HR Business Partner (Manager)

Forward Air Corporation; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus (10% target)

Job summary

Forward Air Corporation seeks an HR Business Partner Manager to act as a strategic consultant aligning HR with operational goals. You will partner with business leaders, coordinate HR specialists, and drive workforce planning, performance management, and development initiatives across the organization.

Responsibilities include leading employee relations investigations, coaching leaders, and supporting compensation and benefits programs, with travel up to 30% and on-site presence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university required.
• 5+ years of HRBP/HR generalist experience in multi-site or operational environments.
• Experience conducting formal employee relations investigations with strong documentation and judgment.
• Proven collaboration with HR COEs in Recruiting, Compensation, Benefits, Talent Management, and HR Shared Services.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to understand goals and develop people strategies for performance and engagement.
• Coordinate support across HR specialists to ensure streamlined HR delivery.
• Advise on organizational design, workforce planning, and team effectiveness.
• Lead and document employee relations investigations and recommend compliant actions.
• Support performance management, coaching, feedback, and development planning.
• Partner with recruiting to define talent needs and ensure smooth onboarding.

Skills

Performance management

Workforce planning

Leadership coaching

Employee relations

HR data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business

Tools

Oracle HCM Cloud

Workday

SAP

Job description

Job Description

The

The HR Business Partner (Manager) serves as a strategic consultant to business leaders, helping align HR strategies with operational and organizational goals. Working closely with specialists across HR – including Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Talent Management, Total Rewards, HR Operations, and HRIS, this role acts as the primary point of connection between the business and HR. They advise leaders on workforce planning, organizational design, performance management, employee development, engagement, and champions positive and productive workplace culture. They lead and resolve complex employee relations matters, coach leaders and employees, and ensure HR initiatives are effectively implemented. They are trusted advisors who build strong relationships, anticipate needs, and deliver thoughtful, balanced guidance. In some regions, they may lead a dispersed team of HR Generalists/Specialists.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to understand operational goals and develop people strategies that support performance, engagement, and organizational health.
• Serve as the primary HR contact for the business, coordinating support across HR specialists (recruiting, total rewards, development, employee services, HR systems, etc.) to ensure streamlined and consistent HR delivery.
• Advise leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, role clarity, and team effectiveness.
• Lead and document employee relations investigations and recommend appropriate, legally compliant actions.
• Support the performance management process, including goal setting, coaching, feedback discussions, and development planning.
• Partner with recruiting to define talent needs, support selection decisions, and ensure a smooth hiring and onboarding experience.
• Work with learning and talent development teams to assess capability gaps and support leadership development and employee growth efforts.
• Support compensation and benefits teams in communicating and administering pay programs, recognition programs, and benefit offerings.
• Provide coaching to managers and employees on conflict resolution, career pathing, communication, and workplace dynamics.
• Use HR systems and workforce data to identify trends, recommend improvements, and help leaders make informed decisions.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies and compliance with state and federal employment laws, including workers’ compensation.
• Deliver training sessions for managers and employees in both virtual and in-person settings.
• Maintain accurate, confidential HR information and support data integrity across HR systems.
• Where applicable: Lead and coach a team of Field-based HR Generalists / Specialists in delivering HRBP services across their assigned region.
• Maintain full-time onsite presence
• Provide support to additional locations or business areas as needed
• Travel approximately 30%, including overnight via automobile and air, in order to maintain a presence and strong connection to business leaders and employees in the assigned region(s).
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university required.
• Certification/Licensure: Professional HR certifications (e.g., SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR, or SPHR) preferred, not required.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience as an HRBP, HR Generalist, or HR Consultant supporting leaders in multi‑site or operational environments (manufacturing/warehouse experience preferred).
• Proven experience conducting formal employee relations investigations with strong documentation and judgment skills.
• Demonstrated experience working in partnership with HR COEs in areas such as Recruiting, Compensation, Benefits, Talent Management, and HR Shared Services.
• Leadership Experience: proven team leadership experience preferred, not required.
• Strong skills in performance management, coaching, workforce planning, and supporting organizational change.
• Ability to analyze workforce trends, interpret data, and communicate insights that guide decision‑making.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust at all levels, including senior leaders, and influence behavior and outcomes without direct authority.
• Technical experience with leading Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) technologies such as Oracle, Workday, SAP, etc.; we use Oracle HCM Cloud.
• Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
• Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
• Environment: This position requires full-time onsite presence, along with the ability to travel up to 30% to support other locations and operational needs.

Base Pay: $110,000-$130,000 per/year

Short-Term Incentive Eligibility: Annual bonus with a 10% target