This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role within our Retail organization in the Benelux!

• To provide a high-quality HR business partnership to adidas Own Retail Stores within the Benelux and Retail Back Office functions. 
• To business partner with District Managers and Store Managers to ensure that all store management teams are equipped with the necessary tools to manage and develop their teams in accordance with HR policies and processes and in line with employment legislation.   
• To build and maintain a close working relationship with the North Europe Retail function to ensure that HR initiatives, standards and procedures are fully understood and implemented within the stores.

Key Responsibilities: 

• To provide a trusted and confidential business partner service to Line Managers and advise on employee relations topics in terms of performance management; disciplinary’s; grievances; appeals; contracts, benefits queries and other HR policies and procedures in a practical and compliant manner.  
• To support Line Managers on all absence related topics i.e. Long-Term Sick, Maternity, Paternity, Parental leave and Flexible working requests.
• To manage all Capability related issues such as Performance improvement plans to ensure a structured, consistent and fair approach.
• To liaise with the legal team in relation to complex HR issues and Employment Tribunal claims and in accordance with service level agreements and keep abreast of all changes to employment law, which affects the company and its employees.
• To manage the end to end process for all Real Estate store opening and Refit projects including recruitment, on-boarding and training of HR processes.
• To manage the end to end process for all Real Estate store closures projects, including consultation processes, legal compliance in collaboration with legal advisors and in accordance with employment legislation.
• To proactively work with District Managers and Profit Protection to reduce costs to the business in relation to poor retention, absence, employee discount abuse and re-occurring Employee Relations issues by analysing data and putting actions plans in place to lower negative results.
• To be the leader and promotor of all business people related strategies, processes, policies and directives.
• To partner with Talent Acquisition to ensure timely and proactive recruitment.  Assisting Retail Line Managers where required in the recruitment process.
• To partner with Line Managers and People Development functions to identify ‘Top Talent’ in stores, using succession planning tools.
• To train and support Line Managers within the District on all ‘People’ related topics to ensure competence and compliance with Local and Global as specified by the business.
• To conduct annual store audits to ensure consistency and compliance across all stores in the specified District, focusing on more frequent audits for stores requiring additional support i.e Non-Compliant, Poor Performing Stores.
• To champion all Recognition and People Engagement related activities, topics, and events i.e Employee Listening Survey (ELS).
• To work in collaboration with the North Europe HR team and liaise with, internal partners and external agencies/authorities where necessary and appropriate.

Key Relationships:

• HR team (North Europe), District Managers, Retail Store Management and Team, Retail Back Office, Retail Training Manager, Talent and Rewards Partners, Talent Acquisition, Legal, Finance, Profit Protection, HR Services, Works Council, IT, External providers (recruitment, legal).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• HR Capabilities: Individual and collective Dutch labor law. HR Subject Matter Expert. 

• Business Capabilities: Commercial awareness, customer focus, understanding HR strategy, understanding business, its value chain and key processes.
• Excel, Word PowerPoint, SAP HR.
• HR or Retail Management experience.
• Customer oriented with strong interpersonal skills.
• Confident, creative and collaborative within the team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Team player with ability to direct, motivate, and develop Store teams.
• Excellent organisation and problem-solving skills.

Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• HR and Training experience, ideally in a Retail or multisite environment.
• Proven ability and experience of handling complex HR employee relations issues.
• Project Management Experience and proven Training and Coaching experience.
• Excellent knowledge of employment law.
• Full clean Driving Licence (B).
• English and Dutch fluent.