Lead, HR Business Partner

Bridgestone America, Inc.; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onboarding program

Mentorship and development

CSR activities

Global work environment

Work-life balance

Job summary

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. seeks a Lead Human Resources Business Partner to support West R&D with strategic people initiatives and executive advisory.

You will align HR programs with business priorities, influence organizational design, workforce planning, and capability development to strengthen leadership bench strength. This role partners with leaders across R&D, Product Development, and Advanced Materials to drive talent reviews, succession planning, and culture initiatives while balancing

Qualifications

• Strong business acumen and consultative mindset.
• Experience influencing senior leaders and navigating stakeholder environments.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Change leadership and talent management experience.

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic HR partner to senior leaders across West R&D.
• Lead organizational design, workforce planning, and capability development.
• Drive talent reviews, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Coach leaders through change, growth, and complex stakeholder dynamics.
• Advise on performance management, engagement, and risk mitigation.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Master’s degree or MBA

Job description

Company OverviewBridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bridgestone Europe, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, operate collectively as a “Bridgestone West” strategic region. This region services the strategic business needs of teams across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. BSAM and BSEMEA are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Corporation, globally headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products and solutions to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.Job CategoryHRPosition SummaryAs a Lead Human Resources Business Partner at Bridgestone, you will serve as a trusted advisor and strategic thought leader supporting West R&D businesses. This role partners closely with executive leaders and people managers across functions including Research & Development, Product Development, and Advanced Materials and other enterprise teams to drive business outcomes through effective people strategies.You will help shape and execute HR strategy across the full teammate lifecycle balancing near term execution with longer-term organizational capability building. The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen, a consultative mindset, and a proven ability to deliver creative, practical solutions to complex HR challenges.This highly visible role offers meaningful executive exposure, influence over functional strategy, and the opportunity to have a lasting impact on teammate experience and business performance.ResponsibilitiesStrategic Partnership & LeadershipServe as a strategic HR partner to senior leaders across West R&D, aligning people strategies with business priorities and long-term goalsProvide thought leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, and capability developmentInfluence and support leaders through change, transformation, and periods of growth or complexityTalent & Organization StrategyPartner closely with the Talent team and business leaders to drive talent reviews, succession planning, leadership development, and career pathways aligned to business priorities, performance, potential, and future skill needsLead integrated talent and organizational effectiveness initiatives including: talent acquisition strategy, org design, structure, and capability enhancements to strengthen leadership capability, bench strength, and long-term readinessCompensation & Workforce ProgramsPartner closely with the Compensation team to build and maintain a strong understanding of the company’s compensation philosophy, programs, and playbookEffectively apply compensation principles and guidelines in advising leaders and supporting talent-related decisionsPartner closely with the business to effectively execute our internal technical career progressions.Teammate Relations & EngagementOwn and address complex teammate relations matters with sound judgment, consistency, and empathyChampion teammate engagement, inclusion, and culture initiatives in line with Bridgestone’s valuesAdvise leaders on performance management, teammate concerns, and risk mitigationWhat Success Looks LikeTrusted advisor to senior leaders across the business, recognized for insight, credibility, and resultsClear alignment between business needs and people strategiesStrong leadership bench and measurable improvement in engagement and retentionScalable HR solutions that support both current and future business needsAbility to operate at both the strategic and execution level, shifting seamlessly between the twoStrong judgment and comfort making decisions in ambiguous, high-visibility situationsDiscipline in planning, sequencing, and follow-throughWillingness to engage directly, challenge constructively, and hold leaders accountableComfort working across a matrixed environment, driving alignment without direct authorityClear, concise communicator who can simplify complexity for leaders and teamsMinimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required (Master’s or MBA strongly preferred)6+ years of progressive HR experienceStrong background in organizational design and effectivenessProven ability to influence senior leaders and navigate complex stakeholder environmentsExcellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skillsExperience supporting complex business groups and environmentsStrength in organizational design, change leadership, and talent managementDemonstrated ability to drive results, not just provide recommendationsNice to haveHR certification (SHRM or HRCI)Customer-focused, solutions-oriented mindsetAbility to balance strategic thinking with hands-on executionComfortable operating in fast-paced, matrixed environmentsTrack record of partnering effectively across all organizational levelsAt Bridgestone, you are Free to BeWe believe people can only provide superior service and quality to others when they feel safe bringing their chosen version of themselves to work. We believe in championing all perspectives, individuals and teams because we understand the importance of seeing the world and our business through many different lenses. So, show us what you are made of, because who you are is what we need.What we offerAt Bridgestone, what really matters is to foster co-creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill, when you represent Bridgestone, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to “Serve Society with Superior Quality”, for that, we offer you more than just a competitive compensation; we will provide you:A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.Corporate Social Responsibility activities.A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.An effective and inclusive team.Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is our policy to consider all individuals for employment based on their unique merit and without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.Employment EligibilityIf hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.