Senior Manager, Retail HR Business Partner

Smartwool•Denver, CO

9d•Remote

About The Position

As Senior Manager, Retail HR Business Partner, you will serve as a senior HR partner supporting the Americas retail organization, reporting to the Retail HR Director. You will partner closely with senior retail leaders and District Managers across a portfolio of VF retail brands, including The North Face, Altra, Smartwool, and icebreaker, driving people strategy execution across the brands within scope. This role is focused on strategic brand‑level HR partnership and serves as a key member of each brand’s retail leadership ecosystem; translating HR strategy into effective, field‑ready people practices that strengthen leadership capability, drive performance, enable change, and support long‑term organizational health. The scope of brand support may evolve over time based on business needs.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, ideally within multi‑brand, multi‑unit, or field‑based retail environments.
Demonstrated effectiveness as a senior Retail HR Business Partner supporting senior leaders and District Managers.
Deep understanding of retail operations and core HR domains, including organizational effectiveness, talent development, performance management, and compensation fundamentals.
Proven ability to operate effectively within a matrixed organization and influence without authority.
Ability to balance brand‑specific needs with enterprise‑aligned people practices across a portfolio of brands.
Strong judgment and comfort navigating sensitive, complex, and high‑impact people matters.
Data‑driven and analytical mindset with the ability to translate insights into action.
Clear, confident communicator with credibility at senior levels.
Strong problem‑solving skills with a focus on sustainable, scalable outcomes.
Adaptability and resilience in a fast‑paced, evolving retail environment.
Ability to travel, up to 30-35%

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting multiple retail brands or large field organizations.
HR certification (e.g., SHRM‑SCP, SPHR) preferred but not required.
Experience outside of Retail may be considered if field‑leadership partnership capability is strong.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
Proficiency with HR systems; Workday experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Senior Retail HR Business Partner for a portfolio of VF retail brands (currently including The North Face, Altra, Smartwool, and icebreaker), partnering with senior retail leaders and District Managers as a trusted advisor and thought partner.
Act as a change agent for retail evolution, supporting leaders through transformation, organizational shifts, and capability building.
Provide strategic HR partnership across organizational effectiveness, talent planning, leadership capability, performance management, succession, and workforce planning.
Lead talent management practices including talent identification, succession planning, development planning, and leadership coaching.
Work holistically with leaders to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities across districts, regions, and brands rather than addressing issues in isolation.
Translate business priorities into people actions that strengthen leadership effectiveness, accountability, engagement, and long‑term performance.
Partner closely with cross‑functional teams and VF Centers of Excellence (Organization Effectiveness, Employee Relations, Compensation, and People Services) to deliver integrated, scalable HR solutions.
Leverage data, insights, and internal tools to inform decisions, identify trends, and enable proactive people strategies across the supported brand portfolio.
Build strong, trust‑based relationships with field and brand leaders, adapting style to effectively influence and drive alignment.