Associate People Operations Business Partner

Knix; Toronto; On-site; CAD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Product discount

RRSP matching

Parental leave top-up

Job summary

Knix is seeking a hands-on People partner for our Toronto retail network. You will work closely with District Managers, store leaders, and associates to drive performance, development, and positive employee relations across the network.

You will coach leaders on feedback, performance conversations, onboarding, and program delivery, and ensure compliant employment practices while partnering with Talent Acquisition and Retail Operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or equivalent; CHRP/CHRL is a plus.
• Minimum 3 years HR experience, 1–2 years in retail or hourly groups.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian employment legislation and workplace policy.
• Experience coaching store leaders, onboarding, and HR program delivery.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary People partner for assigned retail stores and build trust with leadership.
• Coach retail leaders on performance, feedback, and employee development.
• Handle employee relations, policy interpretation, and workplace issues.
• Investigate and document HR matters; escalate higher risk issues as needed.
• Ensure employment practices comply with legislation and Knix policies.
• Partner on retention, development, and talent movement across stores.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and integration with Talent Acquisition and Retail Ops.
• Deliver People, learning, performance, engagement, and recognition programs.
• Gather store feedback and drive improvements to People programs.
• Use data to identify turnover, attendance, engagement, and staffing trends.
• Collaborate with People Team to maintain consistency while addressing local needs.

Skills

People partner

Coaching

Employee relations

HR programs

Performance conversations

Change management

Confidentiality

Retail experience

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in HR or related field

Job description

Knix is an award-winning intimate apparel and activewear brand that is re-inventing intimates for real life. Through our innovative products and our engaged community, we are empowering people everywhere to be unapologetically free. Launched in 2013, we are one of the fastest-growing intimate apparel brands in North America and are globally recognized as an innovator within the apparel space. We reach over 3 million customers through our online stores, Knix retail locations across North America and channels such as wholesale and Amazon. We are revolutionizing the apparel industry with our best-in-class customer experience, innovative products and brands Knix, Kt by Knix, and Mntd. Come join us if you are looking for a purpose-driven and authentic career!

About You:

• You are a hands-on, approachable HR professional with a people-first mindset and a passion for supporting hourly retail employees and leaders.
• You build trust quickly and collaborate effectively with store leaders, retail associates, and cross-functional teams.
• You thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment and can shift priorities based on business needs.
• You enjoy working on the ground—with stores, with leaders, and with associates—to understand challenges and create practical, scalable solutions.
• You are proactive and resourceful, with strong coaching and listening skills that help leaders develop their teams and navigate employee situations confidently.
• You are excited about building repeatable processes, tools, and resources as our retail network expands.
• You bring strong judgment, discretion, and a collaborative approach to problem solving.

The Opportunity:

• Serve as the primary People partner for assigned retail stores, building trusted relationships with District Managers, store leaders, and team members.
• Coach and support retail leaders across performance management, delivering feedback, communication skills, employee development, team dynamics, and day to day people decisions.
• Support employee relations matters including conflict resolution, policy interpretation, performance concerns, and workplace issues, escalating more complex or higher risk matters when appropriate.
• Support investigations and maintain clear and appropriate documentation.
• Help ensure employment practices across assigned stores comply with applicable legislation and align with Knix policies and practices.
• Partner with Retail leaders on retention, development, and talent movement across the retail network.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and Retail Operations to support hiring, onboarding, and integration of retail team members.
• Deliver People, learning, performance, engagement, feedback, and recognition programs across stores, helping ensure they are practical and accessible for our retail teams.
• Gather feedback from stores and bring forward themes, opportunities, and recommendations that can strengthen People programs and the broader retail employee experience.
• Use workforce data, employee feedback, and store trends to identify patterns and opportunities across areas such as turnover, retention, attendance, engagement, and staffing.
• Partner with fellow Business Partners and the broader People Team to create consistency across stores while recognizing the unique needs of different teams and markets.
• Support organizational changes and People initiatives by helping leaders communicate effectively and navigate their teams through change.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. CHRP/CHRL designation (or in progress) is an asset.
• Minimum of 3 years of HR experience, with at least 1–2 years supporting retail or hourly employee groups.
• Strong understanding of employment legislation in Canada (multi-jurisdiction experience is an asset).
• Experience supporting employee relations, store-level coaching, onboarding, performance conversations, and HR program delivery.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and maintain confidentiality.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced retail environment with agility, resilience, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Solid foundational knowledge of HR practices including performance management, employee relations, engagement, workforce planning, and change management.

Salary:

• Annual salary starting at $80,000.00

Compensation & Care

Transparency is at the heart of everything we do, including how we pay. The posted expected hourly rate for this role represents candidates developing new skills within the position. Increased rates represent those who are more proficient or have achieved mastery and deep institutional knowledge over time.

Rewards are not just about your regular pay and monthly bonuses. We believe rewards should support your whole life, not just your shift. That’s why for permanent full-time employees, we cover 100% of the premiums for extended health and dental plans from your first day. You’ll also gain access to mental health support through our Employee Assistance Programs through our partners at Dialogue who provide virtual coaching, therapy, and counseling.

When your family grows, we’re there for you. Our Paid Parental Leave plan tops up salary to 80% for eligible permanent, full-time employees. We also invest in your future with a RRSP matching program for permanent full-time team members. Plus, you’ll enjoy a 50% discount on Knix products because we want you to love what you sell.

AI Disclosure Statement

We want to share that we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help us screen and assess applications. While technology helps us stay organized, every hiring decision at Knix is made by real people who care about finding the best addition to our team. We use these tools to support our process, not to replace the human connection that makes our culture special.

How We Hire

Our people are what make Knix, Knix! Our people are passionate and have a strong belief in our mission. Our people are naturally curious and ambitious by nature. Employees feel respected and supported at Knix. We take an inclusive and equitable approach offering the same interview experience to every candidate we meet with. Knix is an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate everyone and their intersecting identities. We know and believe that diverse and inclusive teams empower us to make better decisions and inspire innovation so that we can better serve our customers and community. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations and will work with you to meet your needs. If you are a person with a disability and require assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We celebrate our inclusive work environment and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.