Senior People Operations Business Partner

Group 1 Automotive; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. is seeking a Senior People Operations Business Partner to act as the strategic HR advisor for a large dealership market in the Greater Houston area.

This role embeds within operations and collaborates with General Managers, Market Directors, and leadership to translate business priorities into effective people strategies across Sales, Service, Parts, and Finance & Insurance. The ideal candidate leads complex employee relations matters, drives organizational change, and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of HR experience as a strategic partner to operational leaders across multiple sites.
• Experience supporting high-volume, customer-facing industries (retail, automotive, hospitality, healthcare, or manufacturing).
• Proven ability advising General Managers, Regional/Market Directors, and leaders.
• Extensive experience leading workplace investigations and HR compliance.
• Experience driving organizational change and influencing leaders at all levels.
• Strong knowledge of organizational design, talent management, succession planning, workforce planning.
• Ability to leverage workforce analytics to guide business decisions.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to travel regularly across the Greater Houston area.

Responsibilities

• Employee Relations & Investigations: lead complex employee relations matters and policy interpretation; ensure consistent policy application across locations.
• Strategic Business Partnership: serve as primary People Operations BP for assigned dealership market; align HR guidance with business objectives.
• Talent Management & Organizational Effectiveness: develop talent strategies; support succession planning and leadership development.
• Workforce Analytics & Business Insights: analyze metrics to identify trends and inform actions with leaders.
• Change Management: lead change initiatives and ensure engagement during transitions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: partner with Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits and Learning to deliver integrated HR solutions.

Skills

Strategic partnership

Employee relations

Data analytics

Change management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP / PHR / SPHR

Job description

About Us

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) is a Fortune 250 leader in global automotive retail, operating more than 250 dealerships and collision centers across the United States and United Kingdom. As the 4th largest dealership group in the U.S., Group 1 delivers a fully integrated automotive experience, including vehicle sales, financing, aftersales service, and digital retail solutions. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, Group 1 is investing in the people, technology, and operational excellence needed to shape what comes next. Our work is grounded in a simple belief, that a better experience for customers starts with an exemplary experience for employees. At Group 1, our commitment is to keep finding smarter ways to serve our customers and support one another. We believe great careers are built in environments where people are trusted, challenged, and given room to grow. If you share our core values of integrity, transparency, professionalism, teamwork, and respect, you can get more with Group 1. More opportunity. More support. More ways to build a career that moves you forward.

Overview

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. is seeking a Senior People Operations Business Partner to serve as the strategic HR advisor for one of our largest dealership markets. Embedded within operations, this highly visible role partners with General Managers, Market Directors, Fixed Operations leaders, and corporate leadership to translate business priorities into effective people strategies across Sales, Service, Parts, and Finance & Insurance.

The Business Partner leads complex employee relations matters and workplace investigations, coaches leaders through sensitive situations, ensures compliance with policy and employment law, and helps mitigate organizational risk. This role also drives organizational change, talent management, leadership development, succession planning, and workforce planning, using data and insights to improve performance, engagement, retention, and customer experience.

The ideal candidate is a proactive HR leader with strong business acumen, executive presence, and the ability to influence at all levels. Success requires comfort navigating ambiguity, balancing multiple priorities, and appropriately challenging leaders in a fast-paced, high-volume retail environment.

Regular travel throughout the assigned market is required, along with occasional evening and weekend availability based on business needs.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Lead complex employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, policy interpretation, conflict resolution, corrective actions, and performance management.
• Ensure consistent application of Company policies while mitigating organizational risk.
• Partner with Legal and other internal stakeholders on sensitive employee matters as needed.

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary People Operations Business Partner for an assigned dealership market, supporting General Managers, Market Directors, and operational leadership.
• Build trusted relationships with business leaders by providing strategic HR guidance aligned with operational and financial objectives.
• Coach, influence, and challenge leaders on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, employee engagement, and performance management.
• Partner with leadership to develop action plans that improve retention, productivity, and overall business performance.

Talent Management & Organizational Effectiveness

• Partner with business leaders to develop talent strategies that support current and future business needs.
• Facilitate talent review and calibration sessions to identify high-potential talent and support succession planning initiatives.
• Identify organizational capability gaps and implement development strategies to strengthen leadership pipelines.
• Support acquisitions, reorganizations, and organizational change initiatives.

Workforce Analytics & Business Insights

• Analyze workforce metrics and People Operations data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Translate workforce analytics into actionable recommendations that support business objectives.
• Partner with leaders to develop data-driven action plans related to turnover, engagement, staffing, and organizational performance.

Change Management

• Lead organizational change initiatives by developing communication, implementation, and adoption strategies.
• Guide leaders through periods of organizational change while maintaining employee engagement and operational continuity.
• Promote consistent People Operations practices and operational excellence across multiple dealership locations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Talent Acquisition, People Operations, Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, Learning & Development, and other Centers of Excellence to deliver integrated HR solutions.
• Share best practices across markets and contribute to the continuous improvement and growth of People Operations processes and programs.
• Independently manage workload, calendar, travel schedule, and business priorities in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of HR experience serving as a strategic partner to operational leaders across a multi-site organization
• Experience supporting high-volume, customer-facing industries such as retail, automotive, hospitality, healthcare, or manufacturing
• Proven success advising General Managers, Regional or Market Directors, and operational leaders
• Extensive experience leading workplace investigations, resolving complex employee relations matters, and navigating employment law and HR compliance
• Experience driving organizational change and influencing leaders at all levels
• Strong knowledge of organizational design, talent management, succession planning, workforce planning, and performance management
• Ability to leverage workforce analytics to guide business decisions
• Exceptional communication, presentation, relationship‑building, and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast‑paced environment
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout the Greater Houston area

Preferred

• Experience supporting a Fortune 250 or similarly large, high‑turnover organization with multiple rooftops
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. Employment is contingent upon successfully completing all applicable pre‑employment requirements in accordance with federal, state, and local law.