Human Resources Intern (Summer 2027)

What An Internship at Bound includes

At Bound, internships are a structured experience designed to give you real ownership, real mentorship, and a real project to point to when you're done.

Here's what to expect:

• A Capstone Project — You will own a meaningful project from day one through the final presentation, giving you something substantial to show for your summer.
• Real Team Experience — Beyond your project, you will be embedded in your team's day-to-day work, gaining hands-on exposure to how Bound operates.
• Mentorship & Support — regular 1:1s with your supervisor and a buddy to help you navigate your summer.
• Connection — Intern events and opportunities to connect with the broader Bound team.
• Program dates — Summer 2027 internships run May 17 – August 6, 2027 (approximately 12 weeks).

A note on timing: We're recruiting for our Summer 2027 cohort. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews and offers extending into winter/spring 2027. This role is open to students who will be enrolled in or have completed a relevant degree program as of Summer 2027 (e.g., rising juniors/seniors).

About the Role

Bound's People Operations function is a team of one allowing our HR intern an opportunity to own their work and make an impact from day one. You'll help build the systems and moments to support a company that's nearly doubled in headcount over the past year and currently spans 14 states. Success in this role looks like: new hires who feel welcomed and set up to win, employees who get clear and human communication about the things that matter to them, and an HR function that runs a little smoother because you are part of it. This role exists because moments matter, even the administrative ones and we want someone who cares about getting them right.

Key Responsibilities

• Support new hire onboarding, from offer acceptance through first-week check-ins, so every new employee's first moments at Bound feel intentional
• Maintain and organize employee records and workflows in Rippling, our HRIS
• Draft internal communications: Slack announcements, policy explanations, event invites.  Create messages that translate HR-speak into something people actually read
• Contribute to employee engagement initiatives, including survey follow-through and culture programming
• Research multi-state HR compliance topics (PTO, sick leave, classification) as Bound continues to grow across new states
• Coordinate logistics for team events, culture rituals, and recognition moments
• Identify clunky or outdated processes and bring forward ideas to fix them.  At Bound we don't dwell on a problem, we figure it out together
• Handle sensitive employee information with discretion and care

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, Communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience), with enrollment status expected to continue through Summer 2027
• Strong written communication skills
• Comfortable handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Slack, or a demonstrated ability to pick up new tools quickly

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Prior internship or coursework in HR, People Ops, or organizational psychology
• Familiarity with an HRIS platform (we use Rippling)
• Interest in startup or scale-up environments

Who You Are

• A proactive problem-solver who's comfortable in ambiguity.  You won't get a script for everything.  You're a Learn It All, not a know-it-all
• Someone who brings your own remarkable, unusual gifts to the table and isn't afraid to show them
• A collaborator who's genuinely curious about people and how organizations work
• Someone who treats confidential information the way you'd want your own handled

Work Hours & Flexibility

Bound does not operate on a traditional “routine” workweek. When work needs to be done, we collaborate to get it done — whether that’s in the morning, afternoon, evening, or occasionally on weekends.

At the same time, Bound supports flexibility for personal needs, family events, appointments, and time to recharge. Employees are trusted to manage their schedules while meeting deadlines and delivering high‑quality work.

Work Location

Bound supports in-office, remote and hybrid work. Some roles may require on‑site presence depending on team needs and responsibilities. Location expectations for this role: Ames, IA office, hybrid flexibility

Why Join Bound?

Bound Core Values:

• Moments Matter – We work for moment creators.
• Hands On. Hands In. – We live these problems and live to solve them.
• You Are Unusual – Everyone was given remarkable gifts. We want to see those in action.
• We Figure It Out – We don’t dwell on a problem or issue, we work together and figure it out.
• Learn It Alls – We are learn it alls, not know it alls

Bound is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.  Bound is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us.