Senior People Business Partner

Job title: Senior People Business Partner

About the Role

The Senior People Business Partner is a skilled people advisor focused on global talent management and integrating best practices for organizational development and change management into existing cultures and values systems. The ideal candidate loves collaborating to solve problems large and small, has an intrinsic drive for results and improving the status quo, celebrates wins while learning from mistakes, and shares knowledge with a close-knit team. The role requires both strategic vision and a comfort with the details of an organization. This position reports to the Senior Manager, People Experience and works with the Foundation's People team to ensure alignment with the Wikimedia Foundation’s People Experience services and programs, and to steward the Foundation’s values and culture.

You are responsible for providing ongoing guidance, coaching, employee relations and overall HR support for respective client group(s). This includes employee relations, talent review, organization design and performance management. You may provide regular manager coaching, specialized program development, or targeted support for employee relations issues. You will operate as a thought partner to managers and leaders, influence by presenting practical solutions, and add insight that informs senior management decisions. You will communicate with clarity across regions and cultures, including upward communication when necessary, and work closely with leadership and staff to improve relationships, morale, productivity and retention, including mediating complex staff issues with confidentiality. You will liaise with internal legal counsel to reduce risks and ensure compliance, and you will tactfully counsel leadership, managers, and employees on performance-related issues and corrective action. You will consistently offer high-quality advice and build trust through honest, integrity-driven engagement.

What You'll Do

• Provide ongoing guidance, coaching, employee relations and HR support for respective client group(s), including employee relations, talent review, organization design and performance management.
• Serve as a thought partner to managers and leaders; influence by presenting solutions in ways that are heard, understood and supported; add insight to senior management decisions.
• Communicate with clarity, conviction and confidence across regions/cultures; escalate upward when necessary; build strong relationships with leadership and staff to improve morale, productivity and retention; mediate complex staff issues with compassion and confidentiality.
• Liaise with internal legal counsel to reduce legal risks and ensure compliance; counsel leadership, managers and employees on a range of performance-related issues and corrective action.
• Provide day-to-day guidance to managers (coaching, career development, disciplinary actions).
• Partner with other HRBPs and People Centers of Excellence (Recruiting, People Growth & Belonging, Learning & Development, Compensation and Operations) to implement solutions, build capability, and deliver strategic initiatives for the People department.
• Engage in Organizational Development and Design: diagnose, design, and implement large and small-scale solutions to improve engagement, retention, leadership development, culture and productivity.
• Conduct talent reviews to advise on staffing levels and skills; provide succession planning and expert guidance on organizational structuring; support managers with changes.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with departments to meet changing business and talent needs, and support implementation of recommended changes.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field and 5+ years of HR experience (or equivalent). 5+ years in employee relations, HR, or labor relations, including managing complex employee relations issues in a global context; proven ability to provide expert HR support via HRBP experience.
• Strong understanding of international labor laws and experience navigating employee relations across diverse countries.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills with strong ability to influence and collaborate across a global workforce.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and the discretion to handle sensitive and complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent planning, time management, prioritization, and organizational skills; ability to manage competing priorities calmly under pressure.
• Strategic acumen to implement solutions that address complex business challenges.
• Experience using various technology platforms to work efficiently.
• Experience supporting fundraising, sales, marketing and/or technology groups in an HRBP role.
• Experience working in a not-for-profit or public sector organization.
• Experience working with diverse, multi-cultural teams and international environments.

Nice to Have

• Resilience and a collaborative approach to solving new problems; openness, curiosity, and willingness to experiment with new ideas.
• Internal motivation, discretion, thoroughness and detail orientation.
• Commitment to working toward outcomes with leaders and employees, and willingness to scale or change course when needed.
• Ability to build lasting, supportive relationships with leadership clients and employees.