Senior HR Business Partner

Summary

We are looking for a Senior HR Business Partner to help support our growing studio and continue building a positive, engaging, and collaborative work environment. Working closely with studio leadership, managers, and employees across the organization, this person will help guide the employee experience and ensure our people practices evolve alongside the company. From performance management and employee development to onboarding, team engagement, and studio events, this is an opportunity to play an important role in shaping the culture and experience of a growing game development studio.

Core Responsibilities

• Partner with studio leadership and department heads to support the needs of their teams, provide thoughtful HR guidance, and help navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with growth.
• Serve as a trusted resource for employees and managers, fostering open communication and providing guidance on workplace matters, employee relations, and day-to-day people needs.
• Oversee performance management processes, including performance reviews, improvement plans (PIPs), coaching, and ongoing feedback, helping managers support employee growth and development.
• Coach and support managers on team development, employee engagement, career growth, and navigating sensitive or challenging conversations.
• Help create a positive and engaging employee experience through initiatives that bring people together, build connections, and celebrate the studio and its accomplishments.
• Plan and coordinate studio-wide activities and events, including holiday celebrations, team gatherings, and other opportunities to foster a strong sense of community.
• Support key moments throughout the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee development, internal transitions, and offboarding.
• Partner with leadership to anticipate organizational needs and support team growth, workforce planning, and changes in structure or responsibilities.
• Maintain and evolve HR policies, programs, and processes to ensure they remain practical, consistent, and appropriate as the studio grows.
• Gather employee feedback and identify opportunities to continually strengthen the workplace and overall employee experience.

Core Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally supporting a creative, entertainment, technology, or game development organization.
• Experience supporting in-person teams, with an understanding of the importance of building relationships, maintaining visibility, and fostering a positive workplace culture.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and managers to support organizational and people-related initiatives.
• Strong understanding of employee relations, performance management, employee development, and HR best practices.
• Experience managing performance review cycles, improvement plans, and employee development initiatives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and connect with employees at all levels.
• A positive, approachable, and solutions-oriented mindset, with a genuine interest in helping people and teams succeed.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Sound judgment and the ability to handle confidential employee information with care and discretion.

Plus If...

• Experience working within a AAA game studio or another creative development environment.
• Familiarity with the unique demands of game development, including long production cycles, cross-disciplinary teams, and evolving project needs.
• Experience developing employee engagement initiatives and organizing studio-wide events and celebrations.
• Experience supporting multiple office locations, with the ability to build strong relationships and create a consistent employee experience across sites.
• Experience supporting organizations through periods of growth and change.
• Experience with HRIS platforms and tools for managing employee data and HR processes.

Description

• Full time job with benefits
• Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA
• Office is located near downtown Santa Monica – near metro and freeways

The base pay range for this position is $130,000 to $150,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including paid time off, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

Core Qualifications: - 8+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally supporting a creative, entertainment, technology, or game development organization. - Experience supporting in-person teams, with an understanding of the importance of building relationships, maintaining visibility, and fostering a positive workplace culture. - Experience partnering with senior leaders and managers to support organizational and people-related initiatives. - Strong understanding of employee relations, performance management, employee development, and HR best practices. - Experience managing performance review cycles, improvement plans, and employee development initiatives. - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and connect with employees at all levels. - A positive, approachable, and solutions-oriented mindset, with a genuine interest in helping people and teams succeed. - Strong organizational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail. - Sound judgment and the ability to handle confidential employee information with care and discretion. Plus If... - Experience working within a AAA game studio or another creative development environment. - Familiarity with the unique demands of game development, including long production cycles, cross-disciplinary teams, and evolving project needs. - Experience developing employee engagement initiatives and organizing studio-wide events and celebrations. - Experience supporting multiple office locations, with the ability to build strong relationships and create a consistent employee experience across sites. - Experience supporting organizations through periods of growth and change. - Experience with HRIS platforms and tools for managing employee data and HR processes.