Human Resources Business Partner

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) serves as a strategic and operational partner to leaders and employees across the organization. This role focuses on people management, employee relations, leadership coaching, and workforce effectiveness while ensuring compliance with company policies and employment laws. The HRBP plays a critical role in supporting managers with performance management, documentation, employee concerns, and organizational changes, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with managers and leaders to provide guidance on employee relations, performance concerns, workplace issues, and people strategies.
• Coach managers on leadership effectiveness, communication, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Support and advise on performance management processes, including annual performance reviews, goal setting, and development planning.
• Assist managers with performance documentation, including Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), corrective actions, warning notices, and related employee communications.
• Provide guidance and support in employee separations, including voluntary and involuntary terminations, ensuring legal compliance and proper documentation.
• Conduct workplace investigations and resolve employee concerns in a fair, timely, and confidential manner.
• Facilitate onboarding of new hires, ensuring a smooth transition and positive employee experience.
• Assist with leave of absence, workers’ compensation, benefits and retirement administration by conducting initial intake, communication with all relevant parties, answering questions and/or providing additional team or resources to the individual.
• Partner with leadership on workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, internal policies, and HR best practices.
• Analyze workforce trends and recommend proactive solutions to improve employee retention and engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field, preferred.
• 10-15 years of progressively responsible human resources experience, including employee relations, performance management, and employee engagement.
• Ability to work collaboratively and influence business leaders with information on suggested action for solving business and people issues.
• Superior inter-personal, communication and relationship building skills and the ability to work across the organization with employees and leaders at all levels.
• A strategic thinker that seeks information and perspectives, conducts analysis, and uses sound judgment to drive complex issues to resolution, yet has the ability to focus on tactical and operational issues in a fluid environment
• Experience conducting workplace investigations and managing sensitive employee matters with discretion and confidentiality.
• Exceptional written communication and business writing skills, including experience drafting investigation reports, performance improvement plans, performance evaluations, employee relations documentation, and leadership communications. Ability to document facts objectively, articulate recommendations, and prepare clear, concise, and legally defensible written materials.
• Highly organized with exceptional time management skills, able to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-starter, highly motivated and achievement oriented.
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations, including wage and hour laws, leave administration, and workplace investigations.
• Proficiency with Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. The university achieved R2 status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a distinction held by just 10 percent of all U.S. universities.

Chapman University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status or sexual orientation in the administration of its education policies or any other policies or programs administered by the university.