Sr Principal HR Business Partner

Sr Principal HR Business Partner

This is a senior-level HR leadership opportunity supporting multiple functional organizations within a complex, highly matrixed environment. The role serves as a strategic advisor to senior executives, connecting business priorities with workforce and talent strategies. You will influence decisions across workforce planning, succession, leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and organizational change. The position combines strategic consulting with hands-on guidance on complex employee relations and organizational matters. You will use workforce and business data to identify trends, assess organizational health, and shape actionable people strategies. Success requires strong executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to influence outcomes without formal authority. The role is ideally based in McLean, Virginia or Linthicum, Maryland, with remote work potentially available and approximately 10% travel.

Accountabilities

• Act as a trusted strategic advisor to senior executives and business leaders on workforce, organizational, talent, and employee-related priorities.
• Translate business strategies into integrated HR plans, workforce priorities, and people initiatives that support organizational performance and long-term growth.
• Analyze workforce, talent, engagement, exit, and other HR data to identify trends, assess organizational health, and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Lead talent reviews and succession planning, identifying critical roles and capabilities while developing targeted strategies for talent development, mobility, retention, and recruitment.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition on workforce planning and hiring strategies for strategic and difficult-to-fill positions.
• Coach senior leaders on leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, performance management, feedback, development planning, and organizational health.
• Facilitate leadership and team sessions, including new-leader assimilation activities, to strengthen collaboration and leadership effectiveness.
• Provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters and investigations, working with HR Centers of Expertise and Legal when appropriate.
• Anticipate people-related risks and advise leaders on actions that promote a positive, inclusive, and effective workplace.
• Partner with organizational effectiveness teams and other stakeholders to plan and execute organizational change, including communications, stakeholder engagement, and transition activities.
• Support compensation, bonus, recognition, job architecture, internal equity, and market competitiveness initiatives in partnership with Total Rewards and Compensation teams.
• Influence senior leadership and drive complex HR initiatives across a highly matrixed organization without relying on formal authority.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or a related discipline; four additional years of relevant experience may substitute for the degree.
• At least 8 years of progressive HR experience, including substantial experience serving as an HR Business Partner to senior leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to advise executives on complex workforce, organizational, talent, and employee matters.
• Proven experience leading complex employee relations cases, organizational change initiatives, restructurings, or similar high-impact HR programs.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations and their practical application within a corporate environment.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge leadership perspectives constructively, and deliver results without direct authority.
• Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to interpret HR and business data and translate insights into practical recommendations.
• Exceptional consulting, facilitation, presentation, and communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex issues and build alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business strategy into actionable people strategies and lead complex initiatives in highly matrixed environments.
• Experience supporting multi-site or highly matrixed organizations is preferred.
• A master's degree in HR, Business, or a related field, or advanced certification such as SHRM-SCP or SPHR, is preferred.
• Ability to work onsite in McLean, VA or Linthicum, MD is preferred.
• The position requires approximately 10% travel.

Benefits

• Base salary range of $106,800$176,300, with actual compensation determined by factors including responsibilities, experience, education, skills, and market conditions.
• Potential eligibility for discretionary annual bonuses based on individual contributions and organizational results.
• Potential eligibility for overtime or shift differentials depending on position requirements.
• Long-term incentive opportunities may be available for eligible leadership positions.
• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings and retirement plan options.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off for vacation and personal business.
• Flexible work arrangements, with the role potentially eligible for telework.
• Opportunity to work closely with senior executives and influence workforce strategy across a complex, mission-driven organization.
• Approximately 10% travel, with no relocation assistance indicated for the position.