University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
HR Business Partner, Performance
Job Profile Title
Associate Director C, Human Resources, School/ Center
Job Description Summary
DAR HR is seeking a strategic, people-centered HR Business Partner (HRBP) with broad HR generalist experience, dedicated to building an inclusive, high-performing workplace where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to grow. Highly organized and collaborative, this professional thrives in dynamic, matrixed environments and effectively balances strategic insight with hands-on HR expertise. Success in this role is driven by adaptability, strong partnership and influencing skills, and a genuine passion for fostering an engaged workforce. Committed to supporting organizational leaders and collaborating closely with the broader DAR HR team, this HRBP helps advance strategic priorities while driving individual, team, and organizational success.
In this role, the HRBP will serve as a trusted advisor to leaders within the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) organization, supporting the full employee lifecycle across a diverse workforce of more than 600 employees. As an integral member of the DAR HR team, this individual will manage the performance review process, support with strategic workforce planning, facilitate a seamless onboarding & offboarding process, and handle all matters related to employee relations and performance.
Operating in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, the HRBP will champion data-driven decision-making, lead complex, high-impact initiatives, and partner across teams to drive meaningful organizational change.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities:
Performance Management & Employee Relation
- Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, managing
complex employee relations matters with fairness, integrity, and
sound judgment.
- Handle sensitive matters including conflict resolution,
performance improvement, and disciplinary actions, ensuring
alignment with legal and policy requirements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to design and
implement HR programs that advance organizational goals and enhance
employee engagement.
- Partner with leaders to strengthen performance management
practices and promote a culture of continuous feedback and
accountability.
Onboarding & Offboarding
- Manage onboarding programs for new DAR staff, ensuring a
consistent and engaging experience through the first 90 days.
- Use data and feedback to assess onboarding effectiveness,
identify improvement opportunities, and recommend process
enhancements.
- Collaborate with the HR Generalist and hiring managers to
ensure onboarding aligns with organizational culture and
performance expectations.
- Manage and coordinate offboarding processes for all DAR staff,
ensuring compliance with best practices and positive employee
experience.
- Analyze offboarding data to identify trends and recommend
process improvements based on qualitative and quantitative
insights.
Workforce Planning
- Partner with the Director of HR and department leaders to
support strategic workforce planning, including team structure,
role alignment, and organizational design.
- Use data-driven insights to anticipate future talent needs and
support proactive staffing strategies.
Training
- Support the Director of Learning & Development in
designing, developing, and co-facilitating training programs and
materials focused on performance management, goal setting, and
other HR topics that might come up.
- Develop and deliver training resources on broader HR topics to
support employee and manager effectiveness.
- Serve as the HR subject matter expert on learning and
development initiatives
General HR
- Contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen HR operations by
leveraging data analytics to inform strategic decisions and promote
operational excellence.
- Provide expert guidance on HR policies, compliance, and
workplace challenges while fostering a positive, inclusive, and
people-centered culture.
- Champion HR excellence and continuous improvement across all
facets of the employee lifecycle.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of progressive HR experience
or equivalent combination of education and experience is
required.
- HR Generalist Expertise: Demonstrated experience managing
employee relations, with the ability to provide strategic support
on workforce planning, compensation, and performance review
initiatives.
- Compliance & Policy Knowledge: Deep understanding of
employment laws, HR policies, and compliance standards, with the
skill to apply them effectively to resolve workplace issues and
ensure organizational integrity.
- Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal
and communication skills, with a proven ability to build trusted
relationships with stakeholders and provide practical, empathetic
HR coaching and support.
- Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Strong judgment and
analytical skills, adept at navigating complex employee matters and
addressing sensitive issues with discretion and fairness.
- Collaboration & Teamwork: Experience working within a
matrixed environment and willingness to support DAR HR colleagues
when additional support is needed.
Preferred:
- HR Certification: PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP
certification.
- Technology Skills: Experience using HR systems and technology
platforms such as Workday, Qualtrics, and AI-driven tools to
enhance HR operations and employee experience.
- 5 to 7 years of progressive HR experience.
Key Attributes for Success:
- Empathetic and emotionally intelligent, with a genuine passion
for supporting people through challenges and opportunities.
- Strong sense of accountability and integrity, ensuring fairness
and consistency in all HR practices.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to see both the big picture
and the operational details.
- Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where
priorities can shift quickly.
**Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role. Please upload all documents in the "Resume/CV" section of the application prior to submitting.**
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
About the Office of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR)
The Office of Development & Alumni Relations at the University of Pennsylvania plays a critical role in providing the resources that maintain the University's current strength and support its vision for the future. Excellence in education, research, and service to the community requires continued investment, and Penn's Development and Alumni Relations teams work together to secure the funds needed to advance the University's mission.
Fundraising responsibilities at Penn are shared among schools, centers, and centrally-based staff in an overall department structure that emphasizes cooperation, coordination, and collaboration.
We look for applicants who can demonstrate imagination, compassion, and persistence while keeping a clear eye fixed on our fundraising goals.
DAR fosters lifelong connections with alumni and their families. With a message that a Penn education lasts a lifetime, DAR encourages alumni to participate in University activities, both on and off campus.
Our integrated approach to institutional advancement recognizes that a large part of success in fundraising is due to the strength and commitment of alumni, who number more than 300,000 and form the core of the University's philanthropic and volunteer network.
Though each school and center has unique characteristics, gift officers at Penn Medicine must be adept at moving from very technical conversations about clinical and research priorities with medical faculty to often very emotional conversations about serious illness and medical care with prospective donors.
To learn more, visit us at: https://giving.upenn.edu/
Department / School
Development and Alumni Relations
Pay Range
$77,330.00 - $92,790.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
- Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn
offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,
dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your
family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending
accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care
expenses with pre-tax dollars.
- Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition
benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get
tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also
eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
- Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to
help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and
Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a
pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment
options through TIAA and Vanguard.
- Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a
substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the
year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal
affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with
family-whatever your personal needs may be.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth
Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family
members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the
costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community
or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you
won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to
underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always
provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
- Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to
supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing
demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide
variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,
your family, and your work-life balance.
- Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an
array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and
professionally.
- University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,
you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as
cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the
University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our
arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at
Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest
music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn
Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member
of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the
excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these
activities for free.
- Discounts and Special Services: From arts and
entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great
deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and
cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission
and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy
substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars
from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie
tickets, and admission to theme parks.
- Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer
creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance
between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use
of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job
structures.
- Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable
loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or
currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for
closing costs or home improvements.
- Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible
employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal
adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up
to two adoptions in your household.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/FMC-Tower-Development/HR-Business-Partner--Performance_JR00125784-1
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