People & Culture Business Partner

People & Culture Business Partner 

Reporting to:   Sr. Director, P&C Business Partnering 

Department:  People & Culture 

Location:  Boston, MA (hybrid) 

Position Summary 

Grand Circle Corporation is the leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for Americans aged 50+. Headquartered in Boston, MA, with over 45 offices worldwide, more than two million travelers have experienced our award‑winning brands: Grand Circle Cruise Line, Overseas Adventure Travel, and Grand Circle Travel. 

Our Finance and Operations functions are critical to maintaining financial discipline, driving excellence, and delivering exceptional traveler experiences. 

We are seeking a People & Culture (P&C) Business Partner to support our Finance and Operational teams. This role will collaborate closely with functional leaders to design and deploy human capital strategies that strengthen team performance, elevate organizational culture, and support growth. The ideal candidate is both a strategic advisor and a hands‑on practitioner—able to guide senior leaders while effectively managing day‑to‑day P&C needs across dynamic, fast‑moving teams. 

This role plays a key part in fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, continuous improvement, and excellence—ensuring we attract, engage, and retain top talent while staying true to Grand Circle’s mission and values. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic P&C Partnership 

- Partner with leadership to develop and execute people strategies that advance business goals and drive functional excellence. 

- Advise leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, talent deployment, onboarding, and team optimization. 

- Align P&C initiatives with functional priorities, ensuring a cohesive people strategy across two diverse but interconnected teams. 

Talent Management 

- Collaborate with hiring managers and Talent Acquisition to define talent needs and support recruitment for specialized and technical roles. 

- Facilitate succession planning, capability assessments, and development strategies for technical, creative, and leadership roles. 

- Partner with leaders to strengthen performance management processes, including goal-setting, career pathing, and coaching. 

Employee Relations & Engagement 

- Serve as a trusted advisor on employee relations issues, ensuring fairness, consistency, and adherence to company policies. 

- Support culture, engagement, and change‑management initiatives 

- Coach managers on performance challenges, workplace dynamics, and communication approaches. 

- Promote employee engagement across distributed, hybrid, and remote team environments. 

P&C Programs & Policies 

- Implement and reinforce P&C programs, policies, and practices 

- Ensure compliance with employment laws, company guidelines, and industry best practices. 

- Provide guidance on compensation structures, working closely with P&C leadership. 

Data‑Driven Insights 

- Use workforce data, KPIs, and analytics to identify trends, diagnose risks, and recommend solutions that improve performance, retention, and organizational health. 

- Prepare regular reporting on P&C activities, insights, and business impact. 

Training & Development 

- Identify skills gaps, training needs, and professional development opportunities aligned with department specific objectives. 

- Partner with Learning & Development to design and deploy training programs that strengthen leadership capabilities, technical skills, and team collaboration. 

Qualifications 

- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field; Master’s degree or HR certification (SHRM‑SCP, SPHR, etc.) preferred. 

- 8–10+ years of progressive HR experience, including at least 4 years as an HR Business Partner supporting dynamic, technical, or creative functions. 

- Experience partnering with remote and hybrid teams required. 

- Experience supporting Finance, Operations, or related functional areas strongly preferred. 

- Candidates must be located in MA, NH, or RI to be able to be on-site in our Boston office 3 days per week. 

Key Skills & Competencies 

- Strong relationship‑building and consultation skills across all levels. 

- Excellent communication, influencing, and conflict‑resolution capabilities. 

- Deep knowledge of employment laws, HR best practices, and organizational design principles. 

- Comfort working in fast‑paced, evolving environments with technical and creative teams. 

- Proficiency in HR technologies, analytics, and data‑driven decision‑making. 

- Commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. 

Total rewards 

The base salary range for this role is $120,000-$140,000 annually for employees based in Boston, MA. Final compensation may vary and will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and geographic location. In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for an annual incentive bonus and first-class benefits, which include: 

• Health & wellness: Comprehensive and heavily subsidized medical, dental, and vision plans, plus on-site gym access, holistic wellness sessions, and group fitness classes  

• Time for you: Substantial Paid Time Off (PTO), and 11 paid holidays- including Juneteenth, Memorial Day, and Labor Day – and Summer Fridays. Plus- extensive parental leave, with up to 12-16 weeks paid leave at 100% base salary. 

• Travel more, spend less: 50% off our trips for you and a companion, 25% for additional immediate family members, and exclusive quarterly associate travel deals  

• Your future, secured: 401(k) with company match, life insurance, and disability coverage  

• Continuous growth: Tuition assistance for both professional and personal development, opportunities for professional development through oversees travel, and direct access to Pinnacle Leadership & Team Development. 

• Extra perks: Commuter benefits, FSA options, pet insurance, home & auto discounts, and paid volunteer time off to give back to the community 

To learn more, please visit our websites at www.gct.com, www.oattravel.com and www.grandcirclefoundation.org.