SR. HR Business Partner

Ace Hardware Corporation•Oak Brook, IL

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

The EJD SR. HRBP is a strategic partner to the Emery Jensen Distribution field salesforce, operating as a trusted advisor and developing an HR agenda that closely supports the business and retention efforts. This role is accountable for working directly with all sales leadership and employees (including but not limited to Sales Directors, Field Sales Managers, Business Development, and Territory Managers). The EJD Sr. HRBP will oversee all human resources practices and processes, specifically focusing on operations, strategic planning, and alignment with the sales department. He/she will provide proactive coaching, consultation, and direction to management in strategic and tactical staffing, performance management, salary administration, employee relations, policy administration, succession planning, retention, employee development, diversity, job offers, and overall organizational effectiveness. This role is pivotal in fostering a high-performance culture, ensuring the effective deployment of HR strategies, and supporting the sales team to achieve organizational and operational goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in HR or related field
5+ years in HR, with significant experience in strategic HR roles.
Strategic mindset and innate ability to think holistically about EJD’s business and HR needs.
Comprehensive understanding of business strategy and market dynamics.
Adaptable and driven by a “start-up” mentality.
Excellent interpersonal, communications, research, negotiations, persuasion, analytical, problem-solving, resourcefulness, and influential development skills.
Detail-orientated self-starter able to handle heavy, priority-shifting.
Passionate, do what it takes attitude.
Ability to multi-task and work well in a high-pressure environment.
Goal-orientated and detail-orientated.
Excellent communication skills, oral and written.
Outstanding interpersonal skills, with the ability to create effective relationships throughout the organization with both rank & file and upper management.
Successful and demonstrated HR generalist experience with a proven track record of increased responsibility.
Strong project management skills.
Consultation skills and conflict resolution skills.
Travel to EJD Sales regions and bi-annual trade shows.

Responsibilities

Ensures alignment of HR processes with strategic and operating goals.
Assists in driving company culture, built around our existing core values.
Work closely with the sales department to understand their specific HR needs and challenges.
Ensure alignment between HR policies and the sales department’s objectives.
Provides tactical and strategic leadership by demonstrating an understanding of business trends and needs.
Acts as a trusted advisor and HR subject matter expert with SVP, Sales Leadership, and manager in areas such as organization assessment, succession planning, organizational structure, and work force planning to strengthen overall organizational capability.
Partners with sales leadership and HR Leadership to resolve employee relations (including investigations), provides coaching on performance management and advises on talent development
Consult with direct manager on training and organizational development needs and then partner with the Organizational Development group to find solutions.
Provide advice and support to the Sales Leadership team regarding their personal development and growth.
Provides proactive coaching, consultation, and direction to management in areas of staffing, employee relations, policy administration performance management and overall organizational effectiveness.
Consults with management within the business and HR Director to propose courses of conduct for HR/employee relations issues, matters of corrective action, discrimination charges and other grievances.
Provides proactive Human Resources advice to management as it relates to disciplinary development strategies and to minimize and prevent company liability and increase profitability.
Guides managers in identifying, documenting, and communicating results regarding deficiencies in performance.
Makes recommendations to managers to improve work relationships, enhance employee engagement and increase productivity and retention.
Provides guidance to associates regarding employee relations matters.
Functions as a mediator between associates and managers as needed.
Continuously assess, anticipate and address HR / Employee Relations needs.
Assess recruiting and onboarding process, identify improvement opportunities and participate in / lead improvement initiatives.
Partner with Direct manager on creating training materials and conduct training for managers and supervisors related to HR practices – policy education, interviewing, corrective action, performance management, harassment prevention, and onboarding practices.
Identifies, recommends, shares, and implements new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continual improvements in efficiency of department and services performed.
Develop and execute HR strategies aligned with the company’s overall business objectives.
Assist in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals.
Leverage a strategic mindset to anticipate HR trends and proactively address potential challenges.
With the help of shared services, maintains compliance with federal and state regulations concerning employment.

Benefits

Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 2 years resulted in incentives being paid out above 116.96% of your target opportunity!)
Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year, in addition to an annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past five years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 6.6% of total compensation.
Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
annual Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
Adoption cost reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
Identity theft protection