Sr. Human Capital Associate

COMPANY: The Sterling Group

POSITION: Sr. Associate, Human Capital

LOCATION: Houston, TX

TRAVEL: 30%

THE FIRM

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 73 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $25.0 billion. Sterling currently has $9.2 billion of assets under management.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Sr. Associate, Human Capital will serve as an execution facilitator to both the deal teams and portfolio company leadership. This role will focus on evaluating and enhancing human capital strategies, building world-class HR processes, and developing talent management practices to align with the overall value creation strategy. The Sr. Associate, Human Capital will also help execute the Human Resources program for the firm.

AREAS OF IMPACT

New Deal Evaluation: Supporting Sterling’s deal teams by assessing the human resources function during due diligence.

• Assess existing HR systems, processes, and compliance with industry best practices.
• Review talent acquisition strategies, compensation frameworks, and cultural alignment.

Portfolio-Wide Programs : Developing and improving human capital standards for Sterling’s portfolio companies.

• Establish HR best practices in areas such as talent management, compensation, policies, and employee engagement.
• Standardize KPIs for HR performance metrics and reporting across the portfolio.
• Develop dashboards and presentations for leadership to drive informed decision-making. Create material for all Human Capital Committees.
• Create and complete all reports needed on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis for the firm and our portfolio companies.
• Coordinate all HR events across our portfolio companies eg. Quarterly HR Leader calls, Annual HR Conference …

Portfolio Company and firm Support: Partnering with portfolio company HR Team and Sterling’s deal teams to advance human capital initiatives.

• Implement Sterling’s onboarding process for new HR leaders and key talent.
• Manage all onboarding for Sterling new hires.
• Coordinate and document training programs, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Collaborate with HR Team to enhance employee engagement and performance management systems.
• Support workforce planning, including organizational design and workforce analytics.
• Lead HRIS implementation and optimization across Sterling and its portfolio companies, including modules for payroll, benefits, recruiting, and performance management.
• Build standardized HR toolkits and processes for use across the firm’s portfolio companies.
• Oversee compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Monitor and report on HR KPIs, providing strategic insights and actionable recommendations.
• Manage a competitive compensation framework, including salary structures, incentive programs, and compensation plans. Complete salary surveys.

PROFESSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, or a related field
• 8 years of progressive HR experience, including generalist and specialist roles.
• Experience in consulting; ideally experience in the industrial space
• Strong analytical skills with experience in compensation analysis, KPI reporting, and predictive analytics.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven track record in HR operations, with overall Talent programs and benefits, compensation and technology
• Must have experience creating presentations and complete analysis and dashboards
• Knowledge of HR compliance, compensation structures, and best practices.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems, data visualization tools, and Microsoft Office Suite.

COMPETENCIES:

• Execution-focused, driving results through effective problem-solving and decision-making.
• Inspires peak performance in teams, fostering collaboration and engagement.
• Entrepreneurial mindset combined with corporate sophistication.
• Ability to balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail.
• Proactive and adaptable, capable of navigating and managing change effectively.
• Inspiring and empathetic communicator who builds trust and fosters engagement at all levels.
• Open-minded and collaborative, with a commitment to continuous improvement.