Human Resources Business Partner Manager (Employee Relations Lead)

Job Description

Job Description

Unusual Machines is a U.S.-based drone and drone parts company focused on the small and First-Person View (FPV) segments of the drone market. Our brands - Rotor Riot, Fat Shark, Rotor Lab and - coming soon - Upgrade Energy - are some of the most respected names in FPV and have helped shape the industry through e-commerce, product development, and a deep connection with the pilot community.

We're expanding into enterprise and defense - bringing our obsessive attention to performance, design, and U.S.-based manufacturing into high-stakes environments like search and rescue and military innovation. With several of our products already approved by the Defense Innovation Unit, we're solving procurement issues for customers who demand speed, agility, and compliance.

If you love working at the intersection of community, content, and cutting-edge technology, you'll feel right at home here.

About the Role

Unusual Machines is growing quickly. We are looking for an HR Business Partner (HRBP) Manager to lead strategic talent initiatives and oversee our employee relations function.

In this role, you will partner directly with senior leaders to align people strategies with business goals. You will guide organizational design, leadership development, and change management during this high-growth phase. Additionally, you will lead and coach our Employee Relations (ER) Managers to ensure consistent, fair support across all shifts and facilities. This position balances forward-looking strategic advisory with a visible, trusted presence on the facility floor.

What You'll Do

Strategic HR Business Partnership

• Drive Strategic Alignment: Partner with senior leaders to translate business priorities into effective talent and organizational strategies.
• Guide Organizational Design: Evaluate team structures, spans of control, and responsibilities to maximize efficiency and support rapid growth.
• Coach & Develop Leaders: Advise executives and supervisors on leadership effectiveness, performance management, and complex people decisions.
• Lead Change Management: Guide business units through shifts in structure, culture, and scale, ensuring seamless communication and high retention.
• Advance Talent Capability: Diagnose leadership and skill gaps across teams and collaborate with Talent Development on tailored training solutions.
• Leverage Strategic Insights: Use broad workplace trends and macro data to mitigate risks and design solutions for talent retention and engagement.
• Collaborate Globally Across HR: Partner with Compensation on job leveling and equity, and advise Talent Acquisition on strategic business hiring needs.

Employee Relations Leadership & Oversight

• Lead the ER Team: Manage, mentor, and develop a team of Employee Relations Managers across multiple shifts and facilities.
• Ensure Consistency: Standardize practices for investigations, corrective actions, and policy application across the enterprise.
• Identify Systemic Issues: Analyze ER themes and patterns to recommend proactive, systemic changes to company policies or culture.
• Manage High-Risk Cases: Provide oversight on complex employee matters, ensuring fair resolution and escalation when necessary.

What You'll Bring

• Experience: 7+ years of progressive HR experience, featuring a strong track record as an HR Business Partner.
• Leadership: Proven experience directly managing, mentoring, or developing HR or Employee Relations professionals.
• Industry Background: HR leadership experience in manufacturing, production, logistics, or a similarly fast-paced operational environment.
• ER Expertise: Deep foundational knowledge of employment law, investigation best practices, and conflict resolution.
• Strategic Acumen: Strong business judgment with the ability to balance business objectives with employee advocates.
• Communication Style: An approachable, practical communicator who thrives in high-growth environments where plans must be built dynamically.

Why Unusual Machines?

You will join us at an exciting stage of expansion, directly shaping our culture and growth roadmap. This is an active, highly visible role where you will partner with executives, mentor HR talent, and see your strategy change the business every day.

Compensation

105,000-125,000

Benefits

• Equity 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• 401(k)
• Generous PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Daily Catered Lunches

We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

Unusual Machines participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

Candidates must be a US Citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for employment