Toyota Research Institute

Senior People Partner

Toyota Research Institute  •  $148k - $204k/yr  •  Los Altos, CA (Hybrid)  •  18 days ago
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Job Description

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We’re developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience. To lead this transformative shift in mobility, we’ve built a world-class team advancing the state of the art in AI, robotics, driving, and material sciences.
The People team at TRI plays a critical role in supporting this mission. We partner across the organization to ensure that our people programs enable innovation, inclusion, and impact. We're a collaborative, curious, and values-driven group that’s passionate about making TRI an exceptional place to work.
As a Senior People Partner, you will support our mission-driven, research-oriented organization. This role serves as a strategic and hands-on People leader, partnering closely with senior leaders, people managers, and the broader People team to enable strong leadership, healthy teams, and organizational effectiveness. This role reports to the Manager, People Partner. 

Responsibilities

  • Partner with all leaders as a trusted advisor to understand business priorities and develop people strategies that drive organizational goals.
  • Guide organizational design decisions, including team structures, spans and layers, and headcount planning.
  • Coach managers and leaders on team dynamics, communication, employee development, and retention strategies.
  • Lead or support the execution of performance management, employee engagement, and succession planning initiatives.
  • Identify and assess workforce risks or gaps and develop proactive solutions in collaboration with the wider People organization. 
  • Assess external trends (e.g., macroeconomic shifts, DEI benchmarks, regulatory changes) and advise on implications for talent strategy.
  • Help drive and support change management efforts that ensure smooth transitions and consistent adoption of new programs or structures.
  • Partner cross-functionally with other People team members (e.g., People Operations, Compensation, Talent Acquisition) to ensure aligned and scalable solutions.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Industrial & Labor Relations, Human Resources Management, Human Resources Development, Psychology, Business, etc.) preferred.
  • 6+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally with a mix of both big tech and startup, including business partnering responsibilities.
  • Proven expertise in resolving complex interpersonal and team misalignments, using empathy and assertiveness to address issues quickly and effectively.
  • Comfort navigating ambiguity and adapting to frequent change with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • Proven ability to build credibility among senior executives and influence key collaborators to drive alignment across cross-functional teams.
  • Builds trust, helping to create a positive, collaborative work environment that fosters open communication and mutual respect.
  • Operates at the highest level of professionalism, confidentiality, and personal integrity.
  • Detailed, organized, and communicative, and thrives in a multi-tasking, hands-on, collaborative environment.
  • Willingness to work in the office 2 days a week on a hybrid model.
  • Authorization to work in the USA.

Bonus Qualifications

  • Familiarity with organizational effectiveness tools and frameworks (e.g., engagement surveys, span/layer analysis).
  • Knowledge of California and/or Massachusetts employment law.
  • HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR) are a plus.
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $148,000 and $203,500/year for California-based roles. Base pay offered will depend on multiple individualized factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's experience, skills, job-related knowledge, and market location. TRI offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) eligibility, paid time off benefits (including vacation, sick time, and parental leave), and an annual cash bonus structure. Additional details regarding these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.
Please reference this Candidate Privacy Notice to inform you of the categories of personal information that we collect from individuals who inquire about and/or apply to work for Toyota Research Institute, Inc. or its subsidiaries, including Toyota A.I. Ventures GP, L.P., and the purposes for which we use such personal information.
TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people with unique backgrounds, education and life experiences. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative and collaborative environment by living the values that are an essential part of our culture. We believe diversity makes us stronger and are proud to provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all, without regard to an applicant’s race, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, religion, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.
Toyota Research Institute

About Toyota Research Institute

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we’re conducting research to amplify human ability, focusing on making our lives safer and more sustainable. Led by Dr. Gill Pratt, TRI’s team of researchers develops technologies to advance automated driving, energy and materials, human-centered artificial intelligence, human interactive driving, large behavior models, and robotics. We’re dedicated to building a world of “mobility for all” where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can live in harmony with technology to enjoy a better life. Through innovations in AI, we will:

- Develop technology for vehicles and robots to help people enjoy new levels of independence, access, and mobility.

- Bring advanced mobility technology to market faster.

- Discover new materials that will make batteries and hydrogen fuel cells smaller, lighter, less expensive, and more powerful.

Our work is guided by a dedication to safety – in how we research, develop, and validate the performance of vehicle technology to benefit society. As a subsidiary of Toyota, TRI is fueled by a diverse and inclusive community of people who carry invaluable leadership, experience, and ideas from industry-leading companies. Over half of our technical team holds PhD degrees. We’re continually searching for the world’s best talent ‒ people who are ready to define the new world of mobility with us!

We strive to build a company that helps our people thrive, achieve work-life balance, and bring their best selves to work. At TRI, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds ‒ a fun start-up environment with brilliant people who enjoy solving tough problems and the financial backing to successfully achieve our goals. Come work with TRI if you’re interested in transforming mobility through designing safer cars, enabling the elderly to age in place, or designing alternative fuel sources. Start your impossible with us.

Industry
Biotech & Life Sciences
Company Size
201-500 employees
Headquarters
Los Altos, California
Year Founded
2016
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