HR Business Partner, Americas

Carlo Gavazzi Automation; Rolling Meadows (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Carlo Gavazzi Automation is seeking an HR Business Partner for the Americas and Global Learning & Development Lead. You will partner with executives to shape workforce design, manage end‑to‑end recruitment, and coordinate compensation, benefits and immigration.

You will lead the global learning framework and measure learning effectiveness across the region. The role covers the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, with hands‑on support for employee relations, performance, onboarding and

Qualifications

• 8 to 10 years of progressive HR experience, including senior HR Business Partner or HR Manager responsibilities.
• Experience in international, matrix organizations and partnering with senior stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience across employee relations, recruitment, benefits, performance management and HR operations.
• Knowledge of U.S. employment law; Canada/Latin America exposure is a plus.
• Experience with U.S. benefits and 401(k) administration, leave and disability coordination, immigration coordination.
• Experience coordinating compensation reviews, annual bonus processes, talent reviews and succession planning.
• Experience in Learning & Development, leadership development, organizational development, or capability building.
• Fluent English; Spanish/Portuguese a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as principal HR partner to Americas region on org design, workforce planning, recruitment, compensation proposals, talent reviews, performance management and employee relations across four national sales companies.
• HR key user in IFS HR Cloud; support adoption and optimization of IFS HR processes across the region.

Skills

Stakeholder management

HR strategy

Talent management

Change management

Communication

People leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

IFS HR Cloud

HR analytics tools

Job description

HR Business Partner, Americas & Global Learning & Development Lead

Function

Human Resources

Regional Scope

United States, Canada, Brazil and Mexico

Reporting Line

Reports functionally to the Global Head of Human Resources, with a dotted-line to the President & Managing Director, Americas.

Carlo Gavazzi is a global leader specializing in the design, manufacturing and marketing of products and networking solutions for the Industrial Automation and Building Automation industries.

The HR Business Partner Americas & Global Learning & Development Lead is responsible for delivering hands‑on HR support across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. The role partners with business leaders and managers across the employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, talent acquisition, onboarding and offboarding, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits coordination, immigration support, compliance, and organizational development.

This dual‑function role holds strategic and operational responsibilities, serves as the principal HR contact for the Americas region, while also leading the global Learning & Development framework and the measurement of learning effectiveness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the principal HR partner to Managers and Employees managers for the Americas region on organizational design, workforce planning, recruitment, compensation proposals, talent reviews, performance management, and employee relations across the four national sales companies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.
• HR Key user in IFS HR Cloud, Support adoption and optimization of IFS HR digital processes across the region.

2. Performance, Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development

• Manage end‑to‑end recruitment for open positions across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Brazil, covering sales, operations, customer service, product management and other functions.
• Partner with hiring managers on workforce requirements, role profiles, sourcing strategies, candidate assessment and hiring decisions.
• Screen candidates, manage applications, coordinate interviews and maintain timely communication with candidates and stakeholders.
• Build succession pipelines and support critical talent acquisition to strengthen leadership pipelines and organizational readiness.
• Lead and support annual performance review and goal‑setting processes, including manager and employee guidance, HR platform administration and troubleshooting
• Ensure clarity of objectives, accountability, meaningful feedback and development focus across performance management activities.
• Participate in cross‑departmental projects to digitalize processes, integrate data, and drive organizational growth
• Support effective communication and change initiatives across the Americas region.

3. Employee Lifecycle and HR Operations

• Manage and continuously improve employee onboarding and offboarding, ensuring a consistent and compliant experience.
• Coordinate and oversee payroll‑related HR inputs, benefits administration, and employee lifecycle processes in collaboration with local finance teams, payroll providers, benefit brokers, and other external partners. Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant HR data submission and follow‑up.
• Maintain accurate employee records and support effective administration and troubleshooting of HR platforms, including IFS HR Cloud.
• Coordinate business‑related office visits, including scheduling, accommodation and transportation arrangements, where required.

4. Compensation & Benefits, Retirement, Leave and Mobility

• Coordinate annual salary review, promotion, and bonus processes for the Americas, including data preparation, manager guidance, validation, and submission for approval in accordance with global compensation frameworks.
• Administer annual insurance and benefits renewals and monitor compliance with evolving local requirements.
• Support 401(k) plan administration, including legislative updates, plan document reviews and employee inquiries.
• Coordinate work visa applications and renewals for foreign nationals working in the United States and Canada, liaising with employees and external immigration providers.
• Manage sick leave and short- and long‑term disability cases, including applications, documentation, follow‑up and coordination with relevant providers.

5. Employee Relations, Policy and Compliance

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations matters, workplace accommodation requests, personnel conflicts, employee feedback and other sensitive workplace concerns.
• Provide fair, consistent and compliant guidance, and oversee disciplinary processes, investigations and conflict resolution.
• Draft and administer performance improvement plans, including objectives, documentation, progress tracking, follow‑up and consistent application.
• Administer and enforce employee handbook policies, including remote work, travel expenses, jury duty and related matters.
• Monitor local labor law and regulatory developments across the Americas and continuously improve HR policies and practices.
• Define and implement a global learning strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Develop and maintain global competency frameworks and capability‑building programs aligned with business requirements, career pathways, and future workforce needs.
• Coordinate global Learning Management System governance and related learning processes in collaboration with the responsible team in Denmark for our Technical Product Training Knowledge .
• Partner with business leaders to develop leadership, technical and compliance training and to identify future skills and workforce capability gaps.
• Monitor learning effectiveness, ensure global visibility of learning activities and foster a culture of continuous learning across all regions
• Develop high‑potential talent and critical capabilities, and support broader organizational talent planning and transformation initiatives.
• Drive initiatives that foster a high‑performance, inclusive and values‑driven culture.
• Strengthen employee engagement and leadership accountability for team effectiveness.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• 8 to 10 years of progressive HR experience, including senior HR Business Partner or HR Manager responsibilities.
• Strong experience working in an international, matrix organization and partnering with senior stakeholders.
• Proven hands‑on experience across employee relations, recruitment, benefits, performance management and HR operations.
• Solid knowledge of U.S. employment law and HR practices; exposure to Canada and Latin America is an advantage.
• Experience with U.S. benefits and 401(k) administration, leave and disability case management, and immigration coordination is desirable.
• Experience coordinating compensation reviews, annual bonus processes, talent reviews and succession planning.
• Experience in Learning and Development, leadership development, organizational development, or capability building.
• Fluent English; Spanish and/or Portuguese is an advantage.
• Strong business acumen, strategic mindset and ability to operate hands‑on when required.
• Excellent judgment, communication, influencing, stakeholder management and case documentation capabilities.
• Data‑driven and results‑oriented approach, with a high level of integrity, resilience, discretion and adaptability.
• Strong relationship‑building skills, with the ability to collaborate across diverse teams and manage stakeholders effectively.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and driving deliverables within scope and budget.