People & Culture Business Partner

$95,000.00 - $100,000.00

Contact Information: Casey Ryan - [email protected],

At Curio Wellness we empower people to thrive by adapting plant nature to human nature. We are committed to transforming the conversation around cannabis, fostering a deeper understanding of its benefits, and ensuring that every product we offer meets the highest standards.

Be bold. Be exceptional. Be well.

Job Summary

We’re seeking a hands-on, employee-focused People & Culture Business Partner to serve as a trusted partner across two plant locations and retail stores in Maryland, supporting approximately 350 hourly and salaried employees. This role will act as a true HR Business Partner (HRBP) - balancing day-to-day employee relations with strategic initiatives that build culture, elevate employee experience, and enable manager success. You will model the principles of taking responsibility for outcomes, driving solutions. holding yourself and others accountable, and building trust through consistent, transparent communication. As a visible and accessible presence, you’ll guide leaders through challenges, help employees thrive, and drive initiatives that foster engagement, accountability, retention, and performance.

Please Note

This position involves working around plant material, which may include exposure to pollen, allergens, and other plant-related substances. We recommend that applicants with known plant allergies or sensitivities consult with a healthcare professional before applying for this position.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Manager Partnership

• Serve as the primary point of contact for managers and employees on employee relations issues.
• Lead and support investigations, ensuring fairness, thorough documentation, and consistent application of company policies.
• Guide managers through the progressive discipline process, ensuring accountability and alignment with Curio values.
• Provide coaching, training, and guidance to managers to strengthen leadership capabilities and address performance and behavior challenges.
• Maintain strong presence across plant and retail locations to build trust, accessibility, and responsiveness.
• Take ownership for outcomes in employee relations - escalating issues early, ensuring timely resolution, and following through on commitments.
  
  

Employee Experience, Culture & Engagement

• Champion the employee experience by building programs, practices, and initiatives that foster an inclusive, high-performance culture.
• Partner with leadership and the P&C team to execute engagement and recognition initiatives tailored to plant and retail teams.
• Conduct regular employee listening activities (surveys, focus groups, feedback sessions) and translate insights into action plans.
• Act as a visible ambassador of Curio’s values, ensuring culture is lived consistently across all teams.
• Focus on increasing retention of hourly employees through proactive engagement, recognition, and development opportunities.
• Identify turnover trends and partner with managers to address root causes, including scheduling, communication, and career pathways.
• Implement programs that strengthen the employee value proposition.
• Lead by example in fostering accountability, communication, and ownership at every level.
  
  

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure consistent application of HR policies and practices across plant and retail locations.
• Support People & Culture leadership in policy development, updates, and compliance with labor laws.
• Maintain accurate and compliant employee records; prepare reports and analysis on employee relations trends, turnover, and engagement.
• Partner with P&C Generalist on exit interviews and provide insights to leadership on trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Take responsibility for compliance outcomes, ensuring audits, reporting, and legal requirements are met with precision.
  
  

Talent Development & Support

• Partner with Talent Development and L&D teams to ensure managers and employees have access to training and growth opportunities.
• Provide input on workforce planning, succession planning, and development needs for plant and retail teams.
• Support hiring managers in building strong onboarding and integration experiences for new employees.
• Proactively identify skill gaps and advocate for development solutions that strengthen both individuals and teams.
  
  

Cross-Functional Partnerships

• Partner closely with the Total Rewards Manager on payroll preparation, benefits enrollments, leave management, and employee claims questions.
• Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition team on headcount needs, workforce planning, and staffing strategies. Participate in interviews, hiring events, and onboarding support to ensure seamless talent integration.
• Work with the Talent Development & L&D team to support leadership training, employee development, and career growth initiatives.
• Partner with P&C leadership on employee engagement, culture-building, and change management initiatives.
• Partner with Operations and Plant Leadership to provide proactive HR support tied directly to production, scheduling, and shift challenges.
• Build trust across functions by owning communication, alignment, and follow-through.
  
  

Who You Are / Qualifications

• 5-7 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in an HRBP, Generalist, or Manager role supporting both hourly and salaried employees.
• Strong background in employee relations, investigations, and progressive discipline.
• Proven ability to build trust and strong relationships with employees and managers across multiple sites.
• Experience in manufacturing, retail, or multi-site operations is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of labor and employment laws; ability to apply them practically in a growing, fast-paced business.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills; approachable, visible, and solutions oriented.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of outcomes, anticipate challenges, and drive solutions without excuses.
• Comfortable balancing strategic initiatives with hands-on day-to-day support.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business, or related field; HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) is a plus.
• Willingness to be on-site daily and rotate between plant and retail locations as needed. Travel to one retail location outside of the Baltimore metro area bi-weekly.
  
  

Curio Wellness is an Equal Opportunity Employer Curio Wellness is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Must be 21 years old.

As a condition of employment, all Curio Wellness employees must comply with the State of Maryland requirements which include providing a copy of your fingerprints in the required format and consenting to an FBI Background Check.

Nearest Major Market: Baltimore