Senior People Partner - Retail

London, England, United Kingdom , Permanent

We're a global brand made up of a very diverse mix of talented people in a huge variety of roles. Our products are designed in house and made by a small number of suppliers and artisans around the world to sustainable standards.

We are a brand embarking on a very exciting plan and we are seeking new members of the team who want to contribute to this.

The Senior People Partner (Retail) is a critical role, acting as a true business partner, line manager, and the designated delegate for the Head of People Partnering and Talent Acquisition. You will execute the People & Culture plan across the entire UKEU business. This role demands advanced HR expertise to proactively manage organizational design, lead complex change management initiatives, and influence senior Retail leaders on critical matters of talent, performance, and succession.

You will oversee and resolve the most complex, high-risk employee relations cases escalated from the field, ensuring all peoples solutions are commercially focused, legally sound, and reflective of our brand values.

Reporting into the Head of People Partnering and Talent Acquisition, this position holds direct line management responsibility for the People Advisor (Retail), serving as a key mentor and escalation point for the Retail People function. You will work collaboratively across the business, maintaining strong partnerships with senior Retail leadership (e.g., Head of Retail, District Managers, Brand Leaders) and corporate functions to drive consistent and commercially successful outcomes.

• Act as a co-pilot to senior Retail leadership, translating business goals into proactive, long-term people plans specifically for the Retail environment.
• Working with the Head of People Partnering & Talent Acquisition, you will lead the execution and roll‑out of People & Culture initiatives across UKEU Retail.
• Use data, logic, and advanced persuasion to influence Retail leaders to make people‑focused decisions that drive positive change and commercial retail goals.
• Lead and manage complex organizational design, restructuring, and redundancy programmes specific to the Retail store network, ensuring structural changes support long‑term business goals.
• Take accountability for critical P&C processes and decision sign‑offs for the Retail client group, putting personal credibility on the line.
• Lead talent reviews and succession planning cycles for the Retail client group, identifying and mitigating future talent risks.
• Line manage, coach, and actively develop the People Advisor (Retail), delegating appropriately and ensuring the quality and accuracy of their ER case management and advice.
• Provide coaching and counsel to Retail leaders on organizational effectiveness and team performance across the store network.
• Act as a mentor to junior team members within the People/HR function, fostering a culture of continuous development and initiative.

• Lead and resolve high‑risk and complex employee relations cases (e.g., tribunal preparation, systemic issues, collective disputes). Act as the escalation point for People Partners.
• Identify and pre‑empt any potential sources of conflict within the Retail client group, ensuring continued collaboration and productive relationships.
• Apply pragmatism in the application of policies and procedures for the Retail business, knowing when to adapt style while operating within legal boundaries.

• Anticipate the impact of organizational change (e.g., new retail operating models, major policy changes) on the brand, proactively setting in place processes to embed the changes successfully and actively selling the benefits to Retail stakeholders.
• Think globally and cross‑functionally, understanding the implications of Retail P&C actions beyond your immediate client group.
• Demonstrate courage and conviction when influencing difficult decisions with senior Retail leadership.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR (SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS)

• People Management:
  Demonstrable experience in line managing, coaching, and…