Principal People Business Partner

Position Summary

We are seeking a Principal People Business Partner (PBP) to serve as the senior People advisor to our Customer Success, Marketing, Finance and Legal leadership, shaping how our teams are structured, developed and led as we scale in a high-growth global tech environment.

This role drives People programs from start to finish, leads the most complex and high-stakes employee relations matters, and shapes how Customer Success, Marketing, Finance and Legal teams are organized for growth. You will represent the People function in Customer Success, Marketing, Finance and Legal leadership team meetings, share your expertise and best practices with fellow PBPs, and set the direction for how AI and automation scale our People programs. You will work alongside the Global PBP team, sharing methodology, tools and project work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-Level Executives across Customer Success, Marketing, Finance and Legal on talent strategy, workforce planning, succession and org effectiveness
• Lead org design conversations with senior leaders and shape how Customer Success, Marketing, Finance and Legal teams are organized for scale
• Represent the People function in Customer Success, Marketing, Finance and Legal leadership team meetings and shape people decisions aligned with the broader People strategy
• Pair data with deep business understanding to tell stories, surface systemic risks and recommend high-impact solutions

Employee Relations

• Lead complex, high-stakes ER matters and investigations in partnership with Legal to proactively manage risk with discretion and appropriate independence
• Advise senior leaders on difficult performance, conduct and org design decisions
• Hold a high bar for performance across your client groups by reviewing underperformance trends and keeping senior leadership informed of systemic risks

Talent & Performance

• Drive People programs from start to finish, including mid-year and year-end performance cycles, talent reviews and compensation planning, and continuously improve them based on data and feedback
• Partner across the function (Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, L&D and People Operations) to ensure global programs are applied consistently and with local and functional relevance
• Lead talent planning and succession across your client groups and keep senior leadership informed of performance and retention trends

Innovation & Scale

• Drive automation strategy for the PBP function by evaluating and deploying AI tools that scale People programs in partnership with People Operations
• Lead innovation in People programs and help the team navigate ambiguity through company-wide change

Collaboration & Growth

• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Legal, Finance, IT and other teams as needed, driving alignment and trust across departments
• Partner with People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Workplace and L&D to drive talent strategy
• Coach and mentor teammates across the People team, and establish knowledge-sharing practices that elevate the PBP practice

What we're looking for

• 10+ years of People Business Partner or HRBP experience, including advising C-Suite level executives, ideally in a global organization
• Experience in tech, SaaS or other high-growth environments
• Proven track record as a trusted advisor to executive leaders on talent strategy, workforce planning, succession and org design
• Deep expertise across org design, change management, performance management, leadership development and employee relations, including leading complex, high-stakes matters with Legal
• Strong knowledge of federal and local employment law, with sound independent judgment
• Data-driven approach, with the ability to turn people metrics into compelling stories and recommendations
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, work independently with urgency, and drive work to completion across teams
• Excellent communication at all levels, with a record of building bridges across silos
• Has built, deployed or led adoption of AI-assisted workflows for HR tasks, and can make the business case for People technology

Work Location

• San Francisco (hybrid)

What you'll have at Harness

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Time Off and Parental Leave
• Quarterly Harness TGIF-Off / 4 days
• Monthly, quarterly, and annual social and team-building events
• Recharge & Reset Program
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Commuter benefits

Salary is determined by a combination of factors including location, level, relevant experience, and skills. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position. The compensation package for this position also includes a commission/variable component, which is based on performance, plus equity, and benefits. More details about our company benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.harness.io/company/careers

A valid authorization to work in the U.S. is required