Human Resources Business Partner - R&D

About the role

The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) serves as a partner to R&D leaders across multiple business units within the R&D Center in Northboro, Massachusetts. By maintaining an effective level of business literacy about the groups it supports—financial position, plans, challenges, culture, and competition—the HRBP delivers value-added service to management and employees that reflect the business objectives of Saint-Gobain Research North America. This role aligns people strategies with business objectives to drive innovation, technical capability development, organizational effectiveness, and profitable growth. The HRBP supports senior technical leaders, portfolio managers, and R&D leaders to ensure the organization attracts, develops, engages, and retains top scientific and engineering talent while fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture.

Responsibilities

• Partner with R&D leaders to deliver HR solutions that support workforce strategy with technical priorities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary resource to managers on talent, culture, engagement, employee relations, conflict, performance issues, and policy application.
• Support transformation initiatives as the organization evolves toward solutions-based and customer-centered growth.
• Assist with organizational design and restructuring efforts aligned with innovation strategy.
• Facilitate team effectiveness sessions and alignment workshops.
• Drive performance management processes tailored to technical populations.
• Coach leaders on differentiation, rewards, and talent development planning.
• Support development frameworks for technical career paths (e.g., Expert/Fellow ladders).
• Provide guidance, coaching, and consultation to employees regarding development and growth.
• Manage annual talent review and people review processes.
• Assist with strategic workforce planning within assigned client service groups.
• Work with leaders to identify critical skill gaps in emerging technologies and technical domains.
• Develop succession strategies for senior technical, key, and leadership roles.
• Partner with managers and Talent Acquisition to attract high-impact scientific and engineering talent.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, company policies, and ethical standards.
• Notify HR Director of risk issues related to workforce matters and support mitigation efforts.
• Manage internal HR processes, including payroll/benefits administration, annual merit/bonus cycle, and HRIS entry.
• Analyze engagement data and support focus teams with targeted action plans.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture that supports innovation.
• Address employee relations issues with professionalism and discretion.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience or a combination of education and progressive HR experience.
• HR Generalist function experience, preferably with R&D or manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of multiple HR disciplines, including Compensation, Performance Management, Workforce Planning, HRIS, and Talent Acquisition.
• Experience supporting technical, engineering, or R&D populations strongly preferred.
• Strong ethical practice, ensuring HR matters are handled appropriately, timely, and with discretion.
• Proven business acumen and ability to understand business needs, challenges, and strategic goals.
• Experience coaching and influencing local business managers to create positive business outcomes aligned with goals and strategy.
• Good understanding of risk management in relation to HR.
• Strong analytical capabilities and decision-making ability—ability to operate in ambiguous situations and understand the "big picture" impact of HR decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact with all levels of the organization and manage multiple stakeholders.

About Us

At Saint-Gobain, our employees take pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is built on core values: Trust, Empowerment, & Collaboration. Our company encourages diversity and inclusion in all its forms, while our products make the world a more beautiful, safer, and sustainable home.

Pay

The national pay range for this position is $102,000 to $158,000 per year. The base pay offered may vary depending on geographic region, internal equity, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for an annual bonus with a targeted amount of 13% of base salary based on company and individual performance measures. The Total Target Cash range (base pay and annual bonus) for this position is $115,260 to $178,540. Bonus payments are variable and not guaranteed.

Benefits

• Health and Wellbeing
  • Medical, Prescription Drug, Vision, and Dental Insurance
  • Healthcare Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
  • LiveWell Wellness Program
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Paid Time Off and Paid Parental Leave
• Retirement and Protection
  • 401(k) with Company Match
  • Retirement Accumulation Plan (RAP) Cash Balance Pension Plan
  • Company-provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Short-Term Disability
  • Voluntary employee and dependent life insurance, Long-Term Disability, Critical Illness, and Accident Insurance
• Additional Benefits
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Group Legal
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Auto and Home Insurance
  • Pet Insurance and Discounts
  • Back-up Child and Elder Care
  • PerkSpot Employee Discount Program
  • Volunteer Day
  • Tools Allowance
  • Company-issued steel-toe shoes and safety glasses