People Strategy (HR) Business Partner

About MadTree Brewing

Founded in 2013, MadTree is an award-winning brewery that’s rooted in Cincinnati and planted in purpose. Driven to craft great beer - but more importantly - build a business dedicated to doing good, MadTree protects and celebrates nature while reducing impact on the environment. MadTree is a B Corp certified company and proud member of 1% for the Planet with a commitment to donate 1% of sales to local, sustainable nonprofits. MadTree strives to create warm and welcoming experiences, exceed expectations, and most importantly, plant a better community. They put purpose in every pour, and raise a glass to doing things differently.

We are MadTree. Rooted in Cincy. Planted in Purpose.

MadTree is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce that inspires madness while being rooted in purpose. We offer a competitive compensation package plus great benefits like subsidized health insurance, a retirement plan with a match, free mental health therapy visits, paid time off, and many other great perks.

WHO ARE YOU?

As the People Strategy Hospitality Business Partner, you’ll play a key role in aligning the needs of our people with the bigger picture—ensuring that day-to-day operational needs and long-term business goals come together seamlessly. You’re driven by a passion for creating opportunities where people can grow, thrive, and make a real impact, all while supporting MadTree’s success. You know when to say “yes” and when to thoughtfully navigate the gray areas, always with a focus on people and purpose.

You understand the unique energy of the hospitality industry and are deeply empathetic to the humans who make it thrive. You approach your work with a warm and welcoming mindset, always striving to exceed expectations in everything you do. Whether you’re supporting your team, collaborating with leaders, or driving change, you’re committed to fostering a culture where people feel connected, supported, and valued. Through your efforts, you help plant a better community—one where people come together to grow, collaborate, and contribute to long-term success.

POSITION: People Strategy Business Partner (Hospitality)

LOCATION: Cincinnati, OH

REPORTS TO: People Strategy Director

COMPENSATION RANGE: $62,050 - $83,950

POSITION SUMMARY: This People Strategy Business Partner delivers a blend of operational excellence and strategic foresight. They are comfortable in both hands-on human resources functions and long-term, forward-thinking leadership. They will serve as a trusted advisor to team members and leadership, guiding day-to-day people operations while anticipating future business and workforce needs to design and implement strategies that promote sustainable growth and align with the organizational culture. They will be an avid MadTree ambassador who lives the behaviors – Connect, Grow, and Give a F*ck.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

Qualified candidates will demonstrate strong proficiency in the following areas:

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Financial Acumen: Interpreting and applying understanding of key financial indicators to make better tactical business decisions
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder
• Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership

• Serves as a strategic thought partner to Hospitality leadership, balancing day-to-day operational needs with long-term people strategies that anticipate future business demands and organizational growth.
• Develops and executes comprehensive people strategies that align with organizational goals, proactively addressing both current challenges and future workforce trends.
• Utilizes data-driven insights to guide decision-making, anticipating downstream impacts to business operations, and implementing strategies to ensure sustainable growth.

Operational Excellence & Program Management

• Manages day-to-day People Strategy operations, including reviewing and assisting with payroll adjustments, maintaining employee data across HRIS and other operational systems, and ensuring accuracy and compliance in employee records, time and attendance, and related data management tasks.
• Partners with leaders to support efficient and effective talent acquisition, onboarding, and training initiatives, ensuring seamless integration of new team members while aligning with long-term talent strategy.
• Serves as a key consultant to leadership on employee relations matters, providing guidance and training to ensure effective conflict resolution, performance management, and consistent application of policies, with a focus on fostering positive employee relations, engagement, and high performance in the workplace.

Change Management & Culture

• Takes an active role in creating and maintaining a warm and welcoming, inclusive environment for all team members. This includes initiating and promoting positive interactions, fostering a sense of belonging, and ensuring every team member feels valued, supported, and excited to contribute.
• Partners with leadership to promote proactive employee engagement strategies and ensure a positive work environment by addressing employee relations issues early and constructively.
• Partners with leadership to design and implement engagement, recognition, and retention strategies that foster a positive, productive work culture.
• Enthusiastically spends 16 hours per year volunteering (paid) for MadTree Impact initiatives as well as influencing their client teams with that same enthusiasm.

Growth & Development

• Manages and executes performance and career management processes, including compensation planning, performance calibration, coaching, recognition, and professional development initiatives. Supports leaders and tracks progress to ensure deadlines are met and processes stay on track.
• Researches and makes recommendations for improvements in talent management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and business outcomes.
• Supports People Strategy Director in the development and delivery of strategic initiatives and standard operations.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential duties, accountabilities, and responsibilities satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be at least 21 years of age or older.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Management, or equivalent experience required.
• 2-4 years progressive Human Resources Generalist experience including talent acquisition, coaching/counseling, performance management, and employee relations experience required.
• Ability to travel to multiple sites regularly and occasionally work outside of standard hours.

IMPORTANT SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Must possess a sound knowledge of employee relations, employment law, payroll, recruiting, and best practices within Human Resources management.
• Comfortable with using various technology solutions to manage operational activities.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to make sound, independent decisions.
• Excellent organizational, planning, analytical, oral, and written communication skills with a very strong attention to detail.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and work under pressure with little supervision.
• Comfort with multitasking and maintaining efficiency and productivity.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to regularly sit, stand, and walk.
• Ability to frequently talk and hear.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to frequently reach with hands and arms. Use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• The work environment is usually that of an office, bar, restaurant, and brewery.
• The employee occasionally works near hazardous materials.
• The employee occasionally works on wet floors.