People Generalist

Sunrun Inc.; Des Plaines (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunrun Inc. in Des Plaines, IL, seeks a People (HR) Generalist to partner with leaders, drive people strategy, and ensure operational excellence across business units.

In this hands-on role, you will champion culture, manage employee relations, coach managers, and oversee HR processes in Workday, with a focus on engagement and retention.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and can navigate ambiguity while delivering strategic support to frontline teams, join Sunrun.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, People/HR, or related field, with 5+ years of HR Generalist experience.
• Proven employee relations experience, investigations, and conflict resolution.
• Strong communication and coaching skills for leaders at all levels.
• Experience with HRIS platforms (Workday preferred) and Google Workspace.
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with functional managers to align People strategies with business goals.
• Coach leaders on performance, talent enablement, and change management.
• Conduct investigations and uphold compliance with labor laws.
• Manage day‑to‑day People operations in Workday and data accuracy.
• Support onboarding, retention, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with COEs such as Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, Safety, and L&D.

Skills

Employee relations

Coaching

Communication

HRIS (Workday)

Data-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Tools

Workday

Google Workspace

Job description

At Sunrun, we're on a mission to change the way the world interacts with energy, and we're building a company and brand that puts power at the center of life. To do it, we're designing a dynamic culture where employee development, well-being, and safety come first. It's why we've become the #1 home solar and battery company in America. We're unlike any other residential energy company. Our vertically integrated model gives us total control over every part of the energy lifecycle - from sale through installation and beyond - so you can find endless opportunities for growth. Come join a career you can grow in and a culture you can run with.

Who We Are

We're on a mission to make energy more reliable and affordable for more people. We provide an opportunity with storage and solar to help people access greater energy independence without the big upfront costs. Sunrun is the largest dedicated residential solar and storage company in the country and has a mission to bring stably priced resilient power to the masses.

POSITION SUMMARY:

As a People (HR) Generalist, you will serve as a trusted partner to functional leaders and branch management, driving people strategy, employee experience, and operational excellence across your assigned business units. In this high-impact role, you will champion company culture, manage employee relations, coach leaders through performance and talent enablement, and ensure seamless People execution.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, love solving complex human problems, and enjoy being a visible, hands‑on partner to both frontline workers and leadership, this is the role for you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Partnership & Leadership Coaching
  • Partner directly with functional managers and field leaders to align People strategies with business goals and operational performance.
  • Coach and guide leaders on employee development, performance management, talent enablement, change management, and conflict resolution.
  • Consult with managers on compensation alignment, performance review cycles, organizational design, and team structure.
• Employee Relations & Compliance
  • Serve as a trusted resource for employees and managers, proactively driving a positive, inclusive, and transparent workplace culture.
  • Conduct timely, thorough, and objective investigations into employee concerns, partnering with Safety, Employee Relations, and Legal to reach fair, decisive resolutions.
  • Ensure organizational compliance with local, state, and federal labor laws and internal policies.
• People Operations & System Optimization
  • Manage day-to-day People operations and transactional processes within Workday, ensuring data accuracy and timeliness across job changes, promotions, and organizational updates.
  • Collaborate closely with Centers of Excellence (COE)-including Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, Safety, and L&D to deliver seamless People service to your client groups.
• Culture, Engagement & Retention
  • Design and execute engagement and retention initiatives that align with our core values and drive frontline employee satisfaction.
  • Drive smooth onboarding and offboarding experiences that reflect our employer brand and prepare new team members for success.
• Continuous Improvement & Special Projects
  • Lead and participate in special projects, innovative process improvements, and organizational development initiatives across the broader People team.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required Experience & Skills:
  • Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, People/Human Resources, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience), paired with 5+ years of progressive People Generalist experience supporting dynamic, multi-site, or field-based employee populations.
  • Employee Relations Expertise: Proven track record of handling employee relations issues, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution with empathy, discretion, and sound judgment.
  • Communication & Coaching: Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting to and coaching leaders at all levels.
  • Technical Proficiency: Hands‑on experience with People Systems/HRIS platforms (experience with Workday and Google Workspace is highly preferred).
  • Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to independently prioritize, multi‑task, and navigate ambiguity in a fast‑paced, growth‑or