle.
• Manage all aspects of employee leave (FMLA, parental, medical, state-specific programs, etc.), ensuring compliance, clear communication, and a supportive employee experience.
• Establish and maintain compliance policies and employee relations frameworks, partnering with leadership and legal as needed.
• Own and optimize our HRIS and people data, ensuring accuracy, reporting, and automation that enable leaders to make informed decisions.
• Enhance onboarding and new hire processes for a consistent and engaging employee experience.
• Partner with leaders to navigate employee relations, providing sound, empathetic, and culturally aligned guidance.
• Monitor People Ops metrics (turnover, engagement, compensation benchmarks, etc.) and use insights to inform improvements.
• Identify gaps and implement scalable solutions that anticipate business growth.
• Act as a trusted thought partner to the VP, People & Business Operations, contributing expertise and perspective on People Ops strategy.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with IT, Finance, and senior leaders to align People Ops initiatives with business priorities.

Who You Are

• 8-10 years of experience across the People function, with demonstrated depth in People Operations and broad exposure to areas like total rewards, compliance, systems, and employee experience. 
• Experienced in total rewards, with deep expertise in compensation strategy, benefits administration, and market benchmarking.
• Knowledgeable in employment law, compliance, and employee relations, with comfort handling sensitive and complex situations.
• Skilled at HRIS ownership and/or implementation, with a strong grasp of systems, data, and reporting.
• Seasoned in scaling People Operations within a growth-stage environment.
• Both strategic and hands-on; equally comfortable designing frameworks and rolling up your sleeves to execute.
• A “no task too big or small” leader with sound judgment, discretion, and an empathetic approach.
• A clear, approachable communicator who can simplify complexity and adapt your style to fit Unreal’s energetic, people-first culture.
• A builder at heart: proactive in spotting gaps, creating solutions, and fostering trust at every level.

While Unreal’s culture is remote-first, our team highly values occasional in-person collaboration. As a result, Unreal team members get together for departmental and company-wide events a few times per year. Employees at Unreal are expected to attend apart from extenuating circumstances.

The base compensation range for this position is between $160K - $180K annually. This position is also eligible for a 20% bonus. The salary range listed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this position. Individual compensation is determined by additional factors, including role-related experience and relevant education and certifications. Bonus payout is pro-rated to start date. Employees must be employed by September 30 of the calendar year to be eligible for bonus for that calendar year. 

What We Offer

At Unreal, we are dedicated to providing our employees with a comprehensive array of benefits and perks that resonate deeply with our Core Values. We believe in nurturing our team members, ensuring they feel supported and valued, and enabling them to bring their best selves to work. Below, you'll find an overview of what each Unreal employee enjoys.

• Competitive salary and bonus
• Unlimited PTO & all federal holidays off
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance - employee premiums are 100% covered,  dependent premiums covered at 60% 
• Health Reimbursement Account
• 401(k) with company match (eligible to participate after 6 months from hire)
• Up to 18 weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Caregiver, Medical, & Bereavement Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement & Professional Development Stipend
• Wellness Stipend
• Monthly Home Office Stipend
• Coworking Stipend for remote employees
• Donation Matching Program
• Paid Volunteer Days
• Unlimited chocolate
• Great teammates and team culture - including department & team events
• Exposure to exciting opportunities at a rapidly growing brand!

Our Core Values

At Unreal, our values guide everything we do:

Do The Right Thing

By our consumers, our retailers, our farmers, our partners, and our world. Integrity is everything.

Endlessly Pursue Better

Challenge the status quo, sweat the small stuff, and don’t settle.

Always a Teacher, Always a Student

We share what we know while staying open to what we don’t.

Radiate Good Vibes

This is a biggie. We approach everything we do with positivity and our energy is contagious.

Make Every Bite Matter

We are creating the best bites ever, without sacrificing taste, health, or the planet to do it.

Unreal Brands, Inc. is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, citizenship, or any other legally recognized protected basis under applicable federal, state, or local law.