Senior HR Business Partner

Summit Utilities, Inc.; Fort Smith (AR); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Job summary

Summit Utilities, Inc. in Arkansas seeks a Senior Human Resources Business Partner to align people strategies with business priorities across assigned leaders and units.

This hybrid role partners with leaders to drive workforce planning, performance management, and organizational change. The Senior HRBP manages complex employee relations, supports organizational design, development, and onboarding, and collaborates with Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, and Legal to deliver integrated HR

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive HRBP or comparable HR generalist experience.
• Professional HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted HR advisor to leaders for assigned units and operations.
• Advise leaders on workforce planning, performance management, employee engagement, retention, and organizational change.
• Independently manage complex employee relations matters including investigations and separations; document findings and recommend actions.
• Collaborate with leaders on organizational design, talent development, and employee lifecycle activities.
• Coordinate with Compensation, Benefits, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Learning & Development, HRIS, Legal and other HR teams to deliver integrated solutions.
• Use workforce data and feedback to identify risks, trends, and develop improvements.
• Apply employment laws and company policies, protect confidential information, and manage competing priorities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Business acumen

Employee relations

Employment law

Investigations

Performance management

Talent management

Workforce planning

HR compliance

Communication skills

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Join our growing team and discover why Summit Utilities, Inc. continues to earn national and regional recognition as an employer of choice. Our recognitions include Best Places to Work in Maine (2019–2025); Best Places to Work in Arkansas (2020, 2023, 2025); Best Places to Work in Oklahoma (2022–2025); Best Places to Work in Missouri (2023 and 2026); Best Places to Work in Colorado (2025); Forbes America’s Best Small Employers (2023); and, most recently, Proud and Purposeful Employer (2026).

Summit is a growing natural gas utility providing safe, reliable, and clean burning natural gas service to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers, and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Human Resources Business Partner (SGL18). This hybrid position can be based in one of our Arkansas offices (Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, or Maumelle).

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Human Resources Business Partner (Senior HRBP) is a strategic advisor and relationship owner for assigned leaders, departments, and service lines. The Senior HRBP operates with a business ownership mindset, developing a deep understanding of the business and connecting people strategies to operational priorities. This role independently assesses complex situations, identifies workforce and culture trends, coaches leaders, facilitates solutions, and provides sound, well-supported recommendations. The Senior HRBP owns the employee experience across the full lifecycle while leveraging HR partner groups and Legal as appropriate. The role remains accountable for coordination, follow‑through, and business outcomes.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary trusted HR advisor to leaders for assigned business units, developing a thorough understanding of operations, workforce needs, talent risks, culture, and business priorities.
• Advise and coach leaders on workforce planning, performance management, employee engagement, retention, succession planning, and organizational change.
• Independently manage complex employee relations matters, including investigations, conflict resolution, corrective actions, and separations; document findings, develop recommendations, and elevate when appropriate.
• Partner with leaders on organizational design, talent development, and employee lifecycle activities. Guide people decisions related to hiring needs, selection, onboarding, development, offer considerations, and separation.
• Collaborate with Compensation, Benefits, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Learning & Development, HRIS, Legal, and other HR partner groups to deliver integrated solutions while maintaining ownership of the business relationship, coordination, communication, and follow‑through.
• Use workforce data and employee feedback to identify risks and trends, recommend improvements, and support leader and employee development initiatives.
• Apply employment laws and company policies consistently, protect confidential information, and manage competing priorities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and progressively increasing professional experience demonstrating the knowledge and skills required for the role.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive, client‑facing Human Resources Business Partner or comparable HR generalist experience required.
• Demonstrated experience independently advising leaders and managing complex employee relations, investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, and organizational matters required.
• Experience supporting a mix of corporate and field‑based or industrial teams is preferred.
• Labor relations experience is preferred; demonstrated interest and ability to develop expertise in this area is expected.
• Professional HR certification, such as SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR, or SPHR, is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong business acumen with the ability to understand operational priorities, connect people decisions to business outcomes, and anticipate downstream organizational impacts.
• Comprehensive knowledge of employee relations, employment law, investigations, performance management, talent management, workforce planning, and HR compliance.
• Sound judgment, discretion, accountability, and a proactive, solutions‑oriented approach to complex or ambiguous situations.
• Advanced employee relations, conflict resolution, mediation, coaching, facilitation, and consultation skills.
• Ability to conduct workplace investigations, assess risk, prepare defensible documentation, and develop practical recommendations.
• Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills, with the ability to establish credibility and effectively partner with employees, leaders, and executives.
• Demonstrated analytical skills, including the ability to interpret workforce data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable solutions.
• Effective collaboration skills with a commitment to delivering integrated solutions and a positive stakeholder experience.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and active‑listening skills, including the ability to communicate sensitive or complex information with professionalism and clarity.
• Meticulous attention to detail, accuracy, documentation, timeliness, and follow‑through.
• Commitment to psychological safety, respectful dialogue, continuous learning, and thoughtful consideration of differing perspectives.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to our employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home.

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status.