The Lead HR Business Partner - Global Operations is a trusted consultant to our functional leadership on HR related issues, an employee advocate and a change agent within the business. This role supports a wide variety of senior stakeholders and individual Thoughtworkers across our Operations functions globally, incl. talent, finance, marketing, demand and others. In order to be successful in this role, you must be able to create order out of chaos, be flexible and adaptable in your approach, ok with imperfection, and able to balance the need for structure and guidelines with the need to be creative and progressive.
The Senior HR Business Partner role is based out of Europe. Stakeholders are located in every Thoughtworks timezone (Australia to San Francisco), so an ability and willingness to work across all timezones is a must.
Reporting to the Global Head of People Support, with dotted line reporting to the Global Head of Talent Development, the primary responsibilities of the role include:
Job Responsibilities
- Conducts regular meetings with operations functions to maintain a pulse on the business and act as a conduit for information across functions and across regions.
- Consults with functional leaders, providing HR guidance when appropriate.
- Functions as the first point of contact to operations employees on all HR matters.
- Continuously analyzes trends and metrics and assesses the employee pulse and cultural climate to proactively identify issues. Works in partnership with the global talent function and legal partners to develop high impact solutions, programs and policies.
- Manages and resolves complex employee relations issues. Conducts effective, thorough and objective investigations.
- Maintains in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance. Partners with regional legal teams as needed/required.
- Provides day-to-day performance management guidance to functional leaders (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, disciplinary actions). Manages the performance review process for global operations functions, driving feedback culture through open and transparent dialogue.
- Works closely with leadership and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention.
- Provides HR policy guidance and interpretation.
- Ensures equity in employment processes such as promotions and transfers.
- Partners with regional people teams to manage the compensation review process for global operations teams with special attention to equity.
- Supports diversity and inclusion through introspection, being mindful about diversity on teams and in leadership, and helps identify ways to continuously improve Thoughtworks’ ability to support a diverse workforce.
- Identifies training needs for business units and individual executive coaching needs. Follows up to ensure training objectives are met.
Job qualifications
Technical skills
- 10 years of experience in HR, with a preferred 7+ years of experience in an HRBP or strategic HR leadership role
- Deep knowledge of HR practices, employment law, and government regulations in at least one of the regions in which Thoughtworks operates (global or multi-regional experience a strong plus)
Professional skills
- Excellent time management skills
- Exposure to global business operations, with a strong preference for knowledge of nuanced regional differences in cultural and employment practices
- Ability to forge and maintain relationships with people at various levels who span the globe
- Extremely comfortable working in environments that are culturally diverse, fast-paced, always changing, and light on structure/process
- Keen and quick to understand and deal with business situations in a manner that will lead to a good outcome, able to balance people and business needs appropriately
Other things to know
L&D
There is no one-size-fits-all career path at Thoughtworks: however you want to develop your career is entirely up to you. But we also balance autonomy with the strength of our cultivation culture. This means your career is supported by interactive tools, numerous development programs and teammates who want to help you grow. We see value in helping each other be our best and that extends to empowering our employees in their career journeys.
About Thoughtworks
Thoughtworks is a global technology consultancy that integrates strategy, design and engineering to drive digital innovation. For 28+ years, our clients have trusted our autonomous teams to build solutions that look past the obvious. Here, computer science grads come together with seasoned technologists, self-taught developers, midlife career changers and more to learn from and challenge each other. Career journeys flourish with the strength of our cultivation culture, which has won numerous awards around the world.
Join Thoughtworks and thrive. Together, our extra curiosity, innovation, passion and dedication overcomes ordinary.
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