Strategic HR Business Partner Manager

Forward Air Corp.; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Stock purchase program

Paid time off

FSA

Job summary

Forward Air Corp. is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner (Manager) to act as a strategic consultant aligning HR strategies with business goals.

You will partner with leaders across HR specialists to drive workforce planning, organizational design, and employee development, while leading employee relations and coaching teams for performance and culture. This onsite role requires 30% travel and strong collaboration with COEs across Recruiting, Compensation, Benefits, and Talent Management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business administration, or related field.
• 5+ years as HRBP/HR generalist in multi-site or operational environments.
• Proven experience conducting formal employee relations investigations with strong documentation and judgment.
• Demonstrated partnership with HR COEs in Recruiting, Compensation, Benefits, Talent Management, and HR Shared Services.
• Strong skills in performance management, workforce planning, and organizational change.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to understand operational goals and develop people strategies that support performance, engagement, and organizational health.
• Serve as the primary HR contact for the business, coordinating support across HR specialists (recruiting, total rewards, development, employee services, HR systems, etc.).
• Advise leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, role clarity, and team effectiveness.
• Lead and document employee relations investigations and recommend appropriate, legally compliant actions.
• Support the performance management process, including goal setting, coaching, feedback discussions, and development planning.
• Partner with recruiting to define talent needs, support selection decisions, and ensure a smooth hiring and onboarding experience.
• Work with learning and talent development teams to assess capability gaps and support leadership development and employee growth efforts.
• Support compensation and benefits teams in communicating and administering pay programs, recognition programs, and benefit offerings.
• Provide coaching to managers and employees on conflict resolution, career pathing, communication, and workplace dynamics.
• Use HR systems and workforce data to identify trends, recommend improvements, and help leaders make informed decisions.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies and compliance with state and federal employment laws, including workers’ compensation.
• Deliver training sessions for managers and employees in both virtual and in-person settings.
• Maintain accurate, confidential HR information and support data integrity across HR systems.
• Where applicable: Lead and coach a team of Field-based HR Generalists / Specialists in delivering HRBP services across their assigned region.
• Maintain full-time onsite presence
• Provide support to additional locations or business areas as needed
• Approximately 30% overnight travel by plane and car required
• All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Skills

Employee relations

Workforce planning

Stakeholder management

Change management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

Oracle HCM Cloud

Workday

SAP

Job description

Forward Air Corp. is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner (Manager) to act as a strategic consultant aligning HR strategies with business goals.

You will partner with leaders across HR specialists to drive workforce planning, organizational design, and employee development, while leading employee relations and coaching teams for performance and culture. This onsite role requires 30% travel and strong collaboration with COEs across Recruiting, Compensation, Benefits, and Talent Management.