HR Business Partner

HR Business Partner. New York. Posting Date: 02/28/2025. Deadline: 03/14/2025

Role Title:  HR Business Partner with internal title Advisory Partner

Contract Type: Fixed Term (March 2025 to December 2025)

Reporting To: Director, Advisory Partner

Program/Department/Unit Name: People and Culture

Location: New York/ London

Team Name: Advisory Partnering Team

Team description

The role of Advisory Partners is to serve as a trusted advisor to the various areas of the organization, taking on a remit that embraces consultancy and advisory services to Open Society’s Leadership on strategic matters directly related to their respective business priorities, as well as facilitating the delivery of key organizational People and Culture strategy activities.

Role Purpose 

You will advise and consult on issues relating to equity, inclusion, care, dignity and respect in the workplace, as well as on problem-solving, performance management, and other related concerns with workforce implications. Responsible for providing and facilitating two-way communication between People and Culture specialists and Managers to understand and implement People and Culture policies and procedures and to create and/or modify existing procedures for greater effectiveness and efficiency.

You will also provide expert guidance and direction on workforce planning and design in consideration of strategic objectives and facilitate change management processes with People and Culture implications.

Key responsibilities 

• Advise leadership and department management teams on the future design of the organization aligned to strategic objectives and any overall parameters

• Proactively establish working relationships with managers and staff in assigned Programs/Departments such that concerns, and latent issues are open for discussion and resolution

• Use your knowledge and experience in People and Culture functions to guide your counsel to Senior Managers, e.g., specific knowledge of workforce planning approaches and methodologies; knowledge and skill at mediating workplace disagreements/misunderstandings; experience in identifying and addressing performance problems

• Lean heavily on competency in interpreting ambiguous signals from Managers and others and establishing relationships with sufficient depth that they will support interventions in difficult situations and challenging conversations

• Have the required knowledge and familiarity with all usual People and Culture processes to be able to interact effectively with colleagues within People and Culture in the resolution of specific problems and issues

• Have the confidence and judgement to persuasively present alternatives to Senior Managers.

The ideal candidate

• Prior advisory partnering (or otherwise potentially termed HR strategic partnering) with the leadership team in a complex, international organisation

• Substantial experience as a practitioner in one or more People and Culture functions

• Experience and skill in developing and considering policy options

• Ability to quickly develop an in-depth understanding of the work of the unit(s) to which you are assigned

• Strong facilitation, collaboration, and mediation skills and is highly articulate and makes arguments in a clear and compelling manner

• Demonstrated understanding of different People and Culture functions to enable and lead conversations with Managers and build credibility

• Capability to teach and guide individuals who may not possess the same level of technical understanding.

What we offer

Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts. 

• Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including:

• Generous time off, as well as our standard Open Society close at year-end (where vacation days are not required) and flexible work arrangements

• Employer-paid health insurance