About the role

The People Advocate serves as the in-market HR point of contact for Sifted’s New York teams. This role provides visible, consistent People Operations support across New York locations, helps resolve low-level employee relations and HR matters, and ensures team members know where to go for guidance, support, and escalation.

This position partners closely with the People Operations Generalist to support employee investigations, sensitive conversations, terminations, onboarding, and day-to-day HR needs. The People Advocate is expected to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and represent Sifted’s people-first culture with professionalism and care.

This position requires approximately 10-15 hours per week. Flexibility in schedule is required to ensure regular presence across New York locations and to support time-sensitive People Operations needs as they arise.

What you'll be doing

• Serving as the in-person HR representative for the New York market
• Maintaining regular presence across market locations to build trust, visibility, and accessibility with team members and managers
• Monitoring and maintaining the HR ticketing system for the market, ensuring tickets are addressed accurately and in a timely manner
• Responding to low-level HR questions and employee relations matters with professionalism, discretion, and care
• Escalating more serious or complex issues to the People Operations Generalist and collaborating on next steps and solutions
• Supporting employee investigations as the in-person investigator, following the direction and guidance of the People Operations Generalist
• Attending and supporting sensitive employee conversations, including terminations, disciplinary conversations, and other high-care situations as needed
• Conducting employee onboarding and helping create a welcoming, organized, and consistent new hire experience
• Support recruiting operations in partnership with the People Operations Specialist / Recruiter
• Documenting relevant employee interactions, investigation details, ticket updates, and follow-up actions in accordance with People Operations processes
• Helping reinforce company policies, expectations, and culture across the New York market

Our ideal candidate

• Has experience in HR, People Operations, employee relations, hospitality leadership, operations, or another people-facing role
• Communicates clearly, calmly, and professionally with employees, managers, and cross-functional partners
• Demonstrates strong judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive information
• Is approachable, trustworthy, and able to build strong relationships with hourly and salaried team members
• Can distinguish between routine HR matters and issues that require escalation
• Is highly organized and able to manage tickets, documentation, and follow-up in a timely manner
• Is comfortable navigating sensitive conversations with empathy and professionalism
• Can work independently while staying closely aligned with the People Operations Generalist
• Brings a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to supporting employees and managers

Perks + benefits

• Compensation : $28-32 per hour depending on experience and fit
• 401(k) program after six months of employment
• 24 hours of PTO per year; paid company holidays
• 100% mileage reimbursement (if driving for the company)
• Early access to pay through Earned Wage Access with Branch
• Free lunch
• Flexible work schedule
• Supportive environment with room to grow + develop
  
  

Job Type: Full Time
Shift: Weekdays
Weekly day range: Monday - Friday

Eligibility : This position must maintain ServSafe Food Handler card (company-paid);

Work environment : This is a position based both in a commercial kitchen and on-site in client offices

Physical requirements : This position requires the ability to lift up to 50 lbs, the ability to stand for long periods of time, and the ability to bend, squat, and reach

About Sifted

Sifted was founded in 2015 by Kimberly Lexow and Jess Legge with a bold vision — to reimagine office food as an experience rooted in hospitality, sustainability, and intentionality.

What began as a modern take on workplace meals quickly evolved into a nationwide food platform that supports culture, community, and carbon-conscious choices across hundreds of companies. We’re not a caterer — we’re a workplace food partner.

Our team is our secret sauce — a mix of hospitality pros, culinary experts, technologists, and innovators redefining what it means to build meaningful, stable, and opportunity-filled careers in hospitality.

At Sifted, people stay, grow, and thrive — our team members remain with us three times longer than the industry average.

We offer flexibility, generous perks, and room to grow — hiring builders, operators, creatives, and craftspeople who care about making work (and workplaces) better.

At Sifted, our team culture mirrors the experiences we design for our clients:

• Creative Freedom: Everyone contributes ideas and shapes the future of our service.
• Hospitality-Driven: No matter your role, you’re in service to someone — and that matters.
• Career Growth: We invest in internal mobility, mentorship, and hands-on learning.
• People First: We support flexible work, celebrate wins, and lead with empathy.
• Real Impact: Every day, your work reduces waste, improves lives, and connects people through food.

If you’re passionate about great food, great people, and great purpose — we’d love to meet you.