HR Advisor - Retail

Sephora; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beauty retailer in London seeks an HR Advisor to support retail teams with HR-related queries and compliance. Responsibilities include maintaining HR records, advising on employee relations, and promoting wellbeing initiatives. Ideal candidates should have strong communication skills, knowledge of UK employment law, and be adaptable in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Empowering culture of growth

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, brand-driven retail environment.
• Good knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations best practices.
• Committed team player with a collaborative mindset.
• Focus on data-driven decision making.
• Advanced knowledge of Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and HR Software.
• Proven hands-on attitude with flexibility and adaptability.
• High levels of resilience to change.

Responsibilities

• Maintain HR records, employee files, and HRIS data accurately.
• Prepare HR reports on absence, turnover, ER cases, and KPIs.
• Support updates to policies, procedures and contracts.
• Conduct audits of employee files to ensure compliance.
• Provide first-line advice on employee relations to retail managers.

Skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Highly organised with strong attention to detail

Ability to thrive in a fast-moving retail environment

Good knowledge of UK employment law

Committed team player

Focus on data-driven decision making

Advanced knowledge of Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel

Proven hands-on attitude

High levels of resilience

Job description

At Sephora, beauty is about feeling seen, valued, and empowered, individually and collectively. It is connecting deeply with others, celebrating diversity and inclusivity, unlocking your potential and making a difference every day. Together, we belong to something beautiful.

As an HR Advisor within Retail, you’ll play a key role in supporting our retail store teams on a daily basis. You’ll act as the first point of contact for all HR-related queries, delivering clear advice, ensuring compliance with Sephora UK policies and procedures, and supporting the attraction, retention and development of talent in line with our brand values.

This is a hands‑on, fast‑paced role suited to someone who thrives in a dynamic retail environment and is passionate about creating an inclusive, high‑performing culture that will contribute to the overall success of the Sephora UK HR team.

Key Responsibilities

HR Operations

• Maintain HR records, employee files, and HRIS data with accuracy and confidentiality.
• Prepare HR reports and metrics on absence, turnover, ER cases, and other KPIs.
• Support with updates to policies, procedures and contracts to ensure all are up to date with current UK employment legislation.
• Support the annual review of the employee handbook and store operational policies (SOP’s)
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve our cast member experience.
• Contribute to HR projects such as engagement surveys, retention initiatives, and HR system improvements.
• Support onboarding for all cast members with Store Management to ensure new starters are engaged into the world of beauty from day one.
• Provide on‑time and accurate payroll support, aligning with payroll procedures and updates.
• Carry out regular audits of employee files, ensuring information is up to date and compliant.
• Conduct regular audits of via processing working with our Talent team to ensure compliance.

Employee Relations (ER)

• Provide first‑line advice to retail managers on all aspects of employee relations, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management and performance issues.
• Support managers to resolve issues informally where appropriate and promote best practice.
• Maintain case files and support on monthly reporting with the ER Manager and providing insights to Retail HRBP’s.
• Lead on notetaking for ER cases across the Retail sector.
• Support with investigations in line with company policies and procedure.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee relations case records.

Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion

• Champion company wellbeing initiatives, supporting physical and mental health awareness and projects across Sephora UK Retail.
• Support the roll‑out of D&I strategies and training to all Beauty Advisors and Management.
• Provide first line support for cast members seeking advice on wellbeing, flexible working, or adjustments.
• Drive internal communications (We Are Sephora) across the retail teams, using both direct, and ambassadors to deliver relevant and up to date content.

What you’ll bring

List maximum 10 bullet points (mix of hard and soft skills)

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑moving, brand driven retail environment.
• Good knowledge of UK employment law, relevant legislation and employee relations best practice.
• Committed team player with a collaborative mindset to support our various teams and HR Team.
• Focus on data‑driven decision making to support project growth and operational excellence across the function.
• Advanced knowledge of Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and HR Software.
• Have a proven hands‑on attitude with flexibility and adaptability.
• High levels of resilience to chance and working in an agile way.

Here, you will find:

• Community, in which authenticity is embraced, and the strength of our differences fuels our collective spirit.
• Culture of empowerment, learning & growth, that offers you the tools, space and opportunity to learn, innovate and lead
• Work that brings, fulfillment. From delighting clients every day, to inspiring our industry at large, every action makes a difference

Join us and belong to something beautiful.