Senior People Business Partner
Los Altos, CA; Cambridge, MA
People – People /
Full-time /
Hybrid
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.
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $133,200 and $203,500/year for California-based roles; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Note that TRI offers a generous benefits package (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave) and an annual cash bonus structure. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
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TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture. We believe diversity makes us stronger and are proud to provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all, without regard to an applicant’s race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, religion, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.
