Senior Manager, HR Business Partner

About the role

D-Wave is seeking a Senior Manager, HR Business Partner to support highly technical, fast-moving organizations across the business.

This is an on-site role at our New Haven, Connecticut location reporting to the VP, Talent Growth and serves as a strategic partner to senior leaders operating in complex, technical environments. 

You will be responsible for driving organizational effectiveness, strengthening leadership capability, and fostering a high-performance culture. This role requires strong business judgment, comfort navigating ambiguity, and the ability to translate technical and business priorities into clear, actionable people strategies. 

As a trusted advisor, you will coach leaders through growth and change while partnering closely with HR Centers of Excellence to deliver consistent, scalable, and high-impact people solutions across the organization. 

What you'll do 

• Serve as a strategic HR partner to highly technical senior leaders, aligning people strategies with business priorities and growth plans 

• Translate technical and business needs into effective org design, workforce planning, hiring strategies, and role clarity 

• Act as a trusted advisor to executives and leaders, coaching on leadership effectiveness, performance, and change 

• Enable managers to build high-performing, accountable teams through strong feedback, goal setting, and performance conversations 

• Lead talent reviews, succession planning, and leadership development for critical technical and leadership roles 

• Use people data and employee feedback to identify risks, opportunities, and engagement priorities 

• Partner with leaders to foster an inclusive, values-driven culture that supports engagement and retention 

• Advise on compensation, offers, and rewards in partnership with Total Rewards 

• Manage employee relations matters and ensure compliance with employment laws in Canada and the U.S. 

• Collaborate with HR Centers of Excellence to deliver consistent, scalable people programs across the organization 

• Partner across the organization to lead or support additional initiatives as business priorities evolve, requiring flexibility and engagement beyond core responsibilities. 

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field 

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior HR Business Partner roles 

• Required experience supporting highly technical teams in a hardware or software technology environment 

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect people strategies to business outcomes 

• Demonstrated expertise in org design, workforce planning, talent management, leadership development, and employee relations 

• Proven ability to coach executives, senior leaders, and managers in complex, fast-paced environments 

• Data-driven mindset with sound judgment in ambiguous and high-stakes situations 

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution 

A D-Waver's DNA

• We look at the future and say “why not”; we see possibilities where others see problems or routines. We show the way ahead and are committed to achieving ambitious goals.
• We practice straight talk and listen generously to each other with empathy. We value different opinions and points of views. We ensure that we connect outside as well as inside to learn from others and inspire each other.
• We hold ourselves accountable for delivering results. We make decisions & take responsibility so that we can act & support each other.
• As leaders we motivate & engage our teams to undertake beyond what they originally thought possible, by developing our teams & creating the conditions for people to grow and empower themselves through enabling & coaching.

Our Compensation Philosophy is Simple but Powerful:

We believe providing D-Wavers with company ownership, competitive pay, and a range of meaningful benefits is the start of creating a culture where people want to give the best they’ve got — not because they’re simply making money, but because they’ve fallen in love with our vision, mission, values, and team. 

During the interview process, your Recruiter will review our total rewards (base, equity, bonus, perks, benefit, culture) . The final offer is determined by your proficiencies within this level.   

Inclusion: 

We celebrate diverse perspectives to drive innovation in our pursuit. Our employees range from distinguished domain experts with decades of experience in their respective fields, to bright and motivated graduates eager to make their mark. Our diverse and innovative team will make you feel appreciated, supported and empower your career growth at D-Wave.

The Fine Print: 

No 3rd party candidates will be accepted

It is D-Wave Systems Inc. policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, local law.