Senior People Business Partner (Sunnyvale)

About WPP ProductionWe are WPP Production - the unified global production company that brings together all of WPP's content producers, studios and craft experts into one connected organisation. We combine world-class human craft with next generation technology to originate, design, and deliver multi-channel content systems at scale. Built for borderless collaboration and powered by deep craft expertise, we are the production engine designed for today's always on, AI driven marketing world.About WPPWPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.A Hybrid working modelWe believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.What does a Senior People Business Partner do at WPP Production?We are seeking a highly collaborative and business-focused Senior People Business Partner to support leaders and employees across a fast-paced, evolving organization. This role is ideal for an experienced HR professional who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution — someone who can influence senior leaders, coach managers, drive organizational initiatives, and still remain close to day-to-day people operations and employee experience.The Senior People Business Partner will serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, balancing strategic partnership with hands-on HR support. While this role will not initially have direct people management responsibilities, the individual will play a key mentorship and coaching role for members of the People Team and may evolve into a formal leadership position as the organization grows.This position requires strong employee relations expertise, business acumen, operational excellence, and the ability to build scalable people practices that support organizational growth and a high-performing culture.KeyResponsibilitiesStrategic Partnership & Leadership CoachingPartner closely with business leaders and department heads to align people strategies with business goals and organizational priorities.Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to managers on leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, performance management, team dynamics, organizational design, and career development.Provide guidance through complex people matters, balancing employee experience, compliance, and business needs.Support leaders in building inclusive, high-performing teams and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous feedback.Identify leadership capability gaps and recommend development plans, coaching approaches, and organizational improvements.Employee Relations & Risk ManagementLead and manage employee relations matters including investigations, conflict resolution, performance concerns, disciplinary actions, and performance improvement plans (PIPs).Advise managers on sensitive employee situations with professionalism, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented approach.Ensure consistent interpretation and application of HR policies, practices, and employment laws, particularly California labor law compliance.Maintain thorough and confidential documentation related to employee relations matters and organizational decisions.Proactively mitigate organizational and compliance risks through thoughtful HR guidance and manager education.HR Operations & Employee ExperienceProvide day-to-day HR partnership and support to employees and managers across the employee lifecycle.Act as a primary point of contact for HR-related questions, resolving issues efficiently while delivering a positive employee experience.Partner with cross-functional HR teams including Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Learning & Development, and Operations to ensure seamless delivery of people programs.Support onboarding and integration initiatives to create a welcoming and engaging new hire experience.Drive initiatives that improve employee engagement, retention, communication, and overall workplace culture.Talent Management & Organizational EffectivenessSupport and help drive performance management cycles, talent reviews, succession planning discussions, and calibration processes.Partner with leaders to assess organizational effectiveness, team structures, and workforce planning needs.Utilize people data, engagement metrics, retention trends, and business insights to make informed recommendations and influence decision-making.Contribute to the development and implementation of scalable HR programs, policies, and frameworks that support organizational growth.HR Programs, Transformation & Process ImprovementLead or support key HR initiatives and transformation projects including HRIS enhancements, process optimization, employee engagement programs, and organizational change initiatives.Help implement global and regional HR programs locally while ensuring alignment with business and employee needs.Continuously evaluate HR processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and employee experience.Support adoption and optimization of HR systems such as BambooHR, Workday, or similar HRIS platforms.Team Mentorship & Collaborative LeadershipServe as a mentor and thought partner to junior People Team members, providing guidance, coaching, and support to elevate team capability and effectiveness.Foster a collaborative and proactive People Team culture focused on partnership, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.Contribute to building scalable HR practices and team infrastructure in preparation for future organizational growth and potential team leadership responsibilities.Requirements:Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field.12+ years of progressive HR experience, including strong experience as an HR Business Partner supporting dynamic, fast-paced organizations.Strong experience supporting global, scaled, and matrixed organizations, with the ability to effectively partner across regions, cultures, and cross-functional leadership teams in a fast-paced and evolving environment.Demonstrated expertise in employee relations, manager coaching, organizational effectiveness, and HR program management.Strong knowledge of California employment law and HR best practices.Proven ability to influence and build trust with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.Experience supporting talent management processes including performance management, succession planning, and talent assessments.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate people data into actionable insights.Experience supporting or implementing HR transformation initiatives and HRIS systems is highly preferred.Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.High level of integrity, discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment when handling sensitive matters.HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR) preferred.The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, go to for more details.Pay Range: $150,000 - $165,000#LI-hybrid #DO1Why work here: At WPP Production, you’ll help shape the future of content production at a truly global scale. We bring together world-class talent, cutting-edge studios, and advanced technology to solve some of the most complex creative and production challenges in the industry. You’ll work in a collaborative, borderless environment where craft excellence is valued, innovation is encouraged, and AI and next-generation tools are used to amplify not replace human creativity. With access to diverse projects, global career opportunities, and the backing of WPP’s unmatched network, this is a place where you can grow your skills, make real impact, and create work that performs for every audience, across every channel, at every moment. Inclusion and Impact WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. DataWe rely on legitimate interest as a legal basis for processing personal information under the GDPR for purposes of recruitment and applications for employment. When you click the Submit Application button at the bottom of this page, this will send all the information you have added to WPP Production. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Privacy statement. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.Please contact View email address on apply.placed-app.com if you need the job advert or form in another format.