Senior People Business Partner
At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we're on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We're developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we've built a world-class team in Automated Driving, Energy & Materials, Human-Centered AI, Human Interactive Driving, Large Behavior Models, and Robotics.
The People (P&C) team at TRI plays a critical role in supporting this mission. We partner across the organization to ensure that our people programs enable innovation, inclusion, and impact. We're a collaborative, curious, and values-driven group that's passionate about making TRI an exceptional place to work.
As a Senior People Business Partner, you will serve as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to leaders across the organization. This role is focused on strengthening organizational health, guiding change, and enabling high-impact people strategies that align with TRI's business goals. You'll work closely with stakeholders to support team effectiveness, employee engagement, and long-term talent success. Your ability to navigate both strategic initiatives and operational demands will be essential in building and sustaining a strong, inclusive workplace.
Responsibilities
- Partner with leaders to align people strategies with evolving business needs and organizational priorities.
- Guide organizational design decisions, including team structures, spans and layers, and headcount planning.
- Coach managers and leaders on team dynamics, communication, employee development, and retention strategies.
- Lead or support the execution of performance management, employee engagement, and succession planning initiatives.
- Identify and assess workforce risks or gaps and develop proactive solutions in collaboration with the broader People team.
- Assess external trends (e.g., macroeconomic shifts, DEI benchmarks, regulatory changes) and advise on implications for talent strategy.
- Help drive and support change management efforts that ensure smooth transitions and consistent adoption of new programs or structures.
- Partner cross-functionally with other People team members (e.g., People Operations, Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition) to ensure aligned and scalable solutions.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.6-10 years of progressive HR experience, including business partnering responsibilities.Proven ability to coach and influence leaders while balancing organizational goals with employee experience.Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.Experience navigating and resolving complex employee relations matters with discretion and integrity.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, hybrid environment.Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and Asana.Willingness to travel up to 25%.Bonus Qualifications
Experience supporting or partnering with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) or DEI programs.Familiarity with organizational effectiveness tools and frameworks (e.g., engagement surveys, span / layer analysis).Knowledge of California and / or Massachusetts employment law.HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR) are a plus.