Regional Senior HR Business Partner – Director

Colonial Group; Cheshire (CT); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group seeks a Director-level HRBP to lead HR strategy and execution for Retail Operations across CT, MA, and NY. This role acts as a trusted advisor to multi-entity leadership, focusing on talent, engagement, employee and labor relations, and last-mile HR initiatives for a retail network.

The position requires union experience, strong HR consulting capability, and regular travel within CT/MA/NY with heavy on-site presence in Long Island, NY.

Qualifications

• Labor relations experience in union environments with grievance/arbitration exposure.
• HR consulting capability advising leaders on organizational, talent, and workforce matters.
• Experience leading M&A activity.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, organizational development, or related field.
• 5–7 years of progressive HR experience, including 2–3 years in a strategic HR role.
• Experience supporting Retail Operations or multi-site field organizations.
• Ability to travel regularly within CT/MA/NY and frequent on-site presence in Long Island, NY.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary HRBP to Retail Operations leadership across CT, MA, and NY.
• Collaborate with regional and district leaders to assess talent needs across stores and field operations.
• Enhance organizational performance through human capital strategies tailored to retail.
• Develop strategies to retain talent within retail populations at store and field levels.
• Lead HRBP deliverables to drive retail business performance.
• Provide labor relations guidance in a unionized or union‑vulnerable environment.
• Advise on organizational design, staffing models, and employee relations matters.
• Address employee relations issues across the footprint, including investigations and corrective action.
• Foster relationships between management and employees to reduce turnover.
• Ensure HR practices comply with regulatory standards to mitigate risk.
• Identify training needs across retail roles and design programs with Training.
• Promote wellness programs with COEs and safety initiatives.
• Analyze workforce trends to inform labor relations strategy.

Skills

Labor relations

HR consulting

M&A experience

Strategic HR

Travel regularly

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business or related field

Job description

Regional Senior HR Business Partner – Director

Retail Operations – Regional HR Leadership

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands‑on, resolute Director‑level Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) to lead HR strategy and execution for Retail Operations groups. Similar to working in a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) this Director‑level role serves as a trusted strategic advisor to multi‑entity Retail Operations leadership across a multi‑state region, connecting people to purpose while driving talent, engagement, employee and labor relations, and last‑mile HR initiatives across a network of retail and field locations. The role carries significant HR consulting responsibility — advising store and district leadership on organizational design, workforce strategy, and complex people issues — and requires strong labor relations expertise to navigate a unionized and/or union‑vulnerable retail workforce.

Location

Work Arrangement: Remote

Territory: Connecticut (CT), Massachusetts (MA), and New York (NY)

Concentration: Heavy on‑site presence required in Long Island, NY, with regular travel to retail locations throughout the CT/MA/NY territory

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary strategic HR Business Partner and HR consultant to Retail Operations leadership across the assigned CT, MA, and NY region
• Collaborate with regional and district retail leaders to assess current and future talent needs across stores and field operations
• Enhance organizational performance through human capital strategies tailored to the retail operating environment
• Develop and execute strategies to retain talent within assigned retail populations, including store‑level and field teams
• Lead all talent, engagement, and last‑mile HRBP deliverables to drive retail business performance
• Provide expert labor relations guidance, including union avoidance strategy, grievance handling, contract interpretation, and management training in a unionized or union‑vulnerable retail environment
• Act as a hands‑on HR consultant to store and district managers, advising on organizational design, staffing models, and complex employee relations matters
• Address and resolve employee relations issues across the retail footprint, including investigations and corrective action
• Foster positive relationships between retail management and employees to enhance engagement and reduce turnover
• Ensure HR practices and labor relations activity align with federal, state, and local regulatory standards to mitigate legal risk
• Identify training needs — including safety, compliance, labor relations, and skills development — for employees across retail roles
• Partner with Training to design and implement programs that enhance employee and manager capabilities in a retail setting
• Provide feedback to retail managers and employees regarding performance expectations, goals, and career development
• In partnership with Centers of Excellence (COEs), develop and promote wellness programs that support a holistic approach to safety and well‑being
• Analyze retail workforce trends to anticipate future business needs and inform labor relations strategy
• Develop workforce planning strategies to ensure a skilled, adaptable, and stable retail workforce
• Collaborate with additional HR partners across the organization to share best practices and ensure consistency in policies and procedures

Schedule

• Full Time – Remote, with heavy on‑site presence in Long Island, NY, and regular travel throughout the CT/MA/NY territory

Environment

• Mix of remote/home office with significant on‑site retail, field, and warehouse environments; on‑site conditions vary by location

Experience & Qualifications

Required:

• Demonstrated labor relations experience is required, including direct experience with union environments, grievance and arbitration processes, and collective bargaining agreements
• Proven HR consulting capability — experience advising business leaders as a trusted internal or external consultant on organizational, talent, and workforce matters, not solely executing transactional HR
• Experience leading M&A activity
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressive Human Resources experience, including two (2) to three (3) years in a strategic HR role
• Experience supporting Retail Operations and/or multi‑site field organizations
• Experience partnering with business leaders to drive workforce strategies, talent management, and organizational development
• Ability to travel regularly within the CT/MA/NY territory, with frequent on‑site presence in Long Island, NY

Preferred:

• Experience supporting both Retail Operations and Corporate functions

Skills:

• Physical abilities: Ability to stand, walk and sit throughout your day; Walking on a variety of flooring such as carpet, concrete, tile etc.
• Effective communication Skills: Ability to facilitate & communicate clearly and effectively with peers and leaders on a daily basis
• Organizational Skills: Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines; project management
• Working in a team‑based environment: Working independently and as a collaborator to ensure our customers are receiving orders timely and with the highest quality
• Quality: Maintain integrity and high standards from all perspectives
• Safety Culture: Maintain and drive safety policies to all associates; driving for accountability of safe practices