Human Resources Business Partner

Mission Produce®; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Produce seeks an HR Business Partner to serve as a trusted advisor to site leadership, aligning HR strategies with business goals and handling workforce planning, employee relations, and compliance for a diverse hourly and non-exempt workforce.

As a senior contributor, you will coach leaders, analyze HR metrics, manage sensitive matters with confidentiality, and partner with HR Operations, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Safety, Legal and Compliance to support business priorities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience in partner/generalist roles.
• Ability to act as a high-level IC with discretion and ownership of HR matters.
• Strong employee relations and investigation experience.
• Experience supporting hourly, non-exempt, shift-based populations.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws; California knowledge preferred.
• Ability to influence, coach, and build credibility with leaders.
• Excellent communication, analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage shifting priorities while maintaining confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools; HRIS experience preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted HR partner to site-level leadership and provide guidance on workforce stability.
• Partner with leaders to understand business goals and develop HR strategies.
• Provide guidance on organizational structure, staffing, and leadership effectiveness.
• Analyze HR metrics and recommend solutions to improve retention and engagement.
• Handle complex employee relations matters with investigation and risk assessment.
• Coach managers on performance management, communication, and accountability.
• Support hourly and shift-based employee populations with attendance and conduct matters.
• Identify training needs and coordinate development programs for managers and staff.
• Support succession planning and workforce continuity initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations.

Skills

Employee relations

Investigation skills

Coaching leaders

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Confidentiality

Prioritization

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Outlook

HRIS

Job description

Mission Produce (Nasdaq: AVO) is a global leader in the worldwide fresh produce business, delivering fresh Hass avocados and mangos to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers in over 25 countries. Since 1983, Mission Produce has been sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, and today also markets mangos and grows blueberries as part of its diversified portfolio. The Company is vertically integrated and owns five state-of-the-art packing facilities across the U.S., Mexico, Peru, and Guatemala. With sourcing capabilities across 20+ premium growing regions, the company provides a year-round supply of premium fresh fruit. Mission’s global distribution network includes strategically positioned forward distribution centers across key markets throughout North America, China, Europe, and the UK, offering value-added services such as ripening, bagging, custom packing and logistical management. For more information, please visit www.missionproduce.com.

JOB SUMMARY

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) serves as a high-level individual contributor and trusted advisor to Mission Produce’s leadership team, aligning HR strategies with business objectives while providing hands-on support for site-level workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, compliance, engagement, and organizational development initiatives. This role supports a diverse employee population, including hourly, non-exempt, shift-based, and experienced operational employees, and partners closely with leaders to address workforce needs, strengthen retention, promote accountability, and support consistent application of company policies and employment practices. The HRBP is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, sound judgment, discretion, and business acumen while managing sensitive employee matters, coaching leaders, supporting change-management efforts, and recommending practical, people-focused solutions that advance Mission’s operational and organizational priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a trusted HR partner to site-level leadership, providing practical guidance that supports workforce stability, operational effectiveness, employee engagement, and compliance.

• Partner with leaders to understand business goals, workforce needs, organizational challenges, and employee trends; develop HR strategies that support operational and organizational objectives.

• Provide guidance on organizational structure, workforce planning, job design, staffing alignment, team development, and leadership effectiveness.

• Analyze HR metrics, including turnover, attendance trends, engagement feedback, staffing levels, and employee relations activity; recommend actionable solutions to improve retention, accountability, consistency, and employee experience.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for complex employee relations matters; conduct thorough and objective investigations, assess risk, recommend corrective actions, and ensure consistent application of company policies and employment practices.

• Coach managers on performance management, conflict resolution, employee communication, documentation practices, accountability, and employee engagement.

• Provide HR guidance for hourly, non-exempt, shift-based, and experienced operational employee populations, including matters involving attendance, conduct, performance expectations, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation.

• Identify training needs and coordinate development programs for managers and employees that strengthen leadership capability, communication, compliance, and employee effectiveness.

• Support succession planning, talent development, leadership readiness, and workforce continuity initiatives.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment regulations, including consistent documentation and audit-ready HR practices.

• Review policies, recommend updates, and support consistent application across departments, employee groups, and leadership teams.

• Maintain a visible and credible HR presence with leaders and employees while managing sensitive information with discretion, professionalism, and confidentiality.

• Participate in and help lead site-wide engagement programs, communication efforts, recognition initiatives, and change-management activities.

• Partner cross-functionally with HR Operations, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Safety, Legal, Compliance, and site leadership to resolve employee matters, improve processes, and support business priorities.

Salary: $103,300 - $129,125/year

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in a business partner, generalist, employee relations, or site-level HR role supporting high-volume operational employee populations.

• Demonstrated ability to operate as a high-level individual contributor with sound judgment, discretion, and ownership of complex HR matters from intake through resolution.

• Strong employee relations and investigation experience, including the ability to assess risk, document findings, recommend corrective action, and maintain confidentiality.

• Experience supporting hourly, non-exempt, shift-based, and experienced employee populations with varying workforce needs and operational priorities.

• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws; California employment law experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to influence, coach, and build credibility with leaders and employees at all levels of an organization.

• Excellent communication, analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to manage shifting priorities, sensitive issues, and competing business needs while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.

• Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook; HRIS system experience preferred.

• Bilingual in Spanish and English is required.

MISSION PRODUCE EMPLOYEE PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy sets out how Mission Produce, Inc. (the “Company”) uses and protects any information that employees may give the Company in the context of their employment, job application, or other similar working relationship with the Company. This Privacy Policy also applies to the information the Company collects about employees’ emergency contacts or individuals whom the Company administers benefits relating to their employment with the Company.

Mission Produce Employee Privacy Policy

Mission Produce Employee Privacy Policy (Spanish)