HR Manager - Company Stores

Grocery Outlet Corp.•Virginia Beach, VA

43d•$105,000 - $120,000

About The Position

The HR Manager, Company Stores is a key member of the HR team responsible for managing all aspects of the talent lifecycle and HR programs for company owned stores in the designated region. This includes successful launch, stabilization, and ongoing operations of new company-owned stores. Reporting to the Sr. HR Director, Supply Chain & Company Stores, this role partners closely with the Director of Sales & Merchandising (DSM), Store Managers, and the Store Operations and Support teams to ensure that each store opening and ongoing operation is supported by strong people practices, positive employee relations, and strong leadership enabling a high-performance culture delivering exceptional customer experiences. This position will partner closely with cross-functional teams in HR including Learning & Development, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and broader HR team. The ideal candidate is a hands-on, field-based HR professional with strong business acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to build trust and credibility quickly across multiple stakeholders. Support and take on additional projects and responsibilities as needed to support evolving business priorities and contribute to the broader HR team's strategy and goals.

Requirements

Bachelors in HR, Business, Industrial Relations; MBA or MS HR preferred.
7+ years of progressive HR leadership, including 3+ years supporting multi-site retail stores.
Demonstrated success driving positive employee relations programs and responding to organized labor activities/events. Hands on experience coordinating site readiness, crafting communication strategies, and leading remediation plans.
Expertise in U.S. labor and employment law (FLSA, FMLA, OSHA, NLRB) and retail/warehouse safety regulations.
Proven experience leading and supporting all HR aspects of new store openings.
Hands-on experience supporting mid- and small-scale projects (e.g., Site relocation/expansions, productivity incentive programs).
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and build trust across levels and functions.
Excellent communication, project management, and influencing skills.
Strong data fluency-able to build and interpret dashboards, use advanced Excel/analytics tools, and translate insights into action.
Strong project and change management skills. Training in Agile, Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies preferred.
Comfortable in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment with evolving priorities.
Ability to travel up to 50â¯% of the time within region, occasionally across regions and to our corporate office in Emeryville, CA and other business locations as needed.

Nice To Haves

MBA or MS HR preferred.
Training in Agile, Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the HR components of new store openings, ensuring all people-related activities - from workforce planning to onboarding - are delivered on time and aligned with business objectives.
Partner closely with the project team, DSMs, and Store Managers to align staffing plans, onboarding timelines, and training coordination.
Responsible for executing on deliverables and processes related to new store openings, serving as a trusted partner to the business to identify opportunities for improvement.
In partnership with Total Rewards, Payroll, and HR Operations ensure readiness and smooth onboarding for all new hires including systems, benefits, payroll, and compliance.
Serve as the primary HR contact for the Virginia Company Stores leadership team. Support DSMs and Store Managers in building strong, high-performing teams. Serve as an influential advisor to them on org design, workforce planning, capability building, change, and transformation.
Provide proactive coaching and guidance to store leaders on talent development, performance management, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness.
Partner with Corporate HR Business Partners to ensure alignment on talent, compensation, and employee programs.
Leverage people data and insights to guide decision-making and support business priorities.
Build and maintain a positive employee relations environment across stores by promoting open communication, fairness, and consistent application of policies.
Responsible for conducting and resolving employee relations cases appropriately and timely.
Develop leader capability through coaching, feedback, and training on effective people management, conflict resolution, and performance management.
Reinforce company culture and values through programs and practices that enhance engagement and retention.
Support workforce planning, staffing strategies and recruiting to ensure stores are adequately resourced and talent gaps are addressed proactively.
Partner with Learning & Development and Store Operations team to coordinate and deliver key training programs for leaders and employees as needed.
Facilitate performance management and development planning processes to drive accountability and career growth.