Senior HR Business Partner

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

As part of the Human Resources team at Harvard Law School (HLS), the Senior HR Business Partner (Sr. HRBP) provides responsive, strategic, and transparent human resources consulting services to leaders and employees across the School’s organizations. This position will serve as the primary HR partner to the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society (BKC), the Institutional Data Initiative (IDI), and the Library Innovation Lab (LIL). BKC, IDI, and LIL are innovative research centers operating at the intersection of law, technology, information, and knowledge. Their work involves highly interdisciplinary teams, including faculty, researchers, engineers, technologists, librarians, staff, students, fellows, affiliates, and other specialized professionals. The Sr. HRBP will help ensure that HR strategies, practices, and support are appropriately tailored to these varied populations and aligned with the groups’ academic, research, operational, and strategic objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 8 years’ relevant HR experience

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in relevant field and/or professional HR certification is desirable
• Demonstrated experience as an HR Business Partner in a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment, research institute, or startup-like organization
• Demonstrated consultative agility in supporting leaders through changing priorities and organizational evolution, moving between organizational design, workforce planning, team effectiveness, role clarity, change management, and practical coaching on individual and team matters
• Solid financial/business acumen with advanced knowledge of employment law and HR policies and practices
• Ability to operationalize business strategy through effective management of people, programs, and activities
• The ability to build and cultivate relationships and work collaboratively in a multi discipline and multi stakeholder environment
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills with a focus on productive outcomes, and client service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Sr. HR business partner to BKC, IDI, LIL, and other clients, providing tailored strategic guidance and operational support based on each group’s mission, organizational structure, workforce composition, and evolving priorities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the leadership while ensuring alignment with HLS and University-wide HR policies, practices, and priorities.
• Partner with leadership teams to navigate ambiguity and rapid scaling through organizational design, talent acquisition, professional development, change management, and employee engagement.
• Establish and cultivate partnerships with client groups to enable proactive planning and collaboration on operational and strategic initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen HR practices and promote consistency, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing across BKC, IDI, LIL, and other research and technology focused groups while respecting the distinct missions and operating models of each organization.
• Lead talent acquisition strategy and execution including sourcing, selection, onboarding, and building diverse, high-quality talent pipelines aligned with business needs.
• Guide and support leaders in resolution of complex employee relations concerns, performance management, team development, retention, and compensation.
• Advise and counsel on best practices and approaches, presenting options for achieving desired results.
• Actively partner with managers, staff, and bargaining unit representatives to strategically address workplace challenges, deliver tangible value, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Share responsibility for our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior