HR Business Partner- Retail (East & Central Region)

SKIMS is a solutions-oriented brand creating the next generation of underwear and loungewear. The HR Business Partner for Retail (East and Central Region) plays a crucial role in advising retail leaders on employee relations, coaching, and implementing people strategies that align with business goals.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to Regional Directors and Store Leaders, providing expert guidance on employee relations, performance management, corrective action, and conflict resolution
• Lead complex, multi‑site investigations with clear documentation, timely follow‑through, and consistent application of SKIMS’ values and policies
• Build leaders’ capability by coaching leaders on best practices for feedback delivery, performance improvement, and accountability, building confidence and consistency across leadership teams
• Identify regional people trends, risks, and hotspots; partner with leadership to implement preventative strategies that reduce turnover, improve engagement, and strengthen culture
• Act as a cultural steward, ensuring SKIMS’ values, traits of excellence, leadership standards, and inclusion principles are upheld across all stores
• Partner with the Director of HR – Retail and Regional Leadership to execute people strategies that support retail business goals, operational priorities, and long‑term growth
• Translate HR/People strategies into scalable, field‑ready programs that drive consistency across the retail enterprise, while allowing for regional nuance
• Serve as the HRBP for the East and Central Regions, influencing decision‑making through data, insights, and strong business acumen
• Collaborate with Recruiting, Legal, Payroll, Benefits, HRIS, and People Operations to ensure seamless HR support and alignment across all sites
• Support workforce planning, staffing needs, and organizational changes that enable efficient store operations and future growth
• Partner with Learning & Development to deliver training that enhances leadership capabilities, ER judgment, and inclusive leadership practices
• Support onboarding for store leadership, ensuring consistent and high‑quality experience across locations
• Equip leaders with practical tools, guides, and resources that enable confident, compliant, and values driven leadership
• Guide leaders through goal setting, midyear and annual reviews, calibration, and development planning to strengthen performance and leadership capability
• Lead performance improvement processes with clarity, empathy, and compliance, ensuring consistency across stores
• Participate in talent reviews, succession planning, and leadership development discussions to build strong internal pipelines
• Use HR metrics (turnover, engagement, ER trends, staffing levels) to identify opportunities and influence regional strategy
• Embed inclusive practices into hiring, coaching, performance management, and employee relations decisions across the assigned regions
• Partner with leaders to cultivate store environments where employees feel respected, valued, and heard
• Support retail engagement initiatives that strengthen belonging, morale, and connection across diverse teams
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple jurisdictions within the assigned regions
• Partner with Legal on escalated matters, ensuring appropriate documentation, risk mitigation, and consistent application of policy
• Conduct regular HR audits, compliance reviews, and policy refreshers to maintain operational excellence
• Communicate policy updates clearly and consistently across all stores
• Support organizational changes, the growth of new store openings, and scaling initiatives across the retail enterprise
• Maintain and evolve HR resources, toolkits, and documentation to support leaders in a fast-paced, multi‑site environment
• Travel regularly within the assigned regions to maintain strong relationships and provide on-the-ground partnerships

Requirements:

• Must be based in the New York Metropolitan area or Chicago Metropolitan area
• Travel regularly, on average 50% across the assigned regions, occasionally to HQ, and support multiple time zones
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years in a multi-site retail HR Business Partner role supporting high-volume teams (700-1,000+ employees preferred)
• Demonstrated expertise in employee relations, investigations, performance management, and coaching leaders through complex and sensitive matters
• Proven ability to influence and partner with leaders at all levels, with strong judgment and a solutions-oriented mindset
• Experience working across multiple states with strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion, professionalism, and integrity
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to deliver clear, concise, and actionable guidance in fast‑paced environments
• Experience with HRIS systems (UKG preferred), reporting tools, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience supporting scaling retail organizations, new store openings, or rapid growth environments is a plus
• PHR, SPHR, SHRM‑CP, or SHRM‑SCP certification preferred