People Partner - US

About the role

We are looking for a commercially minded, hands-on People Partner to support our US business. Reporting into the Senior Director, People Partnering, based in the UK, you will be the primary HR contact for our US employee population across New York and Michigan, partnering closely with senior leaders to deliver an exceptional employee experience and drive business performance. This is a generalist role - you will need to be comfortable operating at both a strategic and operational level.

Responsibilities

• Business Partnering: Be a genuine commercial partner to US leaders — understanding the growth agenda, embedding yourself in the business, and shaping people strategies that directly support OakNorth's US expansion. Build trusted relationships quickly across New York and Michigan, becoming the go-to for leaders navigating anything from org design to team performance. Use data and insight to get ahead of risks and opportunities, bringing proactive insight led recommendations.
• Employee Relations & Compliance: Manage employee relations matters end-to-end, including performance management, investigations, and separations, in line with US employment law. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal and state employment legislation across New York and Michigan, and ensure policies and practices are compliant. Partner with legal counsel as required on complex or sensitive ER matters. Maintain accurate HR records and ensure compliance with at-will employment frameworks and applicable state-specific requirements.
• Performance & Talent: Support the delivery of OakNorth's performance cycle, including calibration and year-end processes, ensuring consistency across the US population. Partner with managers to build capability, provide coaching on feedback and development conversations, and embed a high-performance culture