Sr. HR/People Business Partner

CBRE Group, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE Group, Inc. in Chicago is seeking a Sr. People Business Partner to lead roll-out and communication of HR initiatives, policies, and procedures across union and non-union populations.

You will partner with stakeholders to ensure compliant and effective HR programs. The role oversees CBA administration, onboarding, succession, and performance management, while guiding high-risk employee relations, investigations, and disciplinary actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree preferred with 8-10 years of HR experience; combination of experience and education will be considered.
• At least 5 years of direct labor relations or union environment experience, with grievance handling and CBA interpretation.
• Bilingual English and Spanish is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with advanced Excel knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Oversee CBA administration, interpretation, and compliance with management and union leadership.
• Develop onboarding, career ladders, succession planning, and performance management initiatives.
• Provide high-risk employee relations guidance and disciplinary support.
• Identify employment-related risks with senior leaders and initiate investigations and grievances.
• Oversee HR functions across multiple business units, including labor relations and compensation.
• Design and deliver trainings on performance management and diversity and more.
• Evaluate HR programs, metrics, and cost-effectiveness; propose improvements.

Skills

Employee relations

Labor relations

Stakeholder management

Bilingual English & Spanish

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the Role

As a CBRE People Business Sr. Partner, you will direct the roll-out and communication of HR initiatives, policies, and procedures. This role provides HR support to both union and non-union employee populations, requiring expertise in employee relations, labor relations, and collaborative partnership with diverse stakeholders.

This job is part of the People Strategy and Operations function. They are responsible for the design, execution, and monitoring of human resource programs and policies.

What You'll Do

• Oversee collective bargaining agreement (CBA) administration, interpretation, and compliance in collaboration with management and union leadership.
• Develop onboarding, career ladders, succession planning, and performance management initiatives in the organization.
• Provide high-risk employee relations guidance and conflict resolution. Assist with issuing disciplinary action and performance improvement counseling.
• Work with Sr. Managers and Directors to identify employment-related risks. Begin the discovery process of investigations and grievances.
• Oversee the management of several HR functions such as employment, labor relations, compensation, etc. for multiple business units or lines of business.
• Develop and conduct training on a variety of topics including performance management, diversity, and more.
• Evaluate the status and productivity of HR programs and metrics and recommend changes to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Apply advanced knowledge to seek and develop new, better methods for accomplishing both individual and department objectives.
• Showcase expertise in own job discipline and in-depth knowledge of other job disciplines within the organization function.
• Coach others to develop in-depth knowledge and expertise in most or all areas within the function.
• Lead by example and model behaviors that are consistent with CBRE RISE values. Anticipates potential objections and persuades others, often at senior levels and of divergent interest, to adopt a different point of view.
• Impact the achievement of customer, operational, project, or service objectives across multi-discipline teams. Work is guided by functional policies which impact the design of procedures and policies.
• Contribute to new products, processes, standards, and/or operational plans in support of achieving functional goals.
• Communicate difficult and complex ideas with the ability to influence.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's Degree preferred with 8-10 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered.
• Bilingual English & Spanish nice to have.
• At least 5 years of direct labor relations or union environment experience, with demonstrated experience in grievance handling, investigations, and CBA interpretation. Recent union experience within the last 5 years is preferred.
• The innovative mentality to develop methods that go beyond existing solutions.
• Ability to solve unique problems using standard and innovative solutions have a broad impact on the business.
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
• Expert organizational skills with an advanced inquisitive approach.
• Highly sophisticated math skills. Ability to calculate somewhat complex figures such as percentages, fractions, and other financial-related calculations.

Why CBRE

When you join CBRE, you become part of the global leader in commercial real estate services and investment that helps businesses and people thrive. We are dynamic problem solvers and forward-thinking professionals who create significant impact. Our collaborative culture is built on our shared values — respect, integrity, service and excellence — and we value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds and skillsets of our people. At CBRE, you have the opportunity to realize your full potential.

Applicant AI Use Disclosure

We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process. These updates reflect our commitment to clarity, inclusivity, and a consistent candidate experience across all postings. I ask you to encourage your teams to begin incorporating the updated statements into all new job adverts immediately - this will help us maintain alignment with our brand tone and hiring values.

Our Values in Hiring

At CBRE, we are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels they belong. We value diverse perspectives and experiences, and we welcome all applications.

Disclaimers

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future

Relocation assistance and sign-on bonuses may be available on select positions only, for qualified candidates based on role requirements and experience