HR Business Partner

HR Business Partner

• Full-time
• Human Resources
• New York

Business Overview

Barrows is a commerce experience agency dedicated to building the world's leading experiences for brands and retailers. We combine data-led strategy, creativity, and technology to engage and convert shoppers online and in-store. From shopper marketing to retail toolkits, display design, category management, and store design, we deliver end-to-end solutions that do not just meet expectations; they reimagine them.

Backed by the scale and innovation of WPP and VML, our global team reimagines what is possible at the intersection of creativity and commerce. We bring together strategy and design to help the world's best brands achieve more in the world of commerce.

Barrows is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to lead People Operations across Barrows North America.

This person will be the senior in-house HR practitioner for the business and a trusted advisor to employees, managers and agency leadership. The role will own core people processes across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, benefits, leaves of absence, employee relations, performance and growth management, HR systems, policies, compliance and employee communications.

The successful candidate will report to the Head of Operations, with a dotted-line to the CFO, and will work closely with Barrows' talent acquisition, agency leadership, and the broader VML & WPP teams.

This is a hands-on role requiring someone who can manage sensitive employee matters, deliver reliable day-to-day support and build more consistent, scalable processes for a growing and evolving organization.

Roles and Responsibilities

People Operations and Employee Lifecycle

• Manage the end-to-end employee lifecycle, from offer acceptance and onboarding to employment changes and offboarding.
• Ensure compliance for all employment documentation, including I-9s, background checks, and HRIS record maintenance.
• Establish standardized service standards, checklists, and templates to scale People Operations processes.

Benefits and Leave Administration

• Administer employee benefit programs, managing enrollment, qualifying life events, and broker/vendor relationships.
• Lead leave administration (maternity, medical, disability), ensuring clear guidance on timelines and return-to-work requirements.
• Review benefit programs and policies for cost, compliance, and market competitiveness.

Employee Relations, Support, and Experience

• Advise managers and employees on policies, performance expectations, and workplace concerns with sound judgment.
• Lead employee-relations reviews and sensitive employment actions, including PIPs and workplace investigations.
• Create clear communications regarding People initiatives and support engagement and retention efforts.
• Foster a consistent employee experience across all Barrows locations, client teams, and capabilities.

Performance, Growth and Talent Management

• Oversee performance and growth management, including feedback quality, career paths, and competency frameworks.
• Support talent reviews, succession planning, and workforce planning in partnership with talent acquisition.

HR Systems, Data and Reporting

• Act as the primary owner for employee data and HRIS administration, ensuring alignment with VML People Operations.
• Develop regular reporting on people metrics and identify opportunities to automate or simplify workflows.

Policies, Compliance and Risk Management

• Maintain employee policies and handbooks, monitoring federal, state, and local compliance requirements.
• Partner with external counsel on complex matters and manage work-authorization and immigration processes.

Qualifications

• Approximately 6+ years of progressive Human Resources or People Operations experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience
• Broad experience across employee lifecycle management, benefits, leaves, employee relations, compliance and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as an independent and trusted HR advisor to managers and senior leaders.
• Working knowledge of federal, state and local employment requirements in a multi-state U.S. environment.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed and evolving organization.
• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential information.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related discipline preferred.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR or SPHR certification preferred.
• Experience supporting an advertising, creative, professional-services or similarly project-based organization.
• Experience supporting approximately 100-300 employees.
• Ability to work in the office 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $75,000- $121,000

• exact compensation will be determined based on individual experience

Benefits include:

• Unlimited PTO
• Medical, Dental, Vision (with an option for free medical care!)
• 401K with a % match
• Various maternity/paternity leave options
• Fully funded disability and life insurance options
• Headspace subscription
• Wellness Stipend
• and more....

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