HR Partner

The Human Resources Partner serves as a strategic advisor to business leaders, aligning people strategies with organizational goals. This role partners closely with management to drive employee engagement, performance management, retention, and talent development initiatives. The HR Partner acts as a trusted consultant on employee relations, organizational design, change management, and HR Policy, while ensuring compliance with labor laws and company standards. By leveraging data, best practices, and a strong understanding of the business, the HR Partner helps build a high-performing, inclusive, and engaged workforce.

Essential Job Functions

• Partner with business leaders to align HR strategies with organizational and departmental goals.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to managers on employee relations, performance management, coaching, and disciplinary actions.
• Guide leaders through change management, organizational design, and restructuring efforts.
• Interpret and apply HR policies, procedures, and employment laws to ensure compliance and consistency.
• Acts as an ambassador for HR policies and procedures.
• Provide human resources guidance to employees and advice to management within scope of position; identify and actively respond with sensitivity and appropriate sense of urgency to the needs of all employees.
• Review and understand recent and changing employment-related laws and guidelines and ensures compliance with all pertinent HR-related laws and regulations.
• Investigate employee relations issues and recommend appropriate resolutions.
• Lead and support performance appraisal processes, goal setting, and leadership development initiatives.
• Lead external complaints such as (EEOC claims, harassment, discrimination, etc.), incidents and complaints, resolve disputes and recommend appropriate/remedial action(s).
• Collaborate with other support departments to ensure HR solutions meet the operational needs.
• Partner with legal counsel and compliance teams on complex matters to ensure alignment with policy and employment law.
• Facilitate training for supervisors on HR policies, conflict resolution, respectful workplace practices, and related topics; as assigned.
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience relevant to the position required
• Minimum 2 years of experience as an HR Business Partner/HR Partner/Employee Advocate in complex, regulated, and/or high-volume industries required

Special Requirements

• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver's license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.
• Ability to travel to multiple worksites and attend in-person meetings as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Strong knowledge of Employment and labor laws (e.g., wage and hour, EEO, ADA, FMLA, employee relations)
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving
• Strong business acumen and an analytical mindset with the ability to interpret HR data
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships at all levels of the organization
• Ability to influence decision-making without direct authority
• Continuous improvement mindset and ability to drive change

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
• The following physical demands are required:
  • Occasional sitting (up to 4 hours)
  • Occasional standing (up to 1 hour)
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Occasional driving (up to 8 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Weekly lifting up to 50 lbs. (community-based staff may be required to lift an empty wheelchair weighing up to 50 lbs.), 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
  • Weekly carrying up to 55 lbs. approximately 10-100 ft., 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.)
• Occasional exposure to temperature changes, dust, fumes, gases or chemicals is apparent
• Protective clothing or equipment as required: close toed shoes; protective shields, universal precaution PPE, and gloves for toileting and food preparation
• Ability to change positions as needed

$65,000 Minimum pay rate, $100,000 Maximum pay rate, based on experience. This pay rate may include a Regional and/or Department premium.