Sr. Manager, People & Culture Business Partner

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

The Sr. Manager, People & Culture Business Partner operates as a trusted consultant, balancing strategic partnership with hands-on execution while ensuring compliance with government regulations, security requirements, and company policies. This role partners closely with local business leaders and Corporate People & Culture to drive workforce planning, talent development, total rewards execution, organizational effectiveness, and culture initiatives that support mission-critical outcomes. A key responsibility for this role is the local implementation and continuous improvement of global P&C processes, systems, and training.

Position Responsibilities

• Partner closely with local business to define and execute people strategies that align with organizational goals, drive performance, and strengthen culture.
• Act as the interface between the business and P&C leadership to localize and implement P&C strategies, processes, policies, systems, and programs in a compliant and culturally appropriate way.
• Advise on organizational design, workforce planning, and talent optimization to support growth, restructuring, and program delivery, ensuring alignment with workforce strategies.
• Lead local annual P&C processes (e.g. performance review cycle and calibration, compensation cycle, talent reviews, performance management, high potential and leadership development initiatives) in partnership with corporate Talent Development.
• Lead and execute cross-functional local P&C initiatives and projects (e.g., organizational redesigns, system implementations, M&A integration support) from planning through delivery, coordinating closely with Corporate P&C and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Corporate P&C to design, communicate, and implement policies, guidelines, and training content; ensure local adaptation where required and drive adoption and adherence.
• Coach leaders on employee engagement, performance, leadership effectiveness, and communication strategies, leveraging tools, frameworks, and training where applicable.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations matters; conduct and support investigations in compliance with company policies and applicable employment laws; log case information in AV corporate legal repository (Navex).
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as government contracting requirements (including ITAR), and maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Analyze workforce data and trends (e.g., attrition, engagement, hiring, diversity) using reports and local insights to inform decision-making, proactive planning, and continuous improvement of programs.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and Corporate TA on hiring strategies and workforce planning, including scenario modeling for program needs and alignment with employer branding and recruiting processes.
• Collaborate with Total Rewards and Corporate Compensation & Benefits to support salary planning, promotions, and equity/bonus reviews, ensuring competitive and compliant compensation and benefits practices.
• Lead and support local employee engagement initiatives and action planning based on survey results (i.e. Great Place to Work™) and provide advice on issues affecting morale, performance, development, and organizational effectiveness, helping to determine root causes and recommending appropriate next steps.
• Drive communication and change management efforts, including support for business transformations, local initiatives, and M&A integration as applicable, ensuring that messages and programs are effectively translated and embedded locally.
• Utilize HR systems (e.g., Workday) and P&C tools to support data-driven decision-making and continuous process improvement, ensuring compliance with data privacy requirements.
• Manage multiple priorities effectively while maintaining attention to detail and follow-through on commitments.
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Organizational Development or Business required or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3–5+ years as a People & Culture / HR Business Partner, and experience managing a team.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR practices.
• Demonstrated experience operating in a matrixed environment and partnering with Corporate HR teams to implement processes, systems, and programs at the local level.
• Experience in a regulated environment (e.g., aerospace, defense, high-technology, or other highly regulated industries); familiarity with export control requirements is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with senior leaders and global stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• High level of integrity and ability to handle confidential information.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR).
• Experience supporting government contracting with a focus on engineering, manufacturing, or program-based organizations.
• Experience with HRIS systems (e.g., Workday) and other HR technologies; experience participating in or leading HR system implementations or enhancements is a plus.
• Prior experience supporting M&A integration or transformation initiatives, ideally in cooperation with corporate project teams.
• Flexibility to support business needs during peak periods and to collaborate across time zones with corporate stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, time management, and organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with office software and productivity tools.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Works well with little or no supervision and exercises independent judgment on a regular basis.
• Strong ability to gain cooperation of others, including stakeholders, and to conduct presentations of information concerning specific projects, timelines, organizational changes, and global program rollouts.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is:

$128,000 - $217,500

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company matching, and flexible work schedule options. Depending on your business unit, role, and customer contract requirements, select programs may offer a 9/80 work schedule and paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.