“Blue Bottle is coffee and people. Not necessarily in that order.” 
—James Freeman, Founder

In our eyes, coffee’s main purpose is to be delicious. We go to great lengths to source, roast, taste, and prepare coffee so our guests can enjoy it at peak deliciousness.

We know that good coffee depends on strong community. We work directly with farmers around the world to source our coffees as sustainably and ethically as we can. We hire team members who are dedicated to creating beautiful experiences with coffee.  

From the farm to the cafe, our coffee is handled by people who care.

Blue Bottle Coffee

At Blue Bottle, our mission is to connect the world to delicious coffee. From seed to cup, we elevate the craft of coffee in everything we do. We strive to build a better tomorrow by investing in what matters: a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet.

About The Job

Blue Bottle is writing a new chapter to the story and traditions of coffee and hospitality, and the Employee Relations Specialist will help us support the company and culture to do it. Under the direction of the Sr Manager, People Relations & Compliance, this is an amazing opportunity to support the company’s commitment to a fair, respectful, and compliant work environment. This role serves as a subject-matter resource for employee relations at one of the fastest-growing specialty coffee and consumer brands in the world. Blue Bottlers love our company, products, and mission - a great foundation from which to make Blue Bottle the place to start and pursue a career in world-class hospitality and delicious food & beverage.

Employees are required to be based within 50 miles of one of the following established Blue Bottle Coffee geographic locations: The San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Chicago

You Will

Conduct impartial and comprehensive investigations into employee relations matters, including allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, workplace conduct concerns, theft, and other employee complaints. Manage the investigation process from intake through resolution, including developing investigation plans, conducting interviews, reviewing relevant documentation, analyzing findings, and preparing investigation summaries and recommendations. Partner with People Partners, managers, and leadership to provide guidance on employee relations matters, policy interpretation, performance concerns, and workplace issues. Support the consistent application of company policies, procedures, and employment practices to promote fairness, compliance, and a positive employee experience. Maintain accurate, thorough, and confidential investigation documentation, ensuring records meet organizational standards and support compliance requirements. Identify trends and recurring themes from employee relations cases and provide insights that support improvements to workplace practices, policies, and employee experience. Ensure investigations are conducted with appropriate discretion, neutrality, and attention to confidentiality and employee privacy. Stay current on employment laws, regulatory requirements, and employee relations best practices to support effective investigation practices. Contribute to the continuous improvement of employee relations processes, tools, and resources to enhance the effectiveness of the People function. 

You Are

Highly skilled in quickly building relationships and consensus at all levels of an organization. Able to influence in a collaborative environment; demonstrate flexibility and develop strong business partnerships. Able to develop solutions to a variety of problems of moderate to complex scope Courageous and able to deliver difficult messages to people at any level of the organization. Excellent at problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities. Adept at discretion and confidentiality. An expert in written and verbal communication skills. Experienced with federal and multi-state compliance obligations. 

You Have

5 years of progressive experience in Human Resources with a minimum of 3 years demonstrated experience conducting employee relations investigations. Strong knowledge of employee relations practices, investigation methodologies, and employment laws. Experience handling sensitive and confidential employee matters with professionalism and discretion. Knowledge of employment laws and regulations, including EEO principles, harassment prevention, workplace conduct, FMLA, ADA, and other relevant employment practices. Strong understanding of HR policies, performance management processes, corrective action, and conflict resolution practices. Strong interviewing, documentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage multiple investigations and priorities while maintaining attention to detail. 

A Few Benefits We Offer

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for eligible employees starting on your first day Best-in-class coffee training and continuing education Free membership into the Specialty Coffee Association of America and discounts on events (including Expos and Championships) 401(k) plan Paid time off & paid volunteer hours 50% discount on all products, both online and in-cafe; this includes food, beverages, whole-bean coffee, and merchandise Flexible spending account & commuter benefits Employee Assistance Program  Additional benefits information 

$84,200 - $120,000 a year

This position has a salary range of $84,200-$120,000. This salary range is a good-faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to pay upon hire. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, which include a candidate's qualifications and experience, where appropriate.

At Blue Bottle Coffee, you’ll be a vital part of our guests’ experience and a crucial link in delivering the most delicious coffee we can find to every person who walks through our doors, be it in person or online. If you’re ready to bring beautiful and thoughtfully rendered experiences to life, please apply and join us.

Blue Bottle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business’s needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind in the hiring process or in the workplace.

We comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations that allow qualified applicants/employees to perform the essential functions of the job. We also provide reasonable religious accommodations to applicants/employees to allow them to practice their bona fide religious beliefs. To request an accommodation, contact your People Partner.

We may refuse to hire relatives of present employees if doing so could result in actual or potential problems in supervision, security, safety, or morale, or if doing so could create other conflicts of interest.

We will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Senior Employee Relations Specialist

What the job involves