Senior HR Business Partner

At Highwire, we don’t just talk about culture—we build it. As the premier mid‑size B2B communications and marketing agency, we recognize that our people are our greatest asset. As we continue to evolve, we’re looking for a People Business Partner to help strengthen our employee experience, support leaders and teams, and drive thoughtful, scalable people practices across the agency. Reporting to the Head of People , this role will serve as a key People partner supporting our San Francisco office and remote employee population , while managing 1–2 direct reports . This role will help shape how Highwire scales its people practices, develops leaders, and operationalizes a high‑performing employee experience across a growing organization. The ideal candidate understands that strong People practices are critical drivers of employee engagement, retention, operational effectiveness, and business performance. This is a role for someone who can assess situations thoughtfully, ask the right questions, identify root causes, and move work forward with a high level of ownership and accountability. The ideal candidate thrives in fast‑paced environments, balances strategic thinking with hands‑on execution, and knows how to navigate complex employee matters with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment. Key Responsibilities Performance Management & Employee Experience Serve as a trusted People partner to employees and leaders across the San Francisco office and remote workforce. Lead Highwire’s performance management strategy, ensuring it fosters growth, accountability, and clear career pathways. Partner with leadership to create a structured yet flexible feedback culture that drives engagement and performance. Manage employee relations matters with professionalism and sound judgment, offering proactive support to managers and employees. Champion manager enablement programs that help leaders coach, support, and retain top talent. Conduct exit interviews, identify trends, and help drive actionable improvements across the employee experience. Support strategic talent and employee engagement initiatives across the agency. People Operations, Payroll, Benefits & Compliance Bring strong operational expertise across payroll, benefits, leave of absence administration, and HR compliance. Own compliance efforts across multiple states, ensuring policies and practices remain current, compliant, and consistently applied. Partner closely with the broader People Team to ensure employees and managers receive timely, accurate, and thoughtful support. Support policy interpretation, documentation, investigations, and employee communications as needed. Navigate sensitive employee matters with professionalism, discretion, and strong follow‑through. Attendance, Workforce Planning & Hybrid Strategy Lead office attendance tracking and compliance efforts, ensuring alignment with Highwire’s hybrid work strategy and expectations. Collaborate with leadership to refine and operationalize hybrid workplace practices that support both employee experience and business priorities. Use workforce insights and data to identify trends, improve engagement, and support organizational decision‑making. DIBs, Intern Program & Talent Initiatives Partner cross‑functionally to support DIBs programming, employee engagement initiatives, and culture‑building efforts. Support the agency’s intern program through candidate interviews, manager partnership, program coordination, and performance support. Help strengthen talent programs and people processes that improve scalability, consistency, and employee development. Leadership & Operational Excellence Manage and support 1–2 direct reports, providing coaching, development, prioritization support, and ongoing feedback. Identify and implement People process improvements focused on efficiency, scalability, and employee experience. Partner with Finance, IT, and Operations to improve workflows, reporting, and workforce planning processes. Support change management efforts related to People programs, systems, policies, and operational initiatives. Bring a solutions‑oriented mindset to operational and people‑related challenges, proactively identifying opportunities for improvement. Who You Are You’re highly accountable and consistently follow through. You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity and solving problems without waiting for direction. You combine empathy with sound judgment and professionalism. You know how to build trust while also holding teams accountable. You’re operationally strong but people‑centered in how you approach decisions. You can zoom out strategically while still driving execution. You thrive in fast‑paced environments where priorities evolve and adaptability matters. Success Factors 6+ years of HR Business Partner, People Partner, or related HR experience , ideally in an agency, professional services, or fast‑paced environment. Experience leading or mentoring team members, with strong coaching and people development skills. Strong expertise in employee relations, performance management, payroll, benefits, leave of absence administration, and HR compliance. Proven critical thinking, problem‑solving, organizational, and follow‑through skills. Ability to assess situations thoughtfully, navigate ambiguity, balance competing priorities, and make sound decisions in a fast‑moving environment. Strong coaching and communication skills, with the ability to influence and build trust across all levels of the organization. Experience supporting both in‑office and remote employee populations. Strong operational acumen with the ability to balance strategy and execution. Experience with HR and people systems such as Rippling, Greenhouse, and Trainual strongly preferred. Experience conducting interviews and supporting intern or early career programs preferred. Experience supporting DIBs, employee engagement, or culture initiatives preferred. M&A or integration experience is a plus. Private equity‑backed company experience and a strong understanding of value‑creation initiatives is a plus. Agency experience is strongly preferred. The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $130,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data. This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well‑being and growth. Benefits Competitive salary with merit‑based opportunities for growth Flexible hybrid work model tailored to your schedule and lifestyle Generous vacation policy, including extended summer and winter breaks Early log‑off on Fridays through our Empower Hours program 401(k) plan with employer matching Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus FSA options Paid parental leave benefits Annual Growth Mindset stipend for books, events, or learning experiences Monthly technology reimbursement Wellness benefit program for mental and physical health 501c3 donation matching program Mentorship and ongoing professional development opportunities Monthly recognition and team celebrations Employee referral and new business referral bonuses Quarterly Highwire events and team gatherings Dog‑friendly office environment A supportive, inclusive, and collaborative workplace where you can grow and do your best work Hybrid and Remote Work Options Hybrid: Candidates located within commuting distance of our New York, NY or San Francisco, CA offices follow a hybrid schedule, with three in‑office days per week. Remote: We hire for fully remote roles in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C. We are an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic. #J-18808-Ljbffr