People Business Partner - American Meadows : Job Details

Company: American Meadows

Location: Burlington, VT (3 Days/Week Onsite)

Available: Immediately

Commitment: Full-Time

Reports to: Finance Director

Who We Are

At American Meadows, our Purpose is Doing Good Through Gardening. Our two brands serve distinct audiences: American Meadows is the leading authority on meadowscaping, while High Country Gardens specializes in sustainable gardening for the Western U.S. Our company has experienced double-digit annual growth for over a decade, and we are excited about what's next. We are at a pivotal moment in our history and know what our future could look like if we seize our opportunities.

Who You Are & What You'll Do

We are seeking a collaborative and forward-thinking People Business Partner who is passionate about building a workplace where employees feel supported, empowered, and connected to our mission. The People Business Partner will ensure our core people operations run with consistency and integrity, while also enabling managers to grow as leaders and helping shape a culture that values accountability, continuous improvement, and shared success. This role requires a trusted partner who can balance the details of HR operations with the bigger picture of creating a high-performing, people-centered environment.

Accountabilities & Success Measures

Core HR Operations (40%)

You'll keep the company's HR backbone running with accuracy, consistency, and compliance. This includes processing payroll every two weeks with 100% accuracy and timeliness, administering benefits throughout the year and during open enrollment, and maintaining compliance with all federal, state, and local requirements on an ongoing basis. You'll also ensure HRIS data is kept accurate and reliable for monthly reporting to Finance and Leadership, and you'll oversee semi-annual performance reviews to ensure consistency and integrity.

• KPI: Payroll accuracy and timeliness (100% on-time, error-free).

Manager Enablement & Employee Relations (20%)

You'll partner with managers to strengthen their ability to lead teams effectively, providing coaching on employee performance and workplace issues as needed. You'll set and reinforce documentation standards for feedback, counseling, and performance, while delivering training and refreshers each trimester (or as needed) on topics like feedback, accountability, and policy application.

• KPI: Positive results on internal HR NPS.

Process Improvement & Culture Enablement (30%)

You'll take the lead on initiatives that make HR processes more efficient and user-friendly. This includes developing and maintaining SOPs for payroll, benefits, compliance, and core HR workflows (reviewed semi-annually). You'll build and update manager toolkits each year, partner on cross-functional Lean/automation projects each trimester, and facilitate culture committee meetings monthly. You'll also run eNPS surveys semi-annually and coordinate action planning with leaders.

• KPI: Improved eNPS trends and employee engagement.

Talent Acquisition & Transitions (10%)

You'll provide recruiting support during peak times or when the recruiter is unavailable, helping with scheduling, offers, and compliance. You'll maintain job descriptions, offer letters, and hiring compliance documentation on an ongoing basis. You'll deliver consistent onboarding experiences that integrate compliance, role readiness, and cultural orientation, while also ensuring respectful, compliant offboarding for exiting employees.

• KPI: Onboarding satisfaction scores.

Requirement

PLEASE SUBMIT WITH YOUR RESUME: A short summary describing a role you've had where you were required to wear multiple hats. How did you manage your time and prioritize your tasks to ensure all responsibilities were handled effectively? This isn't a writing exercise — just a way for us to understand how you approach your work.

Desired Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience with exposure to payroll, benefits, compliance, and manager enablement.
• Experience managing HR operations in a multi-state environment with strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws.
• Hands-on background with HRIS platforms, payroll systems, and HR metrics/dashboards.
• Experience in process improvement, Lean/automation projects, and building scalable HR systems and SOPs.
• Strong coaching and advisory skills to equip managers to lead effectively.
• Highly organized with attention to accuracy, timeliness, and consistency.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build trust across the organization.
• Sees HR as both a driver of business performance and employee experience.
• Passionate about fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Comfortable being both strategic and hands-on — from processing payroll to facilitating culture conversations.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field preferred.

Our Culture

Building a successful business is serious work, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. Our Fundamental Behaviors encourage us to Get our Freak On and Stop and Smell the Lavender.

We are a mix of remote, hybrid, and in-person work, and we value balance. We use data, numbers, and AI alongside experience and gut feel to create a better future.

Dogs, yoga, bagpipe parades, and taco trucks make appearances during our team Build Weeks. “Don't Stop Believin'” is our anthem, and we sing it loud (and off-key).

We believe in our Purpose of Doing Good Through Gardening, recognized by our current award as Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility's Innovation and Inspiration Awardee.

The Perks

• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Matching retirement plan, life insurance, and disability coverage.
• Generous paid time off for rest and family time.
• Development opportunities, from leadership courses to gardening certifications.
• Incentive payout when company goals are achieved.
• At-cost product discounts and seasonal giveaways to fuel gardening passion

Interested candidates should submit a resume and an answer to the question posed above to [email protected].

Equal Opportunity

American Meadows is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Applicants who need assistance or accommodation during the application process are encouraged to request it.