HR Business Partner - Performance

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)

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 protectedunder 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.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay