Senior Specialist - HR Business Partnering (North America Retail)

As a Senior Specialist - HR Business Partnering at On, your primary responsibilities will include serving as the main point of contact for all HR-related topics for assigned retail stores. You will advise Store Leaders on employee relations issues, help implement organizational changes to facilitate growth, and work alongside Talent Acquisition to hire skilled retail professionals. Additionally, you will oversee team member life cycles, such as onboarding and off-boarding, while ensuring compliance with regulations.

Candidates for the Senior Specialist - HR Business Partnering position at On should have at least 5 years of experience in an HR Business Partner role, ideally in fast-paced, international environments. A minimum of 3 years supporting hourly, non-exempt team members is crucial as this role focuses heavily on employee relations and talent management within the retail sector.

To excel as a Senior Specialist - HR Business Partnering at On, essential skills include excellent communication, strong relationship-building capabilities, and an innovative problem-solving mindset. You need to be a team player, able to thrive in challenging situations, while also exhibiting an entrepreneurial spirit. Cross-functional collaboration and a focus on delivering exceptional support to retail teams will also be key to your success.

In the role of Senior Specialist - HR Business Partnering at On, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and maintaining the company culture within the retail space. You'll do this by ensuring that On's values and ways of working are deeply embedded in every store through team empowerment and effective processes, while also addressing employee relations to foster a fair and inclusive environment.

Working as a Senior Specialist - HR Business Partnering in Portland offers a vibrant and supportive environment where innovation is encouraged. On emphasizes personal growth, allowing you to develop holistically—both physically and mentally. In this role, you'll collaborate with other passionate HR professionals who are committed to building an inclusive and empowering culture.

When answering this question, focus on your relevant experience in HR business partnering, particularly within retail or fast-paced environments. Highlight specific examples where you successfully managed employee relations, supported store leaders, and implemented talent strategies to foster workplace culture.

Discuss your systematic approach to handling employee relations, emphasizing the importance of listening, fairness, and confidentiality. Share a blend of preventative measures and reactive solutions based on past experiences that demonstrate your ability to de-escalate conflicts effectively.

Highlight your understanding of the retail landscape and what attracts talent to this field. Discuss strategies like engaging with potential candidates through social media, creating a positive onboarding experience, and collaborating closely with talent acquisition teams to ensure alignment with business needs.

Explain your approach to onboarding, showcasing how creating tailored experiences for new hires leads to positive retention. Mention the importance of cultural integration, early engagement with leadership, and ensuring new employees have the necessary resources to succeed from day one.

Provide a concrete example of an HR initiative you spearheaded—such as improving employee engagement or enhancing performance management systems. Discuss the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the positive outcomes you achieved in measurable terms.

Reinforce your understanding of HR compliance by discussing specific regulations you have navigated within the retail sector. Highlight your diligence in staying updated on local, state, and federal laws, and mention how you ensure your organization adheres to these in practice.

Share your strategies for developing strong relationships with retail leaders, such as regular communication, understanding their challenges, being present in their stores, and demonstrating genuine interest in their teams' success, which fosters trust and collaboration.

Use this opportunity to illustrate your conflict resolution skills by sharing a specific situation. Describe your role in facilitating dialogue between the parties involved, ensuring fair representation for everyone, while aiming for a constructive resolution that benefited the workplace.

Discuss the HR analytics tools you are familiar with and explain how you use data to inform decision-making. Share examples of how analytics helped identify strengths and weaknesses within the workforce, which led to strategic improvements.

Highlight your commitment to professional growth by talking about your engagement with HR networks, attending workshops, following industry leaders, and staying current with trends, especially those pivotal to the retail sector. This showcases your proactive approach to continuous learning.