HR Business Partner
The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) is a strategic and hands-on HR professional who supports practice operations and corporate functions, partners closely with regional and functional leaders, and drives employee relations, performance management, retention, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
The role combines business partnership, operational execution, and proactive workforce management, with a particular focus on strengthening leadership capability and consistency across dental practices.
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Director, Human Resources (recommended)
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt Travel: Periodic travel to supported practices and regional locations
Position Summary
The Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) serves as a trusted advisor to operational and corporate leaders, providing strategic and tactical HR support that enables business performance, strengthens employee engagement, and fosters a high-performing, people-first culture.
The HRBP partners with regional operations leadership, practice managers, and corporate department leaders to translate business priorities into practical people strategies. This position is responsible for supporting employee relations, performance management, talent development, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and change management across assigned business units.
The successful candidate will bring strong business acumen, sound judgment, a collaborative approach, and the ability to balance proactive HR partnership with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, multi-site healthcare environment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Business Partnership
Serve as the primary HR advisor to assigned regional and corporate leadership teams.
Partner with leaders to identify workforce challenges, organizational needs, and opportunities to improve employee engagement and operational effectiveness.
Translate business objectives into actionable HR initiatives aligned with Lightwave's growth strategy.
Use workforce metrics and trends to identify risks and recommend solutions.
Employee Relations and Risk Management
Advise managers on employee relations matters, including performance concerns, workplace conflicts, corrective action, and involuntary terminations.
Conduct or coordinate employee investigations, ensuring thorough documentation, objectivity, confidentiality, and timely resolution.
Partner with the Employee Relations team and Legal, as appropriate, on complex or high-risk matters.
Support consistent application of employment policies and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Provide practical coaching to managers to proactively address workplace issues.
Performance Management and Leadership Development
Partner with operational leaders to strengthen performance expectations, accountability, coaching, and feedback practices.
Support annual performance management processes, including goal setting, performance evaluations, calibration, and development planning.
Identify leadership capability gaps and collaborate with Learning & Development to implement targeted solutions.
Coach practice managers and other leaders on effective people management practices.
Support succession planning and internal talent development.
Talent Management, Engagement and Retention
Partner with leaders to identify retention risks and develop action plans to reduce regrettable turnover.
Analyze employee feedback, engagement results, exit interviews, and workforce trends.
Support talent reviews, career development, and internal mobility initiatives.
Partner with Operations and Talent Acquisition on workforce planning and recruiting-related talent priorities, while Operations retains ownership of practice-level recruiting.
Support onboarding effectiveness and early-tenure employee retention.
Organizational Effectiveness and Change Management
Support organizational changes, practice growth,…