Human Resources Business Partner - R&D

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) serves as a partner to R&D leaders across multiple business units within the R&D Center in Northboro, Massachusetts. By maintaining an effective level of business literacy about the groups it supports, financial position, plans, challenges, culture and competition, the HRBP is responsible for delivering value-added service to management and employees that reflect the business objectives of Saint-Gobain Research North America.

This role aligns people strategies with business objectives to drive innovation, technical capability development, organizational effectiveness, and profitable growth.
Additionally, the HRBP supports senior technical leaders, portfolio managers, and R&D leaders to ensure the organization attracts, develops, engages, and retains top scientific and engineering talent while fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture.
Business Partnership

• Partner with R&D leaders to effectively deliver HR solutions that support the workforce strategy with technical priorities.
• Serve as trusted advisor and primary resource to managers on talent, culture, engagement, employee relations, assisting with conflict and performance issues and policy application.
• Support transformation initiatives as the organization evolves toward solutions-based and customer-centered growth.
• Support organizational design and restructuring efforts aligned with innovation strategy.
• Assist with facilitating team effectiveness sessions and alignment workshops.

• Drive performance management processes tailored to technical populations.
• Coach leaders on differentiation, rewards, and talent development planning.
• Support development frameworks for technical career paths (e.g., Expert/Fellow ladders).
• Provide guidance, coaching and consultation to employees regarding development and growth

• Assist with strategic workforce planning across within assigned client service groups.
• Work with leaders to identify critical skill gaps in emerging technologies and technical domains.
• Develop succession strategies for senior technical, key and leadership roles.
• Partner with managers and Talent Acquisition to attract high-impact scientific and engineering talent.

• Ensure compliance with employment laws, company policies, and ethical standards.
• Notify HR Director of risk issues related to workforce matters and provide support for mitigation.
• Manage internal HR processes to include payroll/benefits administration, annual merit/bonus cycle, HRIS entry, etc.

• Analyze engagement data and support focus teams with targeted action plans.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture that supports innovation.
• Address employee relations issues with professionalism and discretion.

• Bachelor's Degree required or Master's Degree preferred
• 7+ years of experience or a combination of education and progressive HR experience
• HR Generalist function experience is required, preferably with R&D or manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of multiple HR disciplines, including Compensation, Performance Management, Workforce Planning, HRIS, and Talent Acquisition
• Experience support technical, engineering, or R&D populations strongly preferred
• Strong ethical practice, ensuring all HR related matters are handled appropriately, timely and with discretion
• Proven business acumen and ability to understand each of the businesses supported, their must win battles and needs
• Experience coaching/influencing local business managers to create positive business outcomes in alignment with business goals and strategy
• Good understanding of risk management in relation to HR
• Strong analytical capabilities and decision making ability - with or without all the information, ability to operate in the “grey” and possess an understanding of the “big picture” and the impact HR decisions make on the success of the business/group
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact with all levels of the organization and manage multiple stakeholder across multiple businesses

At Saint-Gobain, our employees…