Joblaze summary

The HR Business Partner for Engineering at Forward Networks plays a crucial role in aligning people strategies with business objectives, particularly within the sales organization. This position demands expertise in organizational design, talent management, and data analytics to support a quota-driven workforce. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in HR, particularly in sales environments, and possess strong coaching and influencing skills to engage with senior leadership. The role is integral to fostering a high-performance culture while navigating the complexities of employee relations and compensation.

Joblaze insights

Listed 4 days ago — first seen on Joblaze November 4, 2026. Last confirmed on Forward Networks's careers page November 8, 2026.
Salary band is above the typical range for Management roles (median ~$171,120).
Starts above 87% of 585 comparable senior management roles in United States we track (median $150,000 across 144 companies).

Quick facts

What's the salary range?: Forward Networks lists $210,000–$265,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?: 7–10 years of relevant experience for this HR Business Partner – Engineering role.
What seniority level is this role?: Forward Networks targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?: Full-time for this HR Business Partner – Engineering role at Forward Networks.

From the original posting

About the Role

Forward is looking for a HR Business Partner (HRBP) to serve as a strategic partner to our Sales organization. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy and people strategy, working directly with senior sales leaders (CRO, VPs of Sales, and Regional/Sales Directors) to build high-performing revenue teams, shape organizational design, and drive talent, culture, and change initiatives that scale with an evolving go-to-market motion. This role requires deep credibility with commercial leaders and fluency in the unique dynamics of a quota-carrying, commission-driven workforce.

What You'll Do

Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to Sales senior leadership, providing coaching and counsel on organizational design, territory/quota structure, workforce planning, and leadership effectiveness.
Partner with sales leaders to translate revenue targets and go-to-market strategy into people strategies, including org design, span of control, and role architecture as the sales org scales or restructures.
Lead full-cycle talent management for the client group: performance management, calibration, succession planning, promotion processes, and career pathing tailored to sales career ladders (RSD/AE, SDR/BDR, sales management, and sales enablement tracks).
Use data and analytics (attrition, ramp time, quota attainment, rep productivity, pipeline health as it relates to headcount, promotion equity) to diagnose organizational health and recommend proactive interventions.
Partner closely with Talent Acquisition on sales-specific hiring strategy, headcount planning, and workforce composition, including seasonal/quarterly hiring cycles tied to sales capacity planning.
Lead or co-lead org design and change management efforts tied to territory realignments, reorganizations, M&A integration, or new market/segment launches.
Coach sales managers and directors on leadership skills, performance conversations, managing underperformance in a quota-driven environment, and team motivation.
Partner with Compensation on commission plan design, quota setting implications, and annual compensation planning cycles (merit, equity, promotions) to ensure competitiveness and pay-for-performance alignment.
Own employee relations matters within the client group, including performance improvement plans and terminations tied to quota non-attainment, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally sound resolution.
Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives specific to the challenges of building diverse sales teams.
Partner cross-functionally (Talent Acquisition, Legal, Sales Enablement) to design and deliver programs that meet the unique needs of a revenue organization.
Act as a culture carrier, helping sales leaders build and reinforce an environment of high performance, accountability, and inclusion.

What We're Looking For

7–10+ years of progressive HR Business Partner experience, with a significant portion spent directly supporting Sales, Revenue, or other quota-carrying/commission-based client groups.
Proven experience operating at a senior level, partnering directly with CRO, VP, and Director-level sales leaders.
Deep understanding of sales organizational structures, compensation plan design (base/commission/OTE), quota methodology, and the specific talent dynamics of hiring and retaining sales talent.
Strong track record leading org design, workforce planning, and change management in a fast-paced, target-driven, high-growth environment.
Excellent coaching skills with the credibility and presence to influence senior commercial leaders.
Data-driven approach to HR — comfortable building and interpreting people analytics dashboards (attrition, ramp, productivity) to inform decisions.
Sound judgment and experience navigating complex employee relations issues, including performance-based terminations; working knowledge of employment law.
Experience partnering on incentive compensation design and annual compensation planning cycles.
Exceptional communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization.
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, HR, Organizational Psychology) or SHRM-SCP/SPHR certification a plus.

The base pay range for this role is between $210,000 and $265,000. Base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location

Standard company text repeated across Forward Networks's postings is omitted here.

HR Business Partner – Engineering

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