Human Resources Business Partner

Interfaith Community Services INC; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Casual Work Environment

Job summary

Interfaith Community Services, based in Escondido, CA, seeks a Human Resource Business Partner to serve as a trusted advisor on employee relations, investigations, risk mitigation, and policy interpretation in partnership with leadership and legal counsel.

You will support leadership training, workforce analytics, performance processes, succession planning, orientation, and engagement to strengthen retention and ensure a compliant workplace aligned with the agency mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or equivalent experience.
• SHRM-CP required.
• 5–7 years of employee relations experience, including high-level investigations.
• 5–7 years as an HR business partner.
• Experience advising leaders on performance management, corrective action, and policy interpretation.
• Experience partnering with legal counsel on employee relations, investigations, litigation support, or compliance-related matters.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary employee relations contact.
• Monitor anonymous hotline reports and respond as needed.
• Conduct timely, impartial investigations and document findings.
• Advise leaders on employee relations, performance management, and policy interpretation.
• Track employee relations cases and report activity to the Senior HR Director.
• Develop and deliver leadership training and onboarding materials.

Skills

Employee relations

Investigations

Policy interpretation

Performance management

Legal liaison

Bilingual Spanish/English

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or equivalent

SHRM-CP

Job description

Description

About Interfaith Community Services:

As North County's largest social services agency, Interfaith Community Services has been "helping people help themselves" since 1979. The organization provides a wide range of programs designed to empower hungry, homeless, and low-income community members to begin a pathway towards self-sufficiency. Each year, Interfaith Community Services impacts?morethan?20,000 community members by providing basic needs and nutrition support, social services, shelters and housing, employment development, senior services, veterans programs and addiction recovery support.

Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 1,700 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 275, Interfaith provides a safe-haven and pathway towards self-sufficiency for more than 20,000 community members annually.

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a service-driven environment, we invite you to be part of our mission!

What You'll Do:

In the Human Resource Business Partner role, you’ll serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, supporting a positive, compliant workplace. This role leads employee relations, hotline responses, investigations, risk mitigation, and policy guidance while partnering with leadership, the Senior HR Director, and legal counsel. The HR Business Partner also supports leadership training, workforce analytics, performance and handbook processes, succession planning, orientation, and engagement initiatives that strengthen retention.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Serve as the primary employee relations contact, excluding Executive Leadership matters
• Monitor and respond to anonymous hotline reports
• Conduct timely, impartial investigations by gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, documenting findings, and preparing clear reports and communications
• Advise leaders and employees on employee relations, performance management, and policy interpretation
• Track employee relations cases at all levels and report activity to the Senior HR Director
• Identify employee relations trends and partner with program leaders to address patterns proactively
• Collaborate with the Senior HR Director and outside legal counsel to mitigate risk and support compliance
• Support responses to legal counsel related to litigated matters
• Develop and deliver leadership training on manager onboarding, difficult conversations, conflict resolution, compliance topics, and other emerging leadership development needs
• Review and revise disciplinary and performance documentation for accuracy, consistency, and compliance
• Analyze workforce metrics and trends to identify organizational risks and opportunities and provide data-driven recommendations to leadership
• Lead the annual employee handbook review and update process in partnership with HR staff, leadership, and outside legal counsel
• Lead the employee performance review process, including annual reviews and 90-day check-ins; train leaders and continuously improve related processes
• Establish and manage the organization’s succession planning process to support CARF accreditation standards
• Identify organizational development opportunities that improve team effectiveness, collaboration, and organizational culture
• Facilitate the Human Resources portion of New Hire Orientation by educating employees on organizational policies, procedures, workplace expectations, and the organization's mission, values, and culture
• Develop collaborative partnerships with leaders to provide proactive Human Resources guidance, foster positive employee relations, and support departmental and organizational success through effective people practices
• Partner with the Senior HR Director to process special-circumstance employee assistance requests respectfully and confidentially
• Partner in the development, implementation, and evaluation of employee engagement and retention initiatives, using employee feedback and workforce metrics to drive continuous improvement
• Stay current on employment laws and HR best practices through ongoing education
• Serve as a backup facilitator for New Hire Orientation and onboarding processes when HR team members are unavailable, ensuring a consistent and positive onboarding experience
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or equivalent experience, required
• SHRM-CP, required.
• 5–7 years of employee relations experience, including high-level investigations, required
• 5-7 years as a human resources business partner, required
• Experience advising leaders on performance management, corrective action, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation, required
• Experience conducting workplace investigations involving employee complaints, hotline reports, policy violations, and other sensitive employee relations matters, required.
• Experience partnering with legal counsel on employee relations, investigations, litigation support, or compliance-related matters, required.
• Experience developing and delivering leadership or management training, preferred
• Experience using HR data and workforce analytics to identify trends and support decision-making, preferred
• Bilingual (Spanish/English), preferred

SKILLSETS / ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment with sensitive information.
• Demonstrate impartiality, professionalism, and high emotional intelligence in all situations
• Communicate effectively and adapt communication style to diverse audiences and circumstances.
• Apply strong attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Work effectively with diverse populations and build positive working relationships across teams and organizational levels
• Apply working knowledge of local, state, and federal employment laws
• Travel regularly within San Diego County to support employee relations matters at agency worksites

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Office-based work; must be able to sit, stand, walk, and bend frequently
• Occasionally lift/carry up to 30 pounds
• Possible exposure to hostile individuals, contagious diseases, unpleasant conditions, and inclement weather
• Operate office equipment and vehicles safely
• Communicate frequently with people from diverse backgrounds
• Low noise environment

Location:

Onsite-Escondido

Hours:

Monday-Friday: 8: 00 am-4:30 pm (hybrid schedule)

Salary:

$83,385 $95,647

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays – 13 scheduled
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• AD&D / Group Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Medical and Dependent Care
• Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Early Release Days!
• Work Anniversary Bonuses
• Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
• Home Ownership Assistance Program
• Casual Work Environment
• Professional Growth and Career Development Opportunities

Interfaith is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, nationality, sex, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Interfaith will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.