Human Resources Business Partner

AGAR; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

AGAR is seeking an HR Business Partner with 5-8 years of experience to manage employee relations, compliance, talent management, recruitment, organizational development and administration. This onsite role embeds with the team to solve problems, strengthen team effectiveness, and evolve processes that support growth.

The successful candidate will cultivate a hospitality-minded employee experience, partner with leaders on onboarding, coaching, and performance management, and drive structured

Qualifications

• BS/BA in human resources or relevant field plus 5-8 years of experience.
• Experience in Marketing/Advertising Agencies or Hospitality and Architecture industries is preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with flexibility and composure in a fast-paced, growing environment.
• Exercises confidentiality, uses discretion and maintains good judgment when handling sensitive situations or information.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Stays current on employment laws, regulations, and company policies to ensure consistent and compliant HR practices.
• Proficient in Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, creating and presenting presentations in Keynote/Powerpoint, MacBooks and project management platforms.
• Familiarity with EOS implementation
• Experience with PEO integration and payroll administration (preferably proficiency with Rippling).
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification
• Alignment with AGAR’s vision, mission, guiding principles, and core values, including lean workstyle and strong sense of urgency.

Responsibilities

• Shapes a strong, high-performing culture by building trusted relationships and supporting meaningful employee engagement.
• Serves as a visible and approachable presence across the organization, staying closely connected to employees and the day-to-day realities of the business.
• Reinforces company values while helping strengthen team connections and alignment.
• Supports EOS principles by promoting clarity, shared understanding, and disciplined execution across the organization.
• Supports hiring, onboarding, development, and retention to build a strong, adaptable workforce.
• Brings a hospitality mindset to ensure new employees feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success from day one.
• Partners with leaders to improve onboarding experiences that connect people to the business and culture, and drive early engagement, clarity, and seamless integration into the team.
• Partners with leaders to improve team effectiveness through ongoing coaching, performance management guidance, and support with employee development, feedback, and corrective actions.
• Helps managers lead confidently and consistently while building clear growth plans and role expectations.
• Introduces structured tools such as development plans and seat scorecards to clarify success in each role, support employee growth, and drive alignment between individual performance and business needs.
• Ensures smooth day-to-day HR operations including records management, compliance, handbook updates, benefits negotiation and implementation, payroll support, and process improvement.
• Efficiently operate workforce management platforms such as Rippling.
• Research and propose benefit options (whether PEO or non-PEO) to maximize benefits and decrease company costs.

Skills

Employee relations

Compliance

Talent management

Organizational development

Communication

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Education

BS/BA in Human Resources or relevant field

PHR or SHRM-CP certification

Tools

Rippling

Google Workspace

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Keynote

Job description

We are Cultural Wondermakers, founded on the premise that as the world continues to become more transactional, wonder has become a radical act. At AGAR, we merge experiential marketing, retail innovation, hospitality, and public art to transform the everyday into an opportunity for wonder.

AGAR is also the red substance in a petri dish that’s used to grow culture. AGAR has been growing culture through experiences since 2008.

POSITION DESCRIPTION/

AGAR is seeking an HR Business Partner with 5-8 years of experience in employee relations, compliance, talent management, recruitment, organizational development and administration. The candidate will be responsible for all aspects of human resources for a growing team of experiential marketing professionals. The HR Business Partner will work closely with leaders and employees at all levels to solve problems, strengthen team effectiveness, and evolve processes that support growth. It requires being onsite, embedded with the team, and deeply connected to how the organization operates.

WHO WE NEED/

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a hands-on environment and leads by doing—someone equally comfortable navigating complex employee situations as they are jumping into the day-to‑day details that keep the business running. This person brings sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and a solutions‑oriented mindset, with the ability to adapt their approach to a diverse and creative workforce. They use technology and process improvement to work efficiently, freeing up time to focus on people, culture, and continuous improvement. Above all, they are approachable, responsive, and grounded in a hospitality mindset—someone who builds trust quickly, meets people where they are, and elevates the employee experience.

Responsibilities include:

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Shapes a strong, high‑performing culture by building trusted relationships, encouraging open communication, and supporting meaningful employee engagement. Serves as a visible and approachable presence across the organization, staying closely connected to employees and the day‑to‑day realities of the business. Reinforces company values while helping strengthen team connections and alignment. Supports EOS principles by promoting clarity, shared understanding, and disciplined execution across the organization.

TALENT & EMPLOYEE LIFECYCLE

Supports hiring, onboarding, development, and retention to build a strong, adaptable workforce. Brings a hospitality mindset to ensure new employees feel welcomed, supported, and set up for success from day one. Partners with leaders to improve onboarding experiences that connect people to the business and culture, and drive early engagement, clarity, and seamless integration into the team.

EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT

Partners with leaders to improve team effectiveness through ongoing coaching, performance management guidance, and support with employee development, feedback, and corrective actions. Helps managers lead confidently and consistently while building clear growth plans and role expectations. Introduces structured tools such as development plans and seat scorecards to clarify success in each role, support employee growth, and drive alignment between individual performance and business needs.

HR OPERATIONS, COMPLIANCE & SYSTEMS

Ensures smooth day‑to‑day HR operations including records management, compliance, handbook updates, benefits negotiation and implementation, payroll support, and process improvement. Efficiently operate workforce management platforms such as Rippling. Research and propose benefit options (whether PEO or non‑PEO) to maximize benefits and decrease company costs.

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE/

• BS/BA in human resources or relevant field plus 5-8 years of experience. Previous HR experience in Marketing/Advertising Agencies or Hospitality and Architecture industries is preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with flexibility and composure in a fast‑paced, growing environment.
• Exercises confidentiality, uses discretion and maintains good judgment when handling sensitive situations or information, including requests for data and information sharing.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Stays current on employment laws, regulations, and company policies to ensure consistent and compliant HR practices.
• Proficient in Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, creating and presenting presentations in Keynote/Powerpoint, MacBooks and project management platforms.
• Familiarity with EOS implementation
• Experience with PEO integration and payroll administration (preferably proficiency with Rippling).
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification
• Alignment with AGAR’s vision, mission, guiding principles, and core values, including lean workstyle and strong sense of urgency.

CORE VALUES/

• Embrace Being Uncomfortable - The greatest learning moments occur when outside of your comfort zone.
• Execute with Excellence - provide agile service without compromising quality of work.
• Constantly Curious and Open to the New - Immerse into experiences and thing outside the norm.
• All Hands on Deck, Always - No matter the nature of the job, we get it done together.
• Truth in Words and Actions - Take ownership and accountability.