Senior People Business Partner

Ontra; United States; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team offsites

Flexible time off

Parental leave

Retirement contributions

Phone reimbursement

Learning resources

Health insurance

Job summary

Ontra is seeking a Senior People Business Partner based in the United States to partner with VP‑level leaders across US, UK and HK. You’ll coach leaders, lead employee relations and drive org design, culture and performance programs as AI reshapes how People functions operate.

This role requires a global mindset and exceptional judgment under ambiguity. You’ll work with a flexible set of client groups, from individual contributors to executives, ensuring compliant practices and data‑driven

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive People/HR experience
• Experience coaching leaders at all levels, including execs
• Experience leading employee relations investigations and leave
• Experience supporting restructures and changes
• Experience supporting multiple countries (UK & HK preferred) and using AI tools in People work
• Strong project management and relationship-building skills

Responsibilities

• Advise senior leaders on org design, team structure, succession and talent decisions using data on attrition and performance
• Lead employee relations from intake to close with documentation and defensible processes
• Coach managers and leaders on team management, performance improvement, recognition and calibration
• Provide People coverage for assigned client groups across US, UK, and HK
• Help refine AI-enabled support model and route routine questions to self-service
• Lead People Team programs end-to-end including promotion processes, pulse reporting and engagement action planning
• Support restructures, role changes and transitions with compliance across locations

Skills

Executive coaching

Employee relations

Org design & talent decisions

Change management

Global HR support

AI in HR tools

Leadership coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS

Performance management platforms

Job description

About Ontra

Ontra is the leader in AI-powered solutions for the private markets. Powered by industry-leading AI, data from over 2 million contracts, and a global network of legal professionals, Ontra automates critical private market workflows across the fund lifecycle. Ontra’s solutions transform unstructured data trapped in static documents into actionable intelligence, enabling firms to accelerate contracts, streamline compliance, and automate entity management. Trusted by more than 1,000 global GPs, investment banks, law firms, and advisors – including nine of the top ten PEI-ranked firms worldwide – Ontra helps firms focus on what’s important.

Our Culture

Ontra is built for people who want real ownership from day one in an environment that’s built to support it. Our customers are sophisticated, and our work reflects that. AI is engrained in how we work, and curiosity about it is part of who we are.
Ontranauts are sharp, genuinely collaborative, and invested in each other's success. They are excellent at what they do and even better to work with. That combination is rare, and we don't take it for granted. Learn more about our values.

About the Role

For this job, we are currently only hiring candidates based in the US, with New York City preferred. This role must be able to support US, UK, and HK working hours, on occasion.

Ontra is seeking a Senior People Business Partner reporting to our Director, People Business Partnerships, on our People team.

We’re looking for someone excited to own people partnership across a flexible set of client groups, from individual contributors and new managers to VPs and executives. You’ll coach leaders at every level, lead employee relations matters from intake to close, and run the performance, org design, and culture programs that keep teams thriving as we grow and as AI reshapes how the People function delivers support.

If you're a hyper-organized, high-EQ People Partner with sound judgment under ambiguity, a global mindset, and a service-first approach, who uses AI daily and treats change as the normal operating condition, we'd love to get to know you.

What You'll Do

• Executive and VP Partnership: Advise VP-level and senior leaders on org design, team structure, talent decisions, and succession, bringing data on attrition, engagement, and performance to those conversations.

• Employee Relations Leadership: Guide employee relations matters from intake to close, including investigations, mediation, accommodations, and leave, with clear documentation and a defensible process every time.

• Manager and Leader Coaching: Partner with leaders at all levels on team management, performance improvement, recognition, and calibration so assessments are fair, effective, and trusted.

• Client Group Partnership: Carry full People coverage for assigned client groups across US, UK, and HK employees, using data on attrition, engagement, and performance to shape smart, strategic decisions.

• AI-Enabled Support Model: Take on the matters that need human judgment while routing routine questions to self-service, and help us sharpen our AI tools by flagging where they fall short.

• Program and Culture Ownership: Lead People Team programs end to end, from promotion processes to pulse reporting and engagement action planning, to strengthen culture and keep teams motivated.

• Change and Compliance: Support restructures, role changes, and organizational transitions from planning through communication, while ensuring compliance across US, UK, and HK employment requirements alongside Legal and local advisors.

What You'll Bring

• Experience: 7+ years of progressive People or HR experience, including a track record of implementing successful HR initiatives tied to business strategy.

• Coaching Range: Experience advising leaders at every level, from first-time managers to VPs and executives, and building trusted relationships quickly.

• Employee Relations Expertise: Proven experience leading investigations, accommodations and leave, and performance improvement, with sound judgment on employment law risk and clarity on when to elevate to Legal or outside counsel.

• Organizational Change and Performance Management: Experience supporting restructures and reductions in force from planning through communication, plus hands‑on performance management and calibration experience, including rating frameworks and talent reviews.

• Global and Technical Fluency: Experience supporting employees in more than one country (UK and HK preferred), proficiency in HRIS and performance platforms, and hands‑on use of AI tools in People work.

• Project Management and Relationship Building: Strong project management skills and the ability to build trusted relationships quickly at every level, including with executives.

Hiring Locations

We currently hire exclusively in the locations listed below. Select jobs may have more specific location requirements due to business needs.

United States

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington

APAC

Hong Kong

EMEA

United Kingdom

Benefits Snapshot

• Twice yearly team offsites for in‑person collaboration

• Paid flexible time off policy

• Paid parental leave and benefits

• Employer‑supported retirement contributions, varying by country

• Monthly phone and internet reimbursement

• Company‑sponsored learning and development resources, department budgets for professional development, and a robust onboarding program

• Various options for medical, dental, and vision insurance

Travel

Occasional travel is required for Ontra employees, including typically at least twice per year to attend team and larger group off‑sites for in‑person collaboration. For some roles, additional travel may be required based on the requirements of the role and business need.

Inclusivity

Ontra is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Ontra will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

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Note on Employment Verification: All employees hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in their particular location.

Note to External Agencies: We are not accepting any blind submissions or resumes/CVs from recruitment agencies. Any candidates sent to Ontra will NOT be accepted or considered as a submission without a signed agreement in place.