Director, People Business Partner - Santa Monica, 90404

Director, People Business Partner - Santa Monica, 90404, United States of America

How we LEAD:

Universal Music Group is currently seeking a Director, People Business Partner to manage the human resources (People Inclusion and Culture aka PIC) function for several business units. The Director serves as a key partner to senior management in driving the business as it relates to our people and organizational effectiveness. The Director is also responsible for managing the day-to-day HR activities including consulting and advising on policy and procedure, staffing, compensation, employee relations, culture and development, as well as organizational and change management.

How youll CREATE:

• Build, develop and maintain strong collaborative working relationships with management and employeesacross multiple business unitsto deliver value-added PIC services
• Develop a detailed understanding of the clients business departments, jobs, structure, processes, financials, vision & strategy
• Influence and coach client leadership on sound people-related business decisions
• Proactively assess client needs for PIC services and develop strategies to meet those needs
• Address all employee relations issues and other immediate issues to minimize risk in close partnership with Legal Counsel and Employee Relations
• Manage a process-driven workload and transactional responsibilities
• Facilitate effective on-boarding and exit processes
• Ensure alignment between individual, business unit and corporate practices and serve as a credible activist, operational executor, business ally
• Promote positive employee relations and communication by counseling employees and proactively facilitating conflict resolution between employees; escalate issues as appropriate
• Coach employees and manager on career development, goal setting, performance improvement and people management
• Partner with PIC team on talent assessment, organizational design and learning and development initiatives
• Identify and recommend developmental, and culture enriching, initiatives in partnership with the Learning team
• Work in close partnership with the PIC COEs to ensure consistent PIC practices, approaches, roll-out of new initiatives
• Represent Universal Music Group and the PIC function in a positive light by gaining and maintaining knowledge of industry trends and general business knowledge/acumen

Bring your VIBE:

• Understanding of, and experience with, core aspects of Human Resource Management (staffing; employee relations; labor relations; performance management; leadership development; training; organizational planning; change management)
• Ability to think strategically and translate concepts into actionable items
• Experience using AI tools to design, structure, and iterate on organizational frameworks change management models, competency frameworks, RACI/governance structures, and phased rollout plans rather than building them from scratch manually
• Comfort using generative AI tools for drafting policies, communications, job descriptions, and modeling out frameworks like KPI dashboards, RACI matrices, and phased implementation roadmaps
• Previous talent management and succession planning experience
• Proven ability to influence decision making at the senior management level
• Courage to make tough decisions and deliver difficult messages with professionalism and poise
• Must possess consultative style and approach with proven ability to develop credible relationships
• Comfortable working in ambiguous business situations
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Exercise a high degree of professionalism and diplomacy in interactions with all levels of the organization
• Strong experience and demonstrated skills in handling a variety of employee relations matters
• Excellent follow through skills and the ability to anticipate and address business needs proactively
• Possess strong work ethic; self-motivated with a desire to take initiative and look for ways to improve processes and create efficiencies
• Excellent time management and organizational skills in managing through multiple priorities with overlapping tasks across multiple businesses
• Highly adaptable to a fast-paced, fluid work environment in constant evolution
• Ability to lead and manage people effectively
• Team-oriented attitude balanced with ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Sense of urgency motivated/energetic/enthusiastic dedicated and loyal
• Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to high standard of professional conduct
• Minimum 10 years of prior Business Partner experience
• Experience practicing HR in a creative industry (music, fashion, television, advertising, etc.) is a plus
• HRIS experience, SAP and Workday a plus
• Strong knowledge in employment laws; multi-state experience
• Proficient in MS Office (word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint). Visio and/or Org Plus experience a plus
• Bachelors Degree, preferably in a relevant field with HR related coursework