Lead employee relations cases, investigations, accommodations, and leaves of absence across Retail and HQ populations. Serve as the primary advisor to managers (Regional, Studio, HQ) on performance management, corrective actions, and coaching. Ensure consistent, compliant application of policies and maintain audit-ready documentation. Escalate complex or high-risk cases to the VP of People while managing the full process directly.

Design and run People programs (e.g., reviews, calibrations, promotions, compensation cycles). Partner with Finance on workforce planning (headcount forecasts, labor cost models, org chart updates). Conduct compensation and pay equity studies (e.g., market benchmarking, band refreshes). Prepare executive-ready materials for leadership and Board discussions. Act as a force multiplier for the VP of People by sequencing and executing programs that maximize impact and reduce executive load. Team Leadership Manage and develop a cross-functional team spanning HR operations, retail training, and office administration to deliver compliant systems, effective onboarding, and coordinated people support. Provide clear scopes, review outputs, and ensure accountability for deliverables.  Support the VP of People in establishing team priorities and co-authoring and managing People Team roadmap to deliver on them Coach managers of managers (e.g., Regional Managers, HQ leads) to strengthen leadership capability. Ensure operational processes (HRIS updates, compliance audits, documentation) are executed smoothly by the HRG in partnership with the Director of People Operations. Cross-Functional Partnership Partner with Retail leadership to ensure People programs and ER practices support daily studio operations. Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, headcount, and compensation decisions. Work with the Director of People Operations on HRIS accuracy, compliance tracking, payroll, and benefits. Engage Legal/Compliance on ER escalations, policy updates, and audits. Sequence People initiatives to avoid overloading the field or HQ.   Requirements: