People Operations Business Partner

The People Operations Business Partner (POBP) at Foster serves as a strategic and operational partner to warehouse and transportation leadership, driving execution of People strategies in a fast-paced produce distribution environment. This role ensures workforce stability, productivity, and compliance by translating data insights into actionable plans that support frontline operations.

As the key link between the Director of People Operations and frontline teams, the POBP plays a critical role in strengthening retention, reinforcing performance expectations, and enabling leaders to effectively manage a high-volume, hourly workforce.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Partnership with Operations

• Act as the primary People Operations partner for assigned warehouse and transportation functions or shifts
• Collaborate with Operations Managers and Supervisors to align workforce strategies with business objectives
• Provide guidance on workforce planning, staffing stability, and performance management

2. Workforce Operations & Floor Presence

• Maintain a consistent and visible presence on the warehouse floor and driver routes
• Ensure execution of core People processes, including:
• Continuous recruiting based on staffing needs
• Onboarding and new hire ramp-up
• Attendance tracking and accountability
• Employee lifecycle actions (transfers, promotions, corrective actions)
• Support supervisors in addressing day-to-day workforce challenges

3. Attendance, Retention & Workforce Stability

• Monitor attendance trends and enforce accountability standards
• Identify turnover drivers and implement targeted retention strategies
• Support staffing stability in critical roles (e.g., order selectors and drivers)
• Partner with leadership to proactively address workforce gaps

4. Performance & Productivity Alignment

• Reinforce performance expectations tied to operational metrics, including:
• Picking rates
• Throughput and productivity standards
• Driver efficiency and safety scores
• Support recognition programs that enforce high performance
• Partner with operations to address productivity gaps through coaching and accountability

5. Data-Driven Execution

• Partner with the People Operations Analyst to review and interpret
• Turnover data
• Attendance patterns
• Productivity metrics
• Translate insights into clear, actionable plans for supervisors and managers
• Track and evaluate the effectiveness of workforce initiatives

6. Employee Relations & Leadership Coaching

• Serve as a trusted advisor to supervisors on employee relations matters
• Conduct investigations and ensure fair, consistent resolution of issues
• Coach leaders on:
• Performance management
• Effective communication
• Conflict resolution
• Build leadership capability across frontline teams

7. Compliance & Policy Enforcement

• Ensure compliance with:
• Labor laws and wage/hour regulations
• OSHA and workplace safety standards
• Food safety requirements
• Drive consistent application of policies across shifts and departments
• Support audits and maintain accurate documentation

8. Program Ownership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead execution of key People programs, including:
• Attendance management frameworks
• Performance improvement processes
• Engagement and retention initiatives
• Employee relations programs
• Identify opportunities to improve processes for efficiency and scalability
• Ensure programs are practical and effective in a warehouse environment

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3+ years of HR/People Operations experience
• Strong preference for experience in:
• Distribution, warehouse, or logistics environments
• High-volume hourly workforce settings

Skills & Competencies

• Strong business partnership mindset with company leaders
• Deep understanding of warehouse and transportation workforce dynamics and shift-based environments
• Ability to translate data into actionable workforce strategies
• Experience managing attendance, turnover, and productivity challenges
• Strong influencing and coaching skills
• Knowledge of employment laws and compliance requirements
• Highly visible, responsive, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient in processing payroll in ADP

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Hourly employee turnover rate
• Attendance and absenteeism trends
• Retention of high-performing employees
• Time-to-productivity for new hires
• Reduction in performance-related corrective actions
• Compliance and audit outcomes

Work Environment

• Warehouse/distribution center setting
• Frequent interaction with hourly employees and frontline leadership
• Requires flexibility to support multiple shifts as needed
• Hands-on, high-visibility role with significant time spent on the floor and out in the yard

Reporting Structure

Reports to: Director of People Operations

Partners with: People Operations Analyst, Warehouse Directors, Managers, Supervisors and Associates

Position Impact

This role directly supports Foster’s operational success by ensuring a stable, engaged, and high-performing workforce. The People Operations Business Partner ensures that People strategies are not just designed—but effectively executed where they matter most: on the warehouse floor and on the road.