HR Business Partner

We grow the world’s BEST Strawberries & that wouldn’t be possible without our People Team!

We are seeking a HR Business Partner to lead, develop, execute, and align our people strategies, programs and processes with business objectives across our field operations (Farming, Pack, Facilities, Maintenance) and Engineering teams to encourage a high performance culture. The ideal candidate will be able to serve as a strategic thought partner while also digging in, rolling up their sleeves and executing tactical day to day work. We are a farming/manufacturing environment with a mix of exempt and non exempt populations to support.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Serve as a strategic thought partner on all "People" strategies and business initiatives centered around our operations & engineering teams, acting as an active advocate for the "People" side of the business educating business partners where gaps exist.
• Coach, develop, guide and advise business partners on employee matters and employee conflicts.
• Conduct HR investigations, address employee relations matters, anticipate people-related risks, and develop plans and actions to mitigate risks and address concerns.
• Resolve concerns such as timecards, employee conflict, employment questions, etc.
• Drive new hire onboarding plans with business partners.
• Partner with our 3rd party LOA provider on leave management.
• Manage the ADA process.
• Partner on labor planning along with managing temporary labor needs.
• Drive performance management, learning & development, labor & succession planning with an emphasis on process creation and consistency across locations.
• Create communication plans and implement change initiatives.
• Develop and execute plans to promote an inclusive environment that is engaging, enabling and energizing, and one where our associates can thrive.
• Collaborate with the VP of People to create and implement initiatives, programs, and improve policies to optimize the Oishii employee experience.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Drive key people metrics including but not limited to retention, and employee relations/engagement metrics.
• Take decisive and well-rounded action in high-pressure situations, consulting with key stakeholders where appropriate.
• Partner on worker’s compensation and safety related situations.
• Manage one to two People Team Coordinators.

Who will love this job: Individuals who identify with our Core Values and exhibit skills within those values will thrive at Oishii. 

• One Team, One Fight!
  • Ability to quickly shift priorities to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly, concisely and with purpose at various levels of the organization. 
  • Ability to work cross functionally at all levels including across locations, and collaborate with a focus on supporting & understanding the evolving business needs of a startup environment. 
  • Ability to lead through others and develop teams with a diverse level of experience to succeed.  
• Focus.
  • Ability to remove obstacles in order to prioritize which could include problem solving, working through ambiguity and using fact based or sound judgment in the absence of process or policy. We are building it, but need to manage through the process with good judgment and a bias for action.  
  • Ability to synthesize information quickly to aid in the troubleshooting process. 
• GSD (Get Sh** Done!)
  • Possessing an entrepreneurial mindset with the tenacity to develop ideas, process, and policy and implement them rapidly.
  • Capable of prioritizing tasks and  considering the resources available when doing so.
  • A bias for action! Ability to hold yourself accountable and take ownership of driving results that impact company outcomes.
  • Track record of effectively handling complex employee relations issues, and addressing sensitive information and difficult situations with tact, discretion, and confidentiality.

What we’re looking for in a HR Business Partner:. 

• Degree in Human Resources, Industrial & Labor Relations, Business Administration or a related area. 
• 10+ years of experience in Human Resources/People Operations ideally in a geographically distributed environment. 
• 2+ years of experience leading and developing a team of HRBPs
• Experience with supporting both exempt and non exempt populations. 
• Experience in an operational environment such as a warehouse, retail location, supply chain, hospitality or agriculture. Experience opening new facilities or locations is a plus
• Experience in using HRIS systems –Paycom preferred.

Additional Details:

• Compensation: $120,000 to $135,000 base depending on level & experience plus equity
• Benefits: Medical, Dental, vision, flexible time off, 401(K) plan, paid parental leave
• Primary Location: Philipsburg, NJ.  We have two farm locations; 1 in Philipsburg, NJ and 1 in Jersey City, NJ. Travel will be required to Jersey City, NJ on an as needed basis, routinely about twice a month.

About Oishii: 

At Oishii, we grow the best fruit in the world by deploying ground-breaking vertical farming technology that pushes the boundaries of agriculture. We’re the first in the WORLD to grow fruit in an indoor vertical farm at commercial scale. We started with strawberries, which we debuted at Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, the three star Michelin restaurant considered by critics to be among the best in the world. Since then, we have supplied our strawberries to food-loving consumers, world-class restaurants, and specialty retailers across NYC. Our proprietary technology enables us to grow the very best produce year-round, at the same high level of quality, all without using any pesticides. 

Oishii has been profiled in Eater, NPR, Time Magazine, and Fortune. Oishii was also one of the Fast Companies Most Innovative Companies of 2022. 

At Oishii, everything we do works toward accomplishing our mission of transforming agriculture sustainably while bringing produce that truly delights people everywhere. This requires farmers, engineers, scientists, product managers, and members of many other backgrounds to work together day-in and day-out to innovate, while operating increasingly large farms. We have an amazing mission-driven team of highly motivated and engaged members. Learn More https://oishii.com