HR Business Partner

Roberts Wesleyan University; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Roberts Wesleyan University is seeking an HR Business Partner to serve as a trusted advisor to leaders across university client groups. The role weaves the Christian faith-based culture into the employee experience and aligns HR programs with the university’s mission to empower faculty and staff to pursue faithful lives and support student success.

As HRBP, you will lead strategic consultation, manage enterprise HR programs such as Compensation, Talent Acquisition, and Employee Engagement, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Admin, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
• 3–5 years of HR experience as HRBP/HR Generalist in higher education.
• Experience managing enterprise HR programs (compensation, talent acquisition, or learning).
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws.
• Commitment to Christian higher education and Roberts Wesleyan University.
• Cross-functional collaboration across complex units.
• Strong organizational leadership and change management.

Responsibilities

• Advise leaders on talent strategies and organizational design.
• Integrate faith-based identity into performance conversations and culture.
• Design and deliver workshops and training across campuses.
• Oversee enterprise HR programs (e.g., compensation, talent development, employee relations).
• Ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws.
• Partner with units on workforce planning and succession.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) serves as a trusted strategic advisor and operational consultant to leaders across designated university client groups. In this role, the HRBP partners closely with leadership to weave Roberts Wesleyan University’s Christian faith-based culture into the daily employee experience, fostering a workplace where faculty and staff are empowered to pursue faithful, free, and full lives, where we learn to live, and where we equip our students to do the same. In addition to driving core HR operations for client units, the HRBP is accountable for one or more university-wide HR programs (e.g., Compensation & Classification, Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement, or Talent Development), ensuring these institutional workflows reflect Roberts' mission, operational standards, and commitment to excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Consultation & Faith-Integrated Workplace Culture

• Mission Integration: Collaborate with client group leaders to integrate Roberts’ Christian faith-based identity and values into performance conversations, leadership development, workplace practices, and team culture
• Leadership & Managerial Coaching: Advise vice presidents, deans, chairs, and supervisors on effective talent strategies, organizational structures, change management, and team dynamics, encouraging a culture of grace, accountability, and professional growth.
• Employee Experience & Student Impact: Help design workplace environments where staff and faculty thrive holistically, modeling life-long learning and purposeful living so employees can effectively mentor and guide students to do the same.
• Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution: Serve as a compassionate, objective consultant for employee concerns and workplace conflicts, applying biblically grounded principles of reconciliation alongside university policy and employment law.

HR Program Management

• Functional Program Ownership: Serve as the enterprise owner and subject matter expert for assigned HR discipline(s) (such as Compensation, Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, or Employee Relations).
• Program Design & Execution: Develop, implement, and continuously improve institution-wide policies, frameworks, and operational workflows within the designated functional area(s). Program assignments to be designated upon hire based on university needs and candidate background.
• Cross-Campus Training & Delivery: Design and facilitate workshops, manager toolkits, and compliance training that align both with industry best practices and the university’s faith-integrated culture.

General Operations & Compliance

• Workforce Planning & Organizational Design: Partner with academic and administrative units on organizational design, position creation, job description development, and staffing models and analyses.
• Employee Lifecycle Management: Guide managers through onboarding frameworks, annual performance evaluations & improvement plans, retention strategies, and learning & development initiatives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure client actions and HR programs comply with federal/state employment laws (FMLA, ADA, FLSA, Title VII) and university policies.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive HR experience as an HR Business Partner, HR Generalist, or functional specialist, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated track record of managing or administering an enterprise HR program (e.g., compensation structures, talent acquisition, or learning programs).
• Knowledge: Sound understanding of federal and state employment law and HR operational practices.
• Demonstrated commitment to Christian higher education and the mission of Roberts Wesleyan University.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally across complex organizational units.
• Strong organizational leadership and change management experience.

Core Competencies

• Relational Leadership: High emotional intelligence, active listening, and the ability to build trust with diverse academic and operational leaders.
• Cultural Alignment: Ability to articulate and operationalize a faith-integrated view of work, community, and personal growth.
• Strategic & Tactical Balance: Ability to address immediate employee relations needs while simultaneously managing long-term institutional programs.

Salary Description

$70,000-$75,000

Full-time