HR Business Partner

gtlakes; Boyne City (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

Parental leave

Adoption assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

Great Lakes Energy in Boyne City, MI, is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to advise leaders, optimize HR programs, and elevate the employee experience. You will partner across the organization to tackle people challenges, drive total rewards initiatives, recruit, manage employee relations, and ensure program compliance.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate integrity and influence at all levels, this role offers a collaborative culture and strong retirement and benefit

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally in a generalist or business partner role.
• Strong working knowledge of employment and HR best practices.
• Experience administering employee benefits and leave programs (FMLA, COBRA, ADA).
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence leaders at all levels.
• Experience in recruiting, employee relations, HR operations, benefit administration, and payroll.
• Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and attention to detail.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Proficiency with HRIS (UKG Ready) and MS Office products.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, balancing strategy with hands-on execution.
• Partner with teams across the organization to solve problems, improve processes, and create a best-in-class employee experience.
• Coach leaders through complex employee relations issues and drive recruitment strategy.
• Administer and improve total rewards programs and ensure compliance.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and drive cultural enhancements.

Skills

5+ years HR experience

HR generalist / business partner

Employee benefits & leave admin (FMLA,

COBRA

ADA

Influence leaders / relationship

Recruiting, ER, HR ops, benefits, and

Payroll

Problem solving & attention to detail

Integrity & confidentiality

HRIS (UKG Ready) & MS Office

Tools

UKG Ready HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Ready to step into a role where you can influence leaders, elevate the employee experience, and make a measurable impact across an organization?

Great Lakes Energy is seeking a driven, experienced human resources professional to fill the role of HR Business Partner and join our team in Boyne City. In this role, you won't just support the business, you'll help shape it. From advising leaders to optimizing HR programs and benefits, you'll play a key role in strengthening our people, culture, and performance.

Who We Are

For over 85 years, Great Lakes Energy has powered rural communities across 26 counties in western and northern Michigan. As the third-largest Michigan-based electric utility and the state's largest member-owned power company, we serve over 128,000 meters with pride. Beyond delivering reliable electricity, we are leaders in advanced fiber technology through Truestream, our communication solutions subsidiary.

At Great Lakes Energy, we prioritize enriching the lives of our community members and employees. With over 300 team members, we're more than just colleagues - we're a close-knit family, united by a shared vision of growth, innovation, and community service.

A Day in the Life

As an HR Business Partner, you'll serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, balancing strategy with hands-on execution. You'll partner with teams across the organization to solve problems, improve processes, and create a best-in-class employee experience.

Your day may include coaching a leader through a complex employee relations issue, leading a recruitment strategy to attract high-impact talent, or helping an employee navigate benefits and leave options. You'll play a key role in administering and improving total rewards programs, ensuring compliance, and driving initiatives that enhance culture, engagement, and performance.

You’ll also identify opportunities for improvement, whether that’s streamlining HR processes, improving communication, or enhancing programs, and take initiative to make things better than you found them.

Who You Are

You're a high performing HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment. You don't just respond to challenges, you anticipate them, take ownership, and drive solutions that move the organization forward.

You build trust quickly and aren't' afraid to lean into difficult conversations. You hold yourself and others accountable, approach problems with curiosity and discipline, and consistently follow through to deliver results. You bring a strong point of view, backed by data and experience, and you're comfortable influencing leaders at all levels.

You're wired to improve things. You see inefficiencies, gaps, or friction points and you act. You don't settle for \"good enough\"; you push for better processes, better outcomes, and a better employee experience.

You're also a team-first contributor. You actively look for ways to support the broader HR team and the organization as a whole and stepping in where needed without being asked. You recognize that success isn't individual; it's collective, and you show up every day ready to contribute beyond your immediate responsibilities.

You bring both strategic thinking and a roll-up-your-sleeves mentality. Whether you're navigating complex employee relations issues, optimizing HR programs, or executing day-to-day operation, you hold yourself to a high standard and expect the same from those around you.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally in a generalist or business partner role


• Strong working knowledge of employment and HR best practices


• Experience supporting for administering employee benefits and leave programs (FMLA, COBRA, ADA)


• Proven ability to build relationships and influence leaders at all levels


• Experience in recruiting, employee relations, HR operations, benefit administration, and payroll


• Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and attention to detail


• High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality


• Proficiency with HRIS (UKG Ready) and MS Office products

What's in It for You

We believe our people are our greatest asset and our benefits reflect that. From the expected to the exceptional, our offerings are designed to support you and your family at every stage of life. We provide a well-rounded package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, parental leave, adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, and robust retirement plans - just to name a few.

Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.