Fractional HR Business Partner (1099 Contractor)

Good HR helps people—and businesses—move forward.

A business owner needs help with a tough employee conversation. A growing team has outgrown its handbook. A new manager wants to do the right thing but isn’t sure where to start.

That’s where you come in.

Jumpstart HR is looking for an experienced independent HR consultant who brings practical answers, a steady presence, and strong follow-through. You enjoy getting to know a business, understanding its people, and helping leaders make thoughtful decisions.

This opportunity is a good fit for someone with an established consulting practice who wants to add client projects to their portfolio.

What you’ll help clients do

Our clients include small businesses, startups, nonprofits, and organizations that need extra HR support. Each engagement will have an agreed scope, timeline, and budget. Depending on your experience and the client’s needs, you may:

• Help managers navigate employee concerns, performance issues, difficult conversations, and separation planning.
• Create or update handbooks, policies, job descriptions, and employee communications.
• Review HR practices, identify gaps, and build a realistic action plan.
• Improve hiring, onboarding, and offboarding.
• Help clients navigate HR requirements across multiple states, including leave and accommodations.
• Build useful performance-review tools and coach managers on giving feedback.
• Improve HR systems, employee records, and payroll or benefits processes.
• Support retention, compensation, and workforce-planning projects that fit your expertise.

You’ll help carry agreed work through to completion, keep clients informed, and flag issues that need legal counsel or another specialist. Clients remain responsible for their employment decisions.

How the consulting arrangement works

This is a nonexclusive independent contractor opportunity, subject to applicable state requirements.

• Rate: $40–$45 per hour, with the specific rate agreed based on experience and scope.
• Projects: You choose whether to accept proposed engagements. Hours vary, and there is no guaranteed minimum or promise of ongoing work.
• Flexibility: You set your methods, schedule, and work location while meeting agreed deadlines, client meetings, and security requirements. Any response-time commitments are agreed in advance; there are no fixed daily shifts or standing on-call requirements.
• Other clients: You may continue serving other clients, while protecting confidentiality and addressing actual conflicts of interest.
• Business setup: You provide your usual equipment, workspace, and professional resources. We arrange access to client systems when needed.
• Payment: You invoice for services under a written consulting agreement. Scope changes and additional work are agreed together.
• Expenses and benefits: You manage your business expenses, taxes, and any required registrations or insurance. Employee benefits are not included.

Requirements

What makes you a good fit

You know how to listen before offering a solution. You can explain a complicated HR issue in plain language. You’re comfortable giving candid advice with empathy—and you know when to ask for another perspective.

You also bring:

• Five or more years of progressive HR experience, including work as an HR Business Partner, HR Manager, HR Consultant, or a similar role.
• An active SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Experience helping small or midsize businesses make practical HR decisions.
• Strong judgment in employee relations and a careful approach to confidential information.
• Experience supporting employees across multiple states.
• Clear writing skills and the ability to create documents people can understand and use.
• Confidence managing multiple client projects and delivering what you’ve agreed to.
• Familiarity with platforms like Gusto, Rippling, Paylocity, or similar HR systems.
• An established independent HR consulting practice and the resources to deliver your services.

Experience with nonprofits, startups, professional services, California or New York requirements, investigations, compensation, or HR systems projects is a plus.

How we show up

Our values guide the way we serve clients and work with consulting partners:

• Own your expertise. Bring your knowledge and a clear point of view. Be honest about what you know and when you need help.
• Bring clarity from the clouds. Help clients understand what matters and what to do next.
• Be part coach, part cheerleader. Have the honest conversation, offer support, and celebrate progress.
• Ignite the spark. Ask good questions and spot opportunities to make things better.
• Forward and adaptive beat static and slow. Stay curious, adjust thoughtfully, and help clients make progress.

We want clients to leave a conversation feeling heard, supported, and clearer about their next step.

Interested?

Please apply here plus a short introduction that covers:

• Your areas of expertise, certifications, and the states you support.
• Your consulting practice and current capacity for additional projects.
• Two brief examples of HR challenges you helped solve and what changed as a result.

Please leave out confidential client or employee details.

Email and social media outreach to team members at Jumpstart HR will not constitute an application. All applicants should apply here.

Jumpstart HR welcomes qualified consulting professionals from all backgrounds. We’re looking for sound judgment, useful expertise, and a thoughtful approach to helping people.