People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.
We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water's 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.
American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron's 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Primary Role
The Sr. HRBP role will partner with business leaders to develop and execute HR strategies focused on talent, development organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and employee engagement. HRBP is a trusted advisor and member of the leadership team for their assigned client area providing guidance and HR consultation to business leaders. Partners with various levels of leadership to identify and grow talent and technical capability for the business.
Key Accountabilities
Design, support and execute people-related strategy.
Ensures appropriate execution for the design and execution of business restructures, and critical workforce planning initiatives, and identify critical succession planning needs.
Leads, develops, and inspires a team of HR professionals (may include leading and managing other HR Business Partners) in a high growth, rapidly changing environment.
Mentor HRBP Team members on employee development best practices to support business needs.
Partners with various HR COEs and the business to provide data driven recommendations to improve performance, retention, workforce planning and the overall employee experience.
Partners closely with the business as it relates to strategic growth opportunities including; M&A Due Diligence, M&A Integrations, and Onboarding.
Understands specific business priorities and translates them into the highest impact work
Uses designated tools, process guidance, and systems to ensure consistent execution of tasks.
Provides consultation and support to the business for all HR areas of responsibility.
Partners closely with ELR COE to ensure consistent delivery of service and provides input and guidance including risk analyses.
Provides talent acquisition consulting in partnership with talent acquisition partner. Performs outreach in support of community, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
Facilitates and delivers training on a variety of HR topics.
Provide group and one-on-one coaching with business leaders
Participates in labor relations strategy and the resolution of LR issues
Joins project teams in support of the broader HR team and business initiatives.
Identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the organization and develop solutions in partnership with division and matrix leadership, COE and regional/division HR business leadership
Uses information systems to prepare and communicate metrics and quantitative data on HR and employee related activities.
Defined specialized area as identified. Will represent HR in specific area of expertise as point of contact & identified projects.
Knowledge/Skills
Strategy leader, Talent mindset, Business mindset, Trusted partner, Integrator, Change advocate, Operational excellence, Analytics mindset, Digital champion.
Experience working with Unions and and Union employee issues
Flexible skill set, including the ability to think strategically, execute tactically, and collaborate across many teams, levels, and situations.
Solutions focused and be comfortable working in an environment which demands strong deliverables along with the ability to identify problems and drive appropriate solutions.
Operates with autonomy and discretion as well as the ability to successfully monitor the "pulse" of the employees to ensure a high level of employee engagement.
Broad understanding and ability to apply concepts of key HR areas to include Talent Development, Succession, Workforce Planning, Change Management, Talent Acquisition, Learning, and Total Rewards.
Extensive knowledge of all Human Resources areas including employment law, labor laws, EEO, ERISA, and other compliance mandates and ensure compliance with various state and federal laws and/or agencies throughout diverse regions; guiding business managers to proactively identify and navigate risks.
State and Federal law support (ADA, FLSA, W&H, DOT, OSHA, PUC Licensing, etc..)
Thorough understanding of regulatory requirements in recruiting, performance management, employee development, compensation, succession planning and employee and labor relations.
Demonstrated coaching and strategic consultation to business leaders.
Ability to collaborate across a matrixed organization.
Ability to navigate technology platforms.
Whatever it takes approach, sense of urgency, maturity and professionalism.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Must be able to deal with strict confidentiality.
Strategic thinking skills, including influence.
Strong teamwork and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Experience/Education
Minimum 10 years applicable experience, which should include:
Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects to completion including organizing, planning, scheduling and following up on all project related items.
Proven experience with recruitment and hiring processes, workforce management practices and talent development.
Led a departmental organization re-design.
Successful track record of designing and implementing people's programs while balancing business objectives.
Demonstrated progression and increased scope in a matrixed, high-growth organization.
Participate Talent Acquisition process.
Participated in multiple compensation review cycles.
Led investigations, administered discipline and performance management.
Experience in a union environment.
Bachelor's Degree in HR, Business, Management or related field.
Master's Degree a plus.
PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or other designation a plus.
Work Environment
Indoor office environment - required to be in a work location with leaders/employees a minimum of 3 days per week (example: attending tailgate talks, various leadership and employee meetings and local events).
Travel Requirements
Ability to travel up to 30%
Competencies
Champions safety
Customer obsessed
Cultivates innovation
Nimble learning
Drives Results
Collaborates
Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing™
American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.
