Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.
Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.
We are looking for an HR Business Partner Director to build a culture of engagement and drive business results by delivering measurable and sustained value-added solutions. This role will primarily partner with our Marketplace Business, Business Operations, User Experience, and Product Management functions at Upwork. The successful candidate will thrive in fast-paced and challenging environments, operating strategically while also rolling up their sleeves to get things done. This candidate has a passion for delivering impact to the business and is skilled in driving business transformation. They are a strong influencer and relationship builder with senior leaders, cross-functional partners, and employees, and have a passion for championing inclusive cultures
Your Responsibilities:

• Partner with executives to provide thought leadership on the people strategy (consisting both of corporate employees and the contingent workforce) and organization strategy aligned with the business strategy.
• Assess organizational health metrics and provide insights to leaders and teams to develop strategic people plans that drive business outcomes.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to senior leaders, helping them build high-performing teams and enhance overall leadership effectiveness.
• Partner closely with the People team’s COE partners (Total Rewards, Talent Development & Learning, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity team, etc.) to consult and deliver people programs that directly impact business outcomes.
• Guide and coach on complex HR issues, including but not limited to conflict management, mutual separations, retention, and more.
• Lead and facilitate change management initiatives that impact the culture and business of the organization.
• Anticipate needs, diagnose issues, and design and drive creative people solutions and organizational changes that deliver business results.

What it takes to catch our eye:

• 10 years of progressive HR experience in a high-speed, transformative environment; BA/BS in a related field; MA/MBA is a plus.
• Strong collaboration, communication, and influencing skills.
• Proven ability to connect and influence actions to outcomes with employees and cross-functional partners at all levels in the organization.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of business strategy and operations.
• Proven track record of strong business partnership within a dynamic, fast-paced, matrixed organization.
• Experience working with and partnering with Product and UX organizations.
• Experience working with contingent workforces.
• Extensive HRBP and/or Organization Development leadership experience in the Tech industry, with experience not limited to organizational design, org planning, change management, business advising, coaching and development and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze data, understand trends, and develop recommendations for action based on the analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and adapt to a company’s evolving stages and needs.
• Willingness to roll up your sleeves, own and drive outcomes - nothing is too big or too small.

Come change how the world works.
At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees.
At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.
We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.
Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice