HR Leadership Development Program Associate

Polaris Inc.; Kentucky; On-site; USD 66,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K match

Profit sharing bonuses

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Polaris Inc. seeks candidates for its HR Leadership Development Program (HRLDP), a 3-year accelerated path with three 1-year rotations. Rotations span HRBP, HRG, and CoE across Medina, MN; Plymouth, MN; Wyoming, MN and other sites.

Mobility is required and the program feeds into full-time HR roles. Starting pay range for Minnesota is $66,000 to $80,000 per year. The program is designed to build business acumen, leadership capability, and HR expertise while offering mentorship and professional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in business, HR, or related field with graduation between Aug 2026 and May 2027.
• Previous internship, co-op, leadership, athletics, student org, or relevant project showing teamwork and initiative.
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
• Must be a U.S. person and not require sponsorship now or in the future.
• Must be able to travel and relocate between sites for rotations and career development.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to align talent and workforce strategies with objectives.
• Drive talent management to attract, develop, retain, and succession plan for leaders.
• Lead performance management through coaching, goal setting, and development planning.
• Provide employee relations guidance and support consistent policy application.
• Support Total Rewards programs and compensation decisions in line with market practice.
• Enhance organizational effectiveness through design, planning, and engagement initiatives.
• Ensure HR operational excellence with compliant processes and workforce analytics.
• Enable organizational change by guiding leaders and employees through transitions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Influencing

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, HR, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

Leadership Development Program Overview

At Polaris, we believe great HR leaders are built through experience, challenge, and opportunity.

The Human Resources Leadership Development Program (HRLDP) offers recent graduates an accelerated path to develop business acumen, leadership capability, and HR expertise.

Through rotational assignments, exposure to senior leaders, and real-world business challenges, participants build the skills and confidence to become trusted business partners and future leaders within Polaris.

Program Length: 3 Years

Rotation Length: 1 Year (3 Rotations)

The HRLDP is designed to accelerate the development of future HR leaders by providing broad exposure across key areas of Human Resources. Throughout the three-year program, associates complete three one-year rotations that build business acumen, leadership capability, and functional HR expertise. These rotations will include relocation – candidates must be mobile. Individuals rotate across a combination of HR Business Partner, HR Generalist, and Center of Excellence experiences based on business needs, individual interests, and development goals.

• HR Business Partner (HRBP): Partner with business leaders to align talent strategies with organizational goals, support workforce initiatives, and drive business performance across Polaris business units.
• Rotation Locations: Medina, MN; Plymouth, MN; Wyoming, MN
• HR Generalist (HRG): Support frontline manufacturing or distribution operations through employee relations, workforce planning, leader coaching, and day-to-day HR partnership.
• Rotation Locations: Roseau, MN; Huntsville, AL; Rigby, ID; Elkhart, IN
• Center of Excellence (CoE): Help design and deliver enterprise-wide HR programs, systems, and strategies that support employees, leaders, and HR teams across Polaris. Potential focus areas include Talent Acquisition, Organizational Development, Early Talent, Labor & Employee Relations, Talent Analytics & Total Rewards.
• Rotation Locations: Medina, MN; Plymouth, MN; Wyoming, MN

Upon completion of the program, you will transition into a full-time Human Resources-related position within the business, contingent on business needs and the skills and performance you demonstrate during the program.

Program Advantages

As an employee, you will enjoy specific benefits beyond rotational experiences, including:

• Mentorship: pairing with a functional business leader for mentor support throughout your DP journey.
• Professional Development: structured and self-guided learning opportunities provided throughout the program to build leadership skills.
• Networking: intentional time with peers and leaders to build your professional network.
• Early Talent Summit Week: participation in a 3-day event in our Wyoming, MN office. This immersive experience brings together all US interns and DPs for professional development, structured networking, a DP graduation event, inspiring executive speakers, and a thrilling team ride on some of your favorite Polaris vehicles.
• Community Engagement: opportunity to get involved in your local community.
• Rotation Showcases: present to our senior level leaders to showcase your career aspirations and recap your rotational experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Business Leaders - Build trusted relationships with leaders to align talent and workforce strategies with business objectives.
• Drive Talent Management - Support the attraction, development, retention, and succession of talent to ensure a strong leadership and talent pipeline.
• Lead Performance Management - Coach leaders and employees on goal setting, feedback, development planning, and performance outcomes.
• Provide Employee Relations Guidance - Resolve employee concerns, conduct investigations, and support consistent application of policies and practices.
• Support Total Rewards Programs - Partner with leaders on compensation, benefits, and reward decisions that align with company philosophy and market practices.
• Enhance Organizational Effectiveness - Support organizational design, workforce planning, employee engagement, and team effectiveness initiatives.
• Ensure HR Operational Excellence - Execute HR processes, maintain compliance, leverage HR systems, and provide workforce insights through data and reporting.
• Enable Organizational Change - Guide leaders and employees through business changes, building readiness, adoption, and sustained organizational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, human resources, or other related business degree with a graduation date between August 2026 and May 2027.
• Previous internship, co‑op, leadership, athletics, student organization, or relevant project experience demonstrating teamwork, initiative, and a strong drive to achieve results.
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
• Must be able to commit to working 40 hours per week starting on one of the following dates: January 11th, 2027 or June 14th, 2027.
• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) and not require sponsorship for employment now or in the future.
• Must be willing to travel and relocate between sites for your rotations, as well as be mobile beyond the rotational program to support your career development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software: Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams, SharePoint.
• Demonstrated business acumen and sound judgment with the ability to analyze information, solve problems, make recommendations, and effectively integrate HR practices into business processes.
• Strong leadership, communication, and influencing skills with the ability to lead projects, navigate ambiguity, build relationships, and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholders and organizational levels.
• Foundational HR knowledge and commitment to professional development gained through coursework, internships, student organizations, case competitions, SHRM involvement, leadership experiences, or related HR projects.

Polaris Benefit Highlights

• A generous 401K employee contribution matching program.
• Pay for Performance Company which uniquely allows employees to receive Annual Profit-Sharing bonuses based upon the performance of the employee.
• Tuition Reimbursement program to support employees who want to further their education.
• DP Relocation Assistance: Polaris offers a relocation program through our mobility vendor for employees who qualify. Benefits include a lump sum payment, self-haul moving package, lease cancellation/duplicate housing reimbursement, and access to a relocation counselor. The counselor will explain available resources and assist in securing short‑term housing. You will be responsible for daily transportation to and from the office.

Selection Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the fall. Selected candidates will participate in a phone screen, business screen, and virtual interview with Polaris HR and business leaders. Candidates who successfully complete the interview process may receive an offer to join the HR Leadership Development Program. Rotation placements are determined based on business needs, individual interests, and development goals, with start dates aligned to graduation timing in either January or June. This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

The starting pay range for Minnesota is $66,000 to $80,000 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography. While individual pay could fall anywhere in the range based on these factors, it is not common to start at the high end or top of the range.

To qualify for this position, former employees must be eligible for rehire, and current employees must be in good standing.

We hope you're ready for the ultimate adventure!

EEO Statement

Polaris Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will make all employment‑related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, or otherwise need assistance or an accommodation in the recruiting process, should contact Human Resources at 800‑765‑2747 or [e-mail]. To read more about employment discrimination protection under U.S. federal law, see: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov).

About Polaris

As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high‑quality product line‑up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side‑by‑side off‑road vehicles; Sportsman® all‑terrain off‑road vehicles; military and commercial off‑road vehicles; snowmobiles; Slingshot® moto‑roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry‑leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.

www.polaris.com

At Polaris, the need for diverse perspectives and experiences enables our vision of Best People, Best Team. We value our differences and align our passions to do great work. As a highly efficient growth company, we are driven to be agile and adaptable to support our customers. At Polaris we unite to create memorable adventures.

Learn more at http://www.polaris.com/careers