HR Business Partner

At Caribou Coffee we create day-making experiences that spark a chain reaction of GOOD ! This is our purpose. Our team brings this to life by focusing on what’s really important around here – TEAM, GUEST, BUSINESS ! It’s that simple. If you’re ready to work somewhere you can be yourself while making an impact on your community, creating life-long relationships, and serving the best coffee around, join our herd! Apply today and be part of the ‘Bou Crew!

Position Overview:

As the Human Resource Business Partner, you will be a key strategic partner to leadership and a valuable resource for team members throughout their employment experience, including onboarding, performance management, and providing the guidance they need to achieve their potential as high performers.

You will support leaders at Caribou Coffee’s Support Center and Warehouse, along with their teams, across the full employee lifecycle.

You align people’s passions and talents with business needs through workforce planning, talent management, and leadership partnership. You influence how team members experience organizational change and help foster Caribou’s culture by collaborating with leaders to recruit, assess, hire, retain, and develop high‑performing teams.

As the lead for talent acquisition in your assigned business areas, you drive strategies to attract and hire top talent, ensure an excellent candidate and hiring‑manager experience, and use data to strengthen hiring practices and build strong, diverse pipelines. You approach challenges with innovation and work seamlessly across HR partners to deliver high‑quality, efficient HR solutions.

Core Responsibilities:

• Be a trusted coach to leaders to support the growth and development of their teams.
• Align HR strategy to business objectives by understanding strategic goals, advising on organizational change, assessing people implications, and providing guidance on HR issues.
• Ensure consistent execution of HR practices by auditing processes, analyzing reports, creating action plans to enhance engagement and performance, supporting investigations, and delivering HR training.
• Lead talent management initiatives, including workforce planning, career pathing, performance management, and talent reviews.
• Lead talent acquisition for assigned business areas, partnering with leaders to attract, assess, and hire top talent while ensuring a high‑quality candidate and hiring‑manager experience.
• Proactively sources and engages qualified talent through professional networks, industry associations, targeted digital platforms, and strategic partnerships to build strong candidate pipelines.
• Build and foster diverse, inclusive teams by embedding equity and inclusion in all aspects of talent and leadership development.
• Promote and support company policies, values, and ethical standards through training, compliance efforts, and partnership with Employee Relations and the Caribou Ethics Hotline.
• Lead and support organizational change using proven frameworks that balance company objectives with employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Leverage HR and business analytics to inform decisions, identify trends, and develop strategies that improve organizational performance.
• Identify opportunities to develop strategic people solutions that address business challenges and support future growth.
• Collaborate across HR to deliver high‑quality, efficient, and innovative HR solutions.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Brings the Core Values to life in all that you do: Support One Another, Make Fun Happen, Be Yourself, Take Ownership, Serve With Love.
• Business acumen — Ability to operate effectively within the organization’s financial and operational context.
• Talent management — Ability to identify, support, and execute HR initiatives that deliver strategic value and meet employee needs across the lifecycle.
• Talent acquisition — Skill in sourcing, assessing, and hiring top talent and partnering with leaders to build strong, diverse talent pipelines.
• Data judgment — Ability to manage, analyze, and communicate data responsibly to drive informed business decisions.
• Relationship management — Ability to build trusting, influential relationships with leaders and their teams to support business objectives.
• Strategic consulting — Ability to diagnose business challenges, recommend solutions, and influence strategic decisions.
• Change management — Demonstrated agility and adaptability in responding to shifting business needs and organizational change.
• Communication — Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to drive alignment and resolve issues across all levels of the organization.
• Project management — Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, initiatives, and deadlines effectively.

Qualifications:

Required:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in HR generalist, talent management, learning and development, organizational effectiveness or related capabilities
• Management of large-scale talent development and/or coaching projects
• Experience supporting high‑growth or transformation‑focused organizations where agility and proactive problem‑solving are essential
• Knowledge of federal, state, local labor and employment laws and HR/talent management best practices

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree in HR, Business Management or related field
• HR Certification (PHR, SPHR, etc.)
• ICF coaching certification (or completion of ICF accredited courses)
• Experience in retail, QSR, or fast casual restaurant industry

Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements for this position include sitting, standing, bending, lifting, and moving intermittently during working hours. These physical requirements must be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodation.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Caribou reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of Caribou or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Caribou Coffee Operating Company, Inc. and its affiliates are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers to all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Address: | 3900 Lakebreeze Ave N , Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429 |

Compensation Range:

$75,894.00 - $126,490.00 per year

* Starting pay is subject to Local and State Minimum Wage regulations.

**Ranges reflect what employer reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for such position.

The physical demands for this position are reaching, lifting up to 50 pounds, sitting, standing, for 4 to 8 hours, bending, and moving intermittently during working hours. These physical demands may be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodations.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Caribou Coffee reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the company or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Caribou Coffee Operating Company, Inc. and its affiliates are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers to all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Brand:

Caribou Coffee