Human Resources Business Partner

Human Resources Business Partner

TOTE is dedicated, reliable and built to serve. Come join TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico LLC! TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico has proudly served the communities of Puerto Rico since 1985. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico provides safe, reliable transportation for the Puerto Rico and related Caribbean trades. Their high-speed lift-on/lift-off vessels (Lo/Lo) are the world's first environmentally friendly commercial container ships and are supported by a seamless network of port facilities, operational systems and inland transportation resources.

At TOTE, it's about people. We're committed to our employees – fostering a working environment where they are respected, inspired, and recognized for doing good work.

TOTE knows that great companies are built by great people who embody our company's values and vision. Learn more about what makes us a great company.

Our core pillars are:

• Safety - Safety & compliance are the forefront of every decision and action we make here at TOTE.
• Colleague Experience - Great companies are built by great people. We are committed to talent and leadership development opportunities throughout TOTE.
• Operational Excellence - Operational excellence through continuous improvement.
• Customer Experience - Committed to delivering a best-in-class customer experience with a focus on operations that prioritize value-added service, efficiency and effectiveness.

Come find out what sets TOTE apart.

Summary

As the Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP), you will serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, partnering to align people strategies with business priorities. This role goes beyond traditional HR support—you'll influence organizational effectiveness, strengthen leadership capability, enhance the employee experience, and help drive business results through people.

The HRBP partners with leaders across multiple functions to provide strategic guidance on talent, organizational design, employee relations, workforce planning, change management, leadership development, and compliance while supporting a culture of safety, accountability and operational excellence. You'll leverage data and insights to identify opportunities, solve complex business challenges, and implement people strategies that support both current and future organizational needs.

This is an in office position and also includes regular visits to our terminal location as well.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders, providing strategic HR guidance that aligns people initiatives with business objectives.
• Partner with leadership to develop workforce plans that build organizational capability, strengthen talent pipelines, and prepare the business for future growth.
• Leverage workforce analytics and business insights to identify trends, recommend solutions, and influence decision-making.
• Support organizational change initiatives, restructures, acquisitions, and business transformations while maintaining a positive employee experience.
• Demonstrated exposure and knowledge of multiple human resource disciplines, including labor laws and employment best practices, talent and performance management, employee relations, succession planning, talent acquisition, change management, diversity and inclusion, pay and benefits compensation, and HRIS systems.
• Identify and lead continuous improvement efforts and teams across multiple functions and locations.

Leadership Coaching & Talent Development

• Coach leaders on performance management, employee development, succession planning, organizational effectiveness, and leadership best practices.
• Partner with leaders to identify, develop, and retain top talent through effective development planning and career conversations.
• Champion a culture of continuous feedback, accountability, recognition, and professional growth.
• Support internship, rotational, and early career development programs to strengthen future talent pipelines.

Employee Experience & Culture

• Foster an engaging, inclusive, and high-performing culture that reflects TOTE's values.
• Promote positive employee relations and lead employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, action planning, and retention strategies.
• Partner with leaders to proactively identify opportunities to improve the overall employee experience and culture.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Provide expert guidance on employee relations matters while balancing business needs, legal compliance, and employee experience.
• Conduct workplace investigations and recommend appropriate resolutions consistent with company policies and employment laws.
• Partner with the HR Shared Services team to administer and support leave management processes, including ADA, FMLA, Workers' Compensation, disability accommodations, and related compliance requirements.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws while minimizing organizational risk.
• Support both internal and external audits.

Talent Management & Performance

• Advise and consult on organization performance management philosophy (performance correction, employee performance reviews, goal setting, development planning, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience leveraging assessment tools and selecting talent.
• Lead employee transitions such as resignations and terminations (workforce reductions, layoffs process, performance management separations, or job eliminations, etc.).
• Partner with leaders on performance improvement, corrective action, workforce transitions, reductions in force, and organizational changes.

Talent Acquisition & Employee Lifecycle

• Participate and partner in talent acquisition for business units attending community and campus events.
• Facilitate new hire on-boarding to ensure quick and effective assimilation to the Company.
• Partner with HR Shared Services to embed programs into client groups and implement and support initiatives/services to improve the employee experience (recruitment, total rewards, HR systems, etc.).
• Coach and support hiring managers to ensure we are hiring for potential and longer term career growth.
• Utilize behavioral interview techniques and assessment tools to support effective hiring decisions.
• Collaborate on workforce planning strategies to meet evolving business needs.

HR Programs & Continuous Improvement

• Facilitate training, feedback sessions and employee meetings (compliance training, functional and leadership development, policy changes, etc.).
• Lead and participate in cross-functional HR and business projects that support organizational priorities.
• Partner with HR Shared Services team to successfully implement enterprise HR programs and initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to simplify processes, improve efficiency, and enhance the employee experience.

Qualifications

• 3+ years demonstrated success within HR Business Partner or specialty Human Resources functions.
• Strongly Preferred: Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Must possess effective consulting and influencing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and professional verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective presentation, facilitation, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to solve problems and proactively diagnose and implement solutions to enhance organizational agility and effectiveness.
• Ability to analyze and interpret business and people data to identify trends, patterns, and insights that inform strategic decisions.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• High level of discretion and confidentiality.
• Excellent time-management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage multiple, competing priorities, facilitate business processes and work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team across multiple levels in the organization.
• Passion for results and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal employment law that impacts the employee geography.
• Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of the organization's hierarchy, jobs, qualifications, compensation practices, and administrative practices related to those functions.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and experience using HRIS systems. – ADP preferred.
• Travel Requirement: Ability to travel up to 15% domestically to other company locations as business needs require.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology or related field.
• Advanced degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations or Business preferred.
• HR certification preferred.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to operate computer controls, calculators