HR Business Partner - Finance

IEM (Industrial Electric Mfg.) is the largest independent full-line manufacturer of custom electrical distribution and power quality equipment in North America. IEM is delivering customer-specific solutions to meet the ever-changing power requirements of growth industries across the world. This position offers an exciting opportunity within an innovative, growing company, with a backlog of bookings that go beyond 3 years.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The HR Business Partner (HRBP) position acts as a liaison between the core functions of Human Resources (HR) and specific business units within the company. This provides leadership, consultation and support to employees and leaders at all levels within the business unit to maximize organizational capability, create an excellent employee experience and cultivate our culture. This role involves aligning HR strategies with business goals, providing guidance on HR policies, and supporting the business unit in various HR-related matters. The HRBP serves as point of contact for all members of specific business units. The HR Business Partner cultivates collaborative partnerships across the HR function to deliver value-added services to management and employees that reflect the business objectives of the organization. The HRBP maintains an effective level of business literacy across the business. This position is eligible for remote or hybrid arrangement and requires up to 25% of travel. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position serves as a coach and mentor for other positions in the HR department.
• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but requires timely, accurate, and effective accomplishment of tasks through collaboration with other roles within the HR department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Delivery of timely and accurate HR services, support and assistance to employees, managers, and other stakeholders in assigned departments. 
• Collaborate closely with business unit leaders and managers to understand their organization’s goals, challenges, and workforce needs. Serve as a consultant and advisor, providing HR expertise and guidance on various strategic initiatives and decisions. 
• Manage and resolve complex employee relations issues. Conduct effective, thorough and objective investigations. 
• Serve as escalation point for complex HR inquiries or issues that cannot be resolved through standard procedures, coordinating with site HR Managers, Director or VP to address escalated issues and ensure timely resolution.
• Build credibility and trust within the workforce and leaders while navigating complex business relationships. Leverage those relationships to diagnose and coach leaders on team, organization, and their own effectiveness.
• Use understanding of business, company, and department goals to identify needs, opportunities, solutions, and risks relating to human resources programs and services, workforce productivity, retention, employee engagement, organizational design, performance and talent management.
• Proactively assess team, manager and organizational needs to make recommends and lead/support the implementation of appropriate solutions with a high degree of focus on scale and growth.
• Analyze and interpret workforce data to identify emerging needs, potential risks, and overarching trends. Effectively communicate insights to business leaders and HR senior leadership, offering strategic recommendations grounded in a nuanced understanding of the business landscape.
• Provides day-to-day performance management guidance for line management (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, disciplinary actions).
• Works closely with management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention.
• Establish and maintain service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure that HR services are delivered within agreed-upon timeframes and quality standards. The HRBP provides input to Director and VP to ensure implementation of continuous improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery.
• Collaborate proactively with site HR Manager(s), Director, and VP to ensure tactical decisions and actions are aligned with HR strategies and organizational goals.
• Active participation in bi-weekly HR Manager / HRBP meetings.
• Identify opportunities to streamline HR processes and improve efficiencies within the overall HR function and discuss at regular HR Manager / HRBP meetings.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance. Partners with the legal department as needed/required.
• HR support and handling various routine HR tasks and transactions, including but not limited to, preparation of offer letters, response to employee inquiries with benefits and payroll inquiries and issues; provision of assistance to managers and employees in performance management (including facilitating and tracking the annual performance process); guidance on interpretation of HR policies and procedures, offering advice and clarification; and other transactional HR activities. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by Manager.
• This position requires travel, approximately 25% of the time, which may include overnight stays or multi-day trips.

COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
• Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of the organization’s hierarchy, jobs, qualifications, compensation practices, and the administrative practices related to those factors. Able to effectively use that knowledge to skillfully act as HRBP to assigned business units.
• Deep understanding of finance department including planning, analysis, reporting, and controls, with insight into how these elements align to support overall business objectives. Proven ability to partner in building high-performing finance teams.
• Able to handle confidential information with discretion
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in HR Generalist or equivalent role.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience resolving complex employee relations issues.
• Working knowledge of multiple human resource disciplines, including compensation practices, organizational diagnosis, employee relations, diversity, performance management, and federal and state respective employment laws.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• Highly responsible & reliable and able to manage confidential information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• In-depth knowledge of current legal regulations guiding the labor market

PHYSICAL/MENTAL/ENVIRONMENTAL:

Physical Demands:

              Activities:          Sitting – 70%                  Walking/Standing – 30%

              Lifting:               Must be able to lift up to 10lbs.

              Vision:               Long periods of close work on computer screen.

Mental Demands:        Interpret, analyze, research and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

Environment:                Climate controlled office space.