Senior Human Resources Business Partner
Emery Jensen Distribution, Oak Brook, IL, United States
The Role
The
Senior Human Resources Business Partner (Sr. HRBP)
is a strategic advisor to the Emery Jensen field sales organization, serving as a trusted partner to sales leadership and a key driver of talent, performance, and retention outcomes. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy and people strategy—translating commercial goals into actionable HR solutions that enable a high‑performance sales culture.
The Sr. HRBP partners closely with Sales Directors, Field Sales Managers, Business Development leaders, and Territory Managers to deliver a comprehensive HR agenda aligned to business growth and operational excellence. This role oversees and advances all core HR practices supporting the sales organization, including workforce planning, performance management, employee relations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
This position is pivotal in shaping culture, strengthening leadership capability, and ensuring HR strategies are proactively deployed to help the sales team achieve and sustain results.
What You’ll Do
Strategic Influence & Business Alignment
Align HR strategies, programs, and processes with the sales organization’s strategic and operational goals.
Actively support and reinforce company culture grounded in our core values.
Partner closely with sales leaders to understand business challenges and translate them into people and talent solutions.
Ensure HR policies, practices, and programs enable—not hinder—sales performance.
Sales Partnership & Executive Advisory
Serve as a trusted advisor and HR subject matter expert to the SVP of Sales, Sales Leadership, and people managers.
Provide strategic counsel on organization design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development.
Leverage business insight and trend awareness to proactively address organizational needs.
Partner with Sales and HR Leadership to resolve employee relations matters, including investigations and complex performance issues.
Organizational & Leadership Development
Identify training and organizational development needs in partnership with sales leadership and your direct manager.
Collaborate with the Organizational Development team to design and deliver scalable solutions.
Coach and support sales leaders in their own leadership growth and development.
Employee Relations & Performance Management
Provide proactive coaching and consultation to leaders on staffing, performance management, employee relations, and policy application.
Partner with HR leadership to recommend appropriate courses of action for corrective action, grievances, or compliance-related matters.
Guide managers in identifying, documenting, and addressing performance gaps while strengthening engagement, productivity, and retention.
Support employees directly by providing guidance on employee relations topics and acting as a mediator when needed.
Continuously assess and anticipate employee relations trends and risks within the sales organization.
Talent, Recruitment & Onboarding
Evaluate recruiting and onboarding practices supporting sales roles, identify opportunities for improvement, and lead or support enhancement initiatives.
Ensure hiring and onboarding experiences align with business needs, culture, and compliance standards.
Training & Enablement
Partner with your direct manager to design and deliver manager training across HR practices, including interviewing, performance management, corrective action, harassment prevention, policy education, and onboarding best practices.
Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
Identify, recommend, and implement improvements to HR processes, policies, and services that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Develop and execute HR initiatives aligned with enterprise and sales-specific business objectives.
Leverage data, reporting, and trend analysis to inform decisions and anticipate future HR needs.
Partner with shared services to ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state employment regulations.
What you need to succeed…
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
5+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant time in strategic HRBP roles.
Strong business acumen with the ability to think holistically about people, performance, and strategy.
Proven ability to influence and partner with senior leaders in a fast‑paced, results‑driven environment.
Adaptable, agile mindset with comfort operating in evolving or growth-oriented organizations.
Exceptional communication, consultation, problem‑solving, and relationship‑building skills.
High attention to detail with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
Self‑motivated, hands‑on, and solutions‑oriented with a “do what it takes” mindset.
Demonstrated experience as a broad HR generalist with increasing scope and responsibility.
Strong project management, conflict resolution, and change management skills.
Willingness to travel to sales regions and bi‑annual trade shows as needed.
Compensation Details:
$80000 - $90000 per year
Why should you join our team?
We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don’t often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Emery Jensen is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, our retailers and our brand.
In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Emery Jensen also offers competitive benefits* that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:
Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 2 years resulted in incentives being paid out above 116.96% of your target opportunity!)
Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year, in addition to an annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past five years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 6.6% of total compensation.
Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
Your career at Emery Jensen is more than just a job. It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
Emery Jensen invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
We know the work environment matters. That’s why we hold frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
Adoption cost reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
Identity theft protection
* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.
Want to be notified when new jobs are posted? Follow the link below to create an account and set up custom job alerts:
Create Job Alert
We want to hear from you!
Emery Jensen delivers wholesale products and best-in-class service to independent retailers in the Pro Lumber Yards, Home Centers, Paint, Hardware Stores, Decorating Stores, and E-retailer space. Our goal is to support sustainable and profitable growth for our customers by offering the broadest assortments, best pricing, and most knowledgeable team. We have national scale, a regional focus and the commitment to serve our customers and support each other. Come find out why a career with Emery Jensen is right for you.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Emery Jensen is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.
Disclaimer
The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual’s education, training and experience, the position’s work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.
Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Emery Jensen Distribution position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.
This written “Position Description” is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Emery Jensen Distribution reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
The
Senior Human Resources Business Partner (Sr. HRBP)
is a strategic advisor to the Emery Jensen field sales organization, serving as a trusted partner to sales leadership and a key driver of talent, performance, and retention outcomes. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy and people strategy—translating commercial goals into actionable HR solutions that enable a high‑performance sales culture.
The Sr. HRBP partners closely with Sales Directors, Field Sales Managers, Business Development leaders, and Territory Managers to deliver a comprehensive HR agenda aligned to business growth and operational excellence. This role oversees and advances all core HR practices supporting the sales organization, including workforce planning, performance management, employee relations, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
This position is pivotal in shaping culture, strengthening leadership capability, and ensuring HR strategies are proactively deployed to help the sales team achieve and sustain results.
What You’ll Do
Strategic Influence & Business Alignment
Align HR strategies, programs, and processes with the sales organization’s strategic and operational goals.
Actively support and reinforce company culture grounded in our core values.
Partner closely with sales leaders to understand business challenges and translate them into people and talent solutions.
Ensure HR policies, practices, and programs enable—not hinder—sales performance.
Sales Partnership & Executive Advisory
Serve as a trusted advisor and HR subject matter expert to the SVP of Sales, Sales Leadership, and people managers.
Provide strategic counsel on organization design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development.
Leverage business insight and trend awareness to proactively address organizational needs.
Partner with Sales and HR Leadership to resolve employee relations matters, including investigations and complex performance issues.
Organizational & Leadership Development
Identify training and organizational development needs in partnership with sales leadership and your direct manager.
Collaborate with the Organizational Development team to design and deliver scalable solutions.
Coach and support sales leaders in their own leadership growth and development.
Employee Relations & Performance Management
Provide proactive coaching and consultation to leaders on staffing, performance management, employee relations, and policy application.
Partner with HR leadership to recommend appropriate courses of action for corrective action, grievances, or compliance-related matters.
Guide managers in identifying, documenting, and addressing performance gaps while strengthening engagement, productivity, and retention.
Support employees directly by providing guidance on employee relations topics and acting as a mediator when needed.
Continuously assess and anticipate employee relations trends and risks within the sales organization.
Talent, Recruitment & Onboarding
Evaluate recruiting and onboarding practices supporting sales roles, identify opportunities for improvement, and lead or support enhancement initiatives.
Ensure hiring and onboarding experiences align with business needs, culture, and compliance standards.
Training & Enablement
Partner with your direct manager to design and deliver manager training across HR practices, including interviewing, performance management, corrective action, harassment prevention, policy education, and onboarding best practices.
Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
Identify, recommend, and implement improvements to HR processes, policies, and services that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Develop and execute HR initiatives aligned with enterprise and sales-specific business objectives.
Leverage data, reporting, and trend analysis to inform decisions and anticipate future HR needs.
Partner with shared services to ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state employment regulations.
What you need to succeed…
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
5+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant time in strategic HRBP roles.
Strong business acumen with the ability to think holistically about people, performance, and strategy.
Proven ability to influence and partner with senior leaders in a fast‑paced, results‑driven environment.
Adaptable, agile mindset with comfort operating in evolving or growth-oriented organizations.
Exceptional communication, consultation, problem‑solving, and relationship‑building skills.
High attention to detail with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
Self‑motivated, hands‑on, and solutions‑oriented with a “do what it takes” mindset.
Demonstrated experience as a broad HR generalist with increasing scope and responsibility.
Strong project management, conflict resolution, and change management skills.
Willingness to travel to sales regions and bi‑annual trade shows as needed.
Compensation Details:
$80000 - $90000 per year
Why should you join our team?
We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don’t often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Emery Jensen is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, our retailers and our brand.
In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Emery Jensen also offers competitive benefits* that address life’s necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:
Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 2 years resulted in incentives being paid out above 116.96% of your target opportunity!)
Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with a fully vested matching contribution the first year, in addition to an annual discretionary contribution (once eligibility requirements have been met). Over the past five years, company contributions (matching, quarterly & discretionary) for fully eligible employees have averaged 6.6% of total compensation.
Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability – up to 26 weeks short-term disability and long-term disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents
21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on the month of hire
Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions
Your career at Emery Jensen is more than just a job. It’s a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities – and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation
Emery Jensen invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review
We know the work environment matters. That’s why we hold frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales
We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more
Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off
Adoption cost reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events
Identity theft protection
* Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.
Want to be notified when new jobs are posted? Follow the link below to create an account and set up custom job alerts:
Create Job Alert
We want to hear from you!
Emery Jensen delivers wholesale products and best-in-class service to independent retailers in the Pro Lumber Yards, Home Centers, Paint, Hardware Stores, Decorating Stores, and E-retailer space. Our goal is to support sustainable and profitable growth for our customers by offering the broadest assortments, best pricing, and most knowledgeable team. We have national scale, a regional focus and the commitment to serve our customers and support each other. Come find out why a career with Emery Jensen is right for you.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Emery Jensen is committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.
Disclaimer
The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual’s education, training and experience, the position’s work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.
Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Emery Jensen Distribution position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.
This written “Position Description” is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Emery Jensen Distribution reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.