Human Resources Business Partner II

About the Company

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. The company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service, and natural gas providers in the U.S.

Aqua employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives to scientists and engineers. We are advocates for the communities we serve and dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats.

About the Role

Step into the role of HR Business Partner II, a strategic partner who collaborates with key business leaders to drive HR initiatives that align with bold business objectives. This position puts you at the heart of the action—serving as a strategic consultant to management on human resource-related issues, expertly handling complex employee and labor relations issues, while assessing, anticipating, and resolving HR-related needs.

You will forge partnerships across the business to deliver value-added service to management and employees, aligning with the organization’s business objectives. Beyond mastering HR, you’ll dive deep into the business, influencing decisions to achieve standout results, crafting creative solutions to challenges, and leveraging analytical skills to create impactful financial and economic models.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the people strategies for the business segment in partnership with the leadership team to achieve desired business objectives.
• Develop and lead employee relations strategy ensuring continuously improving employee engagement while achieving the objectives of the business.
• Develop and lead the business segment’s strategy with respect to its unionized workforces as well as unionized workforces acquired through acquisition.
• Provide guidance to leaders on a range of HR topics including coaching, counseling, performance management, career development, compensation, and workforce planning.
• Maintain knowledge of labor/union issues and best practices to promote positive labor relations.
• Provide employee and labor relations support, counseling employees and managers on ways to improve performance and collaboration.
• Conduct investigations in response to complaints from various sources.
• Partner with leadership to develop succession plans.
• Work collaboratively with subject matter experts in HR Centers of Excellence, including benefits, HRIS, talent acquisition, payroll, and compensation to develop creative solutions, programs, and policies.
• Track and analyze relevant employment-related data, identify trends and engagement opportunities, and propose creative solutions to enhance employee experience.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of HR generalist or business partner experience in a mid-sized or larger company.
• Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, labor relations, or a related field.
• Advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills, with demonstrated ability to build financial models.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict and creatively and effectively problem-solve.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, set priorities, and achieve results.
• Demonstrated ability to build senior-level relationships and influence others in functions outside of HR to achieve business results.
• Travel approximately 10% to work sites of Essential Utilities.

Skills

• Knowledge of all aspects of human resources, including employee and labor relations, organizational design, workforce planning, employment law, HR best practices, and policies.
• Ability to quickly understand organizational structure, practices, and interdepartmental communications.
• Demonstrated business acumen and a willingness to lead and effect change.
• Demonstrated personal leadership and executive presence, with in-depth experience working with senior management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and Workday.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal, listening, public speaking).
• Ability to develop creative and effective solutions with confidential, sensitive, and complex variables.

SPHR/PHR certification is a plus.