People Business Partner
Hippo Insurance · Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
- On site
- Full-time
- $120,000 / year
- Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
Job highlights
- Partner with customer-facing teams like Sales and Service.
- Advise leaders on talent, performance, and workforce planning.
- Manage employee relations cases from start to finish.
- Coach managers on performance and team development.
- Contribute to integrated people programs and initiatives.
About the role
About Hippo
Hippo was built on a promise: make homeownership effortless. Nearly a decade later, that mission still drives us. We use technology and data to help our customers stay ahead of problems and protect what matters most. Today, that same tech-native approach powers our work beyond homeowners. Hippo operates as a diversified carrier platform, partnering with MGAs to deliver tailored program solutions that help them grow and deliver better customer experiences. Behind that work is a team that values ownership, curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. If you're energized by building what's next, we'd love to meet you.About You
You are a credible, independent People Business Partner who thrives in complex, customer-facing environments. You bring hands-on experience supporting Sales, Service, or Claims organizations — and you understand the pace, accountability culture, and people dynamics that come with them. You manage the full HRBP cycle without day-to-day oversight: diagnosing org health issues, navigating employee relations (ER) with sound judgment, and translating business problems into people solutions that land. You're as comfortable coaching a frontline manager through a difficult performance conversation as you are synthesizing engagement data to brief a senior leader. You hold a high bar for consistency and confidentiality, and you build trust quickly — with the people in the room and the ones who aren't. You bring a working knowledge of insurance, financial services, or a similarly regulated industry, and you're not looking to be handed a playbook.What You’ll Do
- Serve primarily as the People Business Partner for customer-facing functions including Sales, Service, and/or Claims — advising leaders on org health, talent, performance, and workforce planning
- Translate business challenges into people recommendations; anticipate people risks before they become operational problems and bring a clear point of view to leadership
- Coach frontline and mid-level managers on performance management, difficult conversations, and team development with consistency and practical guidance
- Partner with L&D to strengthen manager and leadership effectiveness; connect managers to the right resources and close capability gaps within your client groups
- Drive culture and engagement within your client groups by identifying issues early, facilitating solutions, and tracking measurable progress
- Execute ER case management across Hippo from intake through resolution, with disciplined documentation and risk-aware judgment
- Advise managers on policy interpretation, conduct matters, and performance actions; ensure consistent and legally compliant application across client groups
- Partner with People Operations, Talent Acquisition, People Programs, and Total Rewards (compensation & benefits) to deliver integrated people programs; interpret workforce data to surface trends and actionable recommendations
- Contribute to cross-functional People initiatives and support the Director, People Business Partnerships on enterprise priorities as needed
Must Haves
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree a plus
- 5+ years of progressive HR Business Partner experience with demonstrated depth in employee relations and performance management
- Experience supporting Sales, Service, or Claims organizations — you understand the pace and accountability culture of customer-facing, operationally intensive functions
- Strong analytical capability; able to interpret workforce data, identify trends, and translate findings into clear recommendations
- Demonstrated ability to manage ER matters independently and in a consistent, risk-aware, and legally sound manner from intake through resolution
- Exceptional judgment, confidentiality, and the ability to build trust quickly with managers and leaders at all levels
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to advise with clarity and hold a position under pressure
- Experience in insurance, financial services, banking, or a similarly regulated industry strongly preferred; familiarity with technology-enabled or operationally complex environments a plus
Nice to Haves
- Property & Casualty insurance experience
- HR certifications a plus: SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or GPHR
Benefits and Perks
Hippo treats its team members with the same level of dedication and care as we do our customers, which is why we’re fortunate to provide all of our Hippos with:- Healthy Hippos Benefits - Multiple medical plan options, 100% covered dental and vision for you and your family, and a wellness program that rewards healthy habits. We also offer a 401(k)-retirement plan, short & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Equity - This position is eligible for equity compensation
- Training and Career Growth - Training and internal career growth opportunities
- Flexible Time Off - You know when and how you should recharge
- Little Hippos Program - We offer 12 weeks of parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers
- Hippo Habitat - Snacks and drinks available and catered lunches for onsite employees
Key skills/competency
- Employee Relations
- Performance Management
- Talent Management
- Organizational Health
- Workforce Planning
- HRBP
- Data Analysis
- Leadership Coaching
- Risk Management
- Insurance Industry Knowledge
Skills & topics
- People Business Partner
- HRBP
- Human Resources
- Employee Relations
- Performance Management
- Talent Management
- Sales Support
- Service Support
- Claims Support
- Workforce Planning
- Austin
- Dallas
- Texas
- Insurance
- Financial Services
- Hybrid
- SHRM
- PHR
How to get hired
- Customize your resume: Highlight your 5+ years of HRBP experience, focusing on employee relations and performance management, especially within customer-facing or regulated industries.
- Showcase industry knowledge: Emphasize your understanding of the insurance or financial services sector and your ability to translate business challenges into people solutions.
- Quantify your impact: Use data to demonstrate your analytical capabilities in interpreting workforce trends and providing actionable recommendations.
- Prepare for behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss situations where you've demonstrated exceptional judgment, confidentiality, and built trust with leaders.
Technical preparation
Master HRIS data analysis and reporting.,Practice employee relations case management simulations.,Develop frameworks for performance management coaching.,Prepare data visualizations for HR metrics.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex ER case you resolved.,How do you coach a struggling manager?,Share an example of driving culture change.,How do you build trust with leaders?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key responsibilities for a People Business Partner at Hippo Insurance?
- As a People Business Partner at Hippo Insurance, your key responsibilities will include serving as the primary HR advisor for customer-facing functions like Sales and Service. You'll focus on organizational health, talent management, performance, and workforce planning. A significant part of the role involves managing employee relations cases, coaching managers, and partnering with various People teams to deliver integrated HR programs. You'll also play a role in driving culture and engagement within your client groups.
- What kind of experience is essential for the People Business Partner role at Hippo?
- Hippo is looking for candidates with a Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of progressive HR Business Partner experience. Crucially, you should have demonstrated depth in employee relations and performance management. Experience supporting Sales, Service, or Claims organizations is highly preferred, as is a strong understanding of regulated industries like insurance or financial services. Strong analytical skills and the ability to manage ER matters independently are also essential.
- How does Hippo Insurance support its employees' growth and well-being?
- Hippo Insurance offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee well-being and growth. This includes multiple medical plan options, fully covered dental and vision for employees and their families, and a wellness program. They also provide a 401(k) plan, life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. For professional development, Hippo offers training and internal career growth opportunities, along with flexible time off and a generous parental leave policy.
- What is the work arrangement for the People Business Partner position at Hippo Insurance?
- The People Business Partner position at Hippo Insurance is a hybrid role. The specific locations mentioned are Austin, TX, and Dallas, TX. This hybrid arrangement implies that employees will be expected to work from the office on certain days and remotely on others, offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.
- How does Hippo Insurance approach diversity and inclusion in its hiring?
- Hippo Insurance is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team culture. They are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants based on qualifications, without regard to disability or need for accommodation. If an applicant requires reasonable accommodations during the hiring process, they are encouraged to contact Hippo's People Team to make their needs known.