Business Initiatives Manager Jobs in Rhode Island

Position Overview

AstroNova, Inc. is seeking a seasoned, highly credible, and results-oriented Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) to support its critical manufacturing operations. This role is designed for an experienced HR leader who can demonstrate success operating in a complex, fast-paced manufacturing environment and thrives in environments that partner closely with senior leadership and plant management to drive strategic business initiatives.

This on-site, highly collaborative role offers significant exposure to leadership along with accountability for day-to-day HR operations and long-term organizational initiatives. The position requires a proactive, independent professional capable of driving organizational outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

HR Partnership & Organizational Support

• Partner with managers and leadership to support, drive and influence business objectives and organizational initiatives
• Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, workforce planning, and employee engagement
• Lead change management initiatives, organizational design, and process improvement efforts with measurable outcomes
• Own and execute talent and succession planning initiatives (including identification of critical roles, bench strength gaps, and targeted development actions), management training, and compliance training initiatives

Leave Administration & Compliance

• Oversee and ensure compliant administration of employee leave programs, including FMLA, STD, and other applicable state and federal leave laws
• Partner closely with and support EHS and operations leadership with workers compensation administration and safety initiatives
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees and managers regarding leave requests, eligibility, documentation, and return-to-work processes
• Maintain accurate leave records and coordinate with payroll, benefits providers, and management as needed to support workforce planning.

HR Operations & Projects

• Own, maintain, process, and track employment transactions and HR documentation
• Assist with HRIS administration, reporting, and data integrity; leverage data to identify trends and risks
• Support compensation, benefits, and workforce analysis initiatives; provide clear, actionable recommendations to leadership 
• Drive engagement, survey administration, action planning, and employee communication initiatives with accountability to leadership teams
• Deliver training and development programs with demonstrated impact on leadership development, management training, and role-based training
• Participate in cross-functional and enterprise-wide HR projects as assigned
• Assist with developing and implementing HR programs, policies, and best practices 
• Support organizational change and integration efforts, including process standardization 

Process Improvement & HR Infrastructure Development

• Establish standardized, scalable, and sustainable HR operating practices across the organization
• Design, implement, and continuously improve core HR processes, including employee lifecycle management, employee relations procedures, and compliance workflows
• Develop and maintain structured HR templates, documentation, and playbooks to ensure consistency, efficiency, and risk mitigation across sites and functions
• Report key HR metrics (e.g., turnover, absenteeism, time-to-fill, employee relations trends) to leadership to assist with action plans
• Leverage HRIS and other systems to enhance reporting capabilities, streamline processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, scalability, and alignment with manufacturing and business needs

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant HR Business Partner experience supporting manufacturing or industrial operations
• Strong talent acquisition experience
• Proven ability to influence and partner with managers and senior leadership on HR initiatives
• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with the ability to use data to drive decisions 
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously and deliver results under pressure 
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems– preferably ADP
• SHRM-CP, PHR, or related HR certification strongly preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual – Spanish fluency preferred
• Experience with ADP Workforce Now a strong plus
• CEBS and/or CPP certifications a plus
• CAPM or PMP a plus