People Business Partner

Join us on the journey to help build the world using applied robotics and AI!

Novarc Technologies is a full-stack robotics company helping to build the world using applied robotics and AI. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas by the Financial Times for two consecutive years, we are at the epicenter of innovation and global expansion. Join our dynamic team as we extend our reach across four continents, blending pioneering welding technology with a profound global impact. It's a captivating time to be part of our journey – here, you'll do more than just work; you'll be an integral part of a movement shaping the tech-driven future.

Role Summary: The People Business Partner is a hands-on people partner to Novarc's people managers and employees, combining practical advice with day-to-day people operations. This role partners with leaders in assigned business areas on performance, and employee relations, while owning the full onboarding and offboarding experience across all countries.Reporting to the Director, People, the People Business Partner is the first point of contact for employee and manager people questions and the primary backup for payroll and benefits. The role keeps core people operations accurate and compliant across Canada, the US, and international locations, and lives Novarc's core values of Hungry, Humble, and Smart in every interaction.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Business Partnering

• Act as the dedicated People Business Partner, building trusted relationships with the leaders and employees.

• Guide managers on performance conversations, feedback and employee development.

• Use people data (turnover, engagement, exit trends) to spot issues early and recommend actions to leaders.

2. Onboarding & Offboarding

• Own the end-to-end onboarding experience for all new hires, remote and onsite: pre-boarding activities, orientation, HR systems training, and first-week coordination.

• Partner with managers to build 30-60-90 day plans, schedule new-hire training, and run check-ins at each milestone.

• Coordinate with IT, Payroll & Benefits, and hiring managers so equipment, access, payroll setup, and benefits enrollment are ready on day one.

• Assist with employee offboarding: IT access removal, payroll and benefits termination, final pay coordination, and return of company property.

• Conduct exit interviews and report trends and recommendations to the People leadership.

• Keep the EOR system, LMS and the HRIS accurate and up to date for every hire, change, and exit.

• Continuously improve onboarding and offboarding checklists, templates, and process documentation.

3. Employee Support & Relations

• Act as the first point of contact for employee and manager questions on policies and general people matters.

• Respond to employee concerns and feedback promptly, and escalate complex issues to theDirector, People.

• Support workplace investigations, conflict resolution, and disciplinary processes, in partnership with the Director, People.

• Administer leaves of absence and accommodation requests in line with applicable legislation.

• Handle sensitive information with strict confidentiality.

4. Backup Coverage for Payroll & Benefits

• Serve as the trained backup for the Payroll & Benefits Specialist: process or review payroll runs, answer benefits questions, and handle enrollments, changes, and terminations during absences or peak periods.

• Support annual benefits open enrollment and renewals for the US and Canada.

• Partner with Payroll to make sure employee data, compensation changes, and deductions are accurate at all times.

5. Performance Management & Engagement

• Coordinate the annual performance review cycle, 30-60-90 day reviews under the direction of the Director, People.

• Plan and run employee engagement activities: team building, recognition programs, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and company events.

• Support learning and development rollout, including administration of Novarc's LMS.

6. Policy & Compliance

• Administer people policies consistently and help draft and update policies and the employee handbook.

• Maintain compliance with federal, provincial, and highly complex multi-state, employment laws in the US and Canada, and with local requirements for Australian and UK employees.

• Maintain accurate, audit-ready employee records and files.

7. People & Culture Operations, Data & Projects

• Maintain HRIS data integrity and produce people reports and metrics (headcount, turnover, onboarding, exit trends).

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience :

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• 4+ years of progressive HR generalist experience, including at least 2 years partnering directly with managers as a People Business Partner, and ownership of onboarding and offboarding.

• Hands-on experience with payroll and benefits administration in the US and/or Canada.

• Working knowledge of employment law in at least one of Canada or the US, and comfort working across multiple jurisdictions.

• Experience with an HRIS and with an Employer of Record or global HR platform.

• Proficiency in Google Workspace.

• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills, with sound judgment on confidential matters.

Preferred

• CPHR (Canada) or SHRM-CP

• Experience in a growing technology, manufacturing, or engineering company.

• Familiarity with an LMS.

• Occasional travel may be required for onboarding, training, or company events.

Commitment to Novarc Values:

Demonstrate and embed Novarc’s core values of Hungry, Humble, and Smart in daily work, decision-making, collaboration, and interactions with colleagues, customers, and partners.

• Hungry: Be Passionate, Never Give Up, Customer Focused, Continuous Learning, Do What You Say

• Humble: Servant Leader, No arrogance, Less Ego, Listen > Talk

• Smart: High EQ, Challenge the Status Quo, Thought Leaders

Why Novarc:

• Growing Opportunities - We are in the process of maturing into a fast-growing medium-sized business.

• Great place to be - We have created a fun, adventurous, and open-minded environment where our teams are encouraged to bond and express their unique selves.

• Best People - Our team is made up of talented, intelligent, and hardworking people.

• Lots of Opportunities - We are constantly looking for stand-out talent internally to move into leadership positions.

We are excited to invite you to join our growing team for this amazing journey!

"Novarc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, national or ethnic origin, color, political belief, marital or family status, religion, special abilities, age, sex or sexual orientation, or a criminal conviction or charge that is unrelated to employment of to the intended employment of that person. This applies to all our practices of recruitment, selection, promotion, training and development, health and safety, and compensation."