HR Business Partner, Retail

HR Business Partner, Retail About Leap:

At Leap, we believe the future of retail is omnichannel and the next generation of brands belong in neighborhoods, not just on screens. Today, the Leap platform powers retail across over 100 stores for 50 brands with ambitions of scaling to thousands of stores and hundreds of brands. We don’t just operate stores, we bring brands to life — with built in advantages powered by data, systems and scale.

Whether you’re based at our NYC headquarters or on the front lines at one of our stores, we are one team with aligned goals. We move with disciplined urgency to solve the challenging complexities of retail, ensuring that every store we launch and operate is high-performing and every shopper always feels welcomed.

While our platform provides the data and infrastructure across our +100 stores, our people are the key to our success. We are looking for smart, energized individuals who are ready to act as owners and help us build our platform — both in-store and , come take this leap with us and help us rewrite the future of retail.

Leap's retail stores are the heart of our business, and the people who work in them are what make every brand come alive. The HR Business Partner, Retail supports the effectiveness of our people strategy and the day-to-day realities of a fast-moving, multi-state retail workforce.

This role partners directly with Retail Directors and multi-unit Retail Managers to provide thoughtful HR counsel, navigate employee relations issues with care and integrity, and help build a culture where our retail teams feel heard, supported, and set up to grow.

You're not just an advisor, you're a builder, helping shape what a high-performance retail people experience looks like at scale.

This role is classified as L4 and encompasses all competencies associated with this level.

This role is based in New York City, with the expectation to be in-office at least three days a week.

• Serve as the primary employee relations (ER) resource for retail employees across multiple states, ensuring every concern is handled with speed, fairness, and consistency.
• Lead workplace investigations end-to-end, from initial intake through findings, documentation, and resolution.
• Respond to employee grievances and inquiries with care, balancing employee advocacy with sound business judgment.
• Identify patterns in ER activity and proactively surface risk or opportunity to HR leadership and retail operators.
• Maintain thorough, compliant documentation on all ER matters.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to Retail Directors and multi-unit Managers on people-related matters, from performance conversations, to team culture, to difficult separations.
• Provide consistent, practical guidance on policy interpretation, compliance requirements, and HR best practices.
• Partner with Managers to build confidence and capability in giving feedback, addressing performance, and navigating challenging team dynamics.
• Support organizational change and workforce transitions with clear communication and thoughtful change management support.
• Ensure consistent application of Leap's policies and procedures across the retail footprint.

• Timely, compliant, and well-documented resolution of all employee relations matters.
• Strong, trust-based relationships with Retail Directors and multi-unit Managers.
• Improved Manager capability in handling people issues independently and confidently.
• Consistent application of HR policy and employment law across the retail footprint.
• Reduced retail turnover through proactive engagement and targeted interventions.

• 4–7 years of HR experience, with a strong focus on employee relations, ideally in a retail or high-volume, hourly workforce environment.
• Hands-on experience conducting workplace investigations and managing complex ER cases.
• Working knowledge of multi-state employment law, including wage and hour, leave, and anti-discrimination practices.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, you build credibility fast and hold difficult conversations with confidence.
• Ability to operate…