Description
At Sunflower Bank, N.A., we’re experiencing great growth and creating new possibilities for the communities we serve and for the people who make our success possible. Since our founding in 1892, we've remained committed to building meaningful relationships with our clients while fostering a workplace where associates can thrive, develop, and make an impact. As a full-service financial institution, we provide personalized banking, business, and wealth management solutions designated to help our clients achieve their financial goals. Creating Possibility is not just our mission, it’s how we support our customers, communities, and employees every day. If you’re passionate about developing talent, strengthening organizational culture, and helping people succeed, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about Sunflower Bank by visiting our website at sunflowerbank.com.
Sunflower Bank, N.A. is looking for an energetic, highly motivated individual to fill the full-time position of Senior Human Resources Business Partner at our Irvine, CA location, currently branded as First Foundation Bank. This position will help shape the employee experience, support our business leaders, and drive talent initiatives that position our organization for continued success. If you're energized by building strong teams, fostering an engaging workplace culture, and partnering with leaders to achieve results, you'll find meaningful opportunities to make an impact.
The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $120,000 depending on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and location.
Description:
The Senior Human Resources Business Partner position leads an assigned region and provides strategic and operational support in the areas of employee relations, talent acquisition, talent development, compliance, performance management, and implementation of organizational initiatives. The Senior HRBP partners with operational leadership to align HR strategies with business objectives and ensure consistent application of company policies, procedures, and employment practices. This role routinely handles sensitive and confidential information and exercises independent judgment in addressing complex employee and business matters. This role requires the ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Strong interpersonal communication and leadership skills are essential to effectively coach leaders, support employees, and drive organizational effectiveness. Prior experience with an HRIS system and strong employee relations skills experience required. Occasional travel is required.
Responsibilities:
- Deploy and implement all HR initiatives, processes, and systems.
- Provide full-service HR support to assigned groups.
- Conduct recruitment effort for all personnel, write, and place advertisements.
- Maintain company organizational charts and HRIS system.
- Influence managers on optimal workforce utilization, talent management, and performance differentiation.
- Protect organization’s value by keeping information confidential.
- Create an environment of positive employee relations, keep confidentiality, establish trust and credibility, must be approachable and fair, balance business needs with employee needs, and spend significant time interfacing directly with employees/client base.
- Monitors employee climate and keeps a pulse on it to identify issues/trends; counsels managers on identifying issues and implementing corrective actions.
- Support and properly apply policies and practices. Investigate and ensure fair resolution of issues with policies and practices.
- Identify training needs in client base and identify/recommend training programs as needed.
- Prepares timely and thorough responses to unemployment claims, providing supporting documentation as appropriate.
- Work with the HR Director to deliver on compensation, organizational development, and workforce planning strategies to address the current and future needs of the Company.
- Perform the job in accordance with applicable industry laws and regulations as well as the policies and procedures established by the company.
- Responsible for upholding Fair and Responsible Banking practices and Code of Ethics and Conduct guidelines.
- Understand and participate in the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act program.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Education / Experience Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
- 5-7 years of Human Resources experience, including employee relations and coaching and developing managers
- Experience working with both non-exempt and exempt personnel.
- Experience with and working knowledge of HR laws, practices, policies, and models, specifically in California. Multi-state knowledge preferred.
- Demonstrate expertise in employee relations and employment law compliance.
- Experience utilizing Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS).
- Strong bias for action and a keen sense of urgency with limited guidance and superior results.
- Ability to handle multiple priorities and navigate a highly matrixed organization.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor based on organizational level.
- Analytical skills to rationalize business concepts and rapidly translate them into usable data.
- Understand the Company's compensation philosophy, the relationship between compensation and benefits as a total package and can explain all plans and programs to employees.
- Highly proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and HR Systems knowledge.
- Must possess good spelling, grammar and basic math concepts with attention to detail.
- Familiarity with ADA, COBRA, ERISA, FMLA, WC, Unemployment and other related state and federal regulations preferred.
- Must be able to work flexible hours.
- Must be bondable.
Pay is dependent on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and location.
Working Conditions
The physical demands of this position require the ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Employees may spend extended periods sitting or standing, using hands to operate computers or other equipment, and reaching for work-related tasks. Regular walking may be required, along with occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, or climbing. The role may involve lifting or moving items weighing up to 10 pounds. Vision requirements include close and distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Sunflower Bank Benefits
People choose to “bank” with us, but for those we serve, we’re more than a bank. We strive to be the financial backbone of their lives, and we know that starts with our team.
Our supportive culture empowers team members to grow and seize new opportunities. Like our namesake, the sunflower, we are:
- Rooted in Strength
- Propelled by Growth
- Individuals in a Great Whole
- Creating Possibility
- Community Focused
Associates enjoy outstanding benefits, including:
- 401(k) Plan with 6% Match
- Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
- Company-paid Life Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Fitness Reimbursement
- Paid Time Off
- Volunteer Leave
- Paid Holidays
Plus many more associate perks & incentives!
If you qualify, apply online at www.sunflowerbank.com/careers.You’ve never worked anyplace like Sunflower Bank!
EOE/AA: Minorities/Females/Disabled/Vets
Sunflower Bank, N.A. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Open until filled; early application encouraged. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.
If you are a California resident, you may be entitled to certain rights regarding your personal information, which is information that identifies, relates to, or could reasonably be linked with a particular California resident or household. Additional information about our data collection practices and location specific notices is available on our privacy policy.
Skills Required
- Prior experience with an HRIS system
- Strong employee relations skills and experience
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information
- Strong interpersonal communication and leadership skills; ability to coach managers
- Experience conducting recruitment and full-cycle hiring
- Must be bondable
- Occasional travel required
- Must be able to work flexible hours
- Good spelling, grammar, and basic math with strong attention to detail
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (or equivalent)
- 5-7 years of Human Resources experience, including employee relations and coaching managers
- Experience working with both non-exempt and exempt personnel
- Working knowledge of HR laws, practices, policies, specifically in California; multi-state knowledge preferred
- Familiarity with ADA, COBRA, ERISA, FMLA, WC, Unemployment and related regulations
- Highly proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and HR systems
- Analytical skills to translate business concepts into usable data
- Experience with compensation, organizational development, and workforce planning strategies
Sunflower Bank, N.A. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Sunflower Bank, N.A. and has not been reviewed or approved by Sunflower Bank, N.A..
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan with a company match up to 6% and immediate vesting for covered divisions stands out as a strong element of total compensation. This feature is repeatedly highlighted as a bright spot within the package.
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Healthcare Strength — Core medical, dental, and vision coverage are part of a comprehensive suite that also includes disability and life insurance. Benefits basics are described as solid across the offering.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is characterized as decent for certain roles and markets, indicating alignment between responsibilities and base pay in those areas. These pockets of role-level satisfaction suggest fairness for specific teams.
Sunflower Bank, N.A. Insights
What We Do
Sunflower Bank, N.A. provides relationship-focused financial services to the communities it serves. Operating under brands including Sunflower Bank, First National 1870, and Guardian Mortgage, the bank offers a comprehensive range of personal, business, and wealth management solutions. It features specialized financing groups dedicated to the technology, healthcare, commercial real estate, and construction trades industries.








