Human Resources Advisor

Cotton On Group; California; On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Cotton On Group is seeking an HR Advisor who will bring a People First approach to delivering practical HR support across the team member lifecycle. You will partner closely with retail and support office leaders to foster an inclusive culture where team members feel respected and empowered to grow.

In this role you will handle employee relations with empathy, support onboarding, performance management, and HR operations while maintaining confidentiality and integrity across the organization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on HR generalist or advisory experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across all levels.
• Experience coaching leaders through performance management and investigations.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to handle high-volume operations.
• Solid knowledge of employment laws and HR information systems.

Responsibilities

• Be the friendly go-to person for team members on policies, processes and workplace concerns.
• Coach leaders to communicate clearly, document effectively, and lead with empathy.
• Support fact-finding and workplace investigations with fairness and discretion.
• Partner with leaders on performance management, goal-setting, and growth.

Skills

Employee relations

Leadership coaching

Communication skills

HRIS

Job description

At Cotton On, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As our HR Advisor, you'll bring our People First value to life by delivering practical, down-to-earth HR support across the team member lifecycle. Partnering closely with our retail and support office leaders, you'll champion a culture where everyone feels respected, included, and empowered to grow. Whether you're navigating employee relations with empathy and sound judgment, keeping our operations running smoothly, or helping team members feel supported through every career milestone, you'll help us build an inclusive workplace where our team can truly thrive.

Our Culture

We live and breathe our values every single day:

• Ever Better: Always learning, growing, and looking for ways to improve our processes and support.
• People First: Putting our team members at the center of every decision we make.
• Fun: Bringing positive energy to our work and celebrating our wins together.
• Personal Leadership: Taking ownership, showing initiative, and leading by example.
• Integrity: Doing the right thing, treating others with respect, and handling confidential matters with absolute discretion.
• Keeping it Real: Communicating authentically, transparently, and without the corporate fluff.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations and Leader Support

• Be the friendly, trusted go-to person for team members when they have questions about policies, processes, or workplace concerns.
• Coach and empower our leaders to communicate clearly, document effectively, and lead with empathy and consistency.
• Support fact-finding and workplace investigations with fairness and objectivity, ensuring sensitive matters are handled discreetly and escalated appropriately.
• Partner with leaders on performance management, focusing on constructive feedback, meaningful goal-setting, and continuous growth.

Team Member Lifecycle

• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition and hiring managers to ensure seamless onboarding readiness, welcoming new team members so they feel set up for success from day one.
• Manage employment changes, internal transfers, and offboarding smoothly, keeping systems up to date with care and accuracy.
• Tap into team member feedback and support local engagement activities to make sure our workplace culture keeps getting Ever Better.

HR Operations, Benefits, and Leave

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date HRIS records and confidential personnel files with meticulous attention to detail.
• Partner with Payroll on timekeeping, updates, and corrections to ensure our team members are paid accurately and on time.
• Help team members navigate their benefits enrollment and guide them toward the right resources when life events happen.
• Coordinate leave and accommodation requests with compassion, protecting privacy while keeping required tracking on track.
• Prepare clear, reliable reports on workforce changes and HR metrics, checking your work before sharing.

Compliance and Continuous Improvement

• Support local compliance and internal policies across your assigned locations, keeping our practices updated and ethical.
• Assist with employment eligibility verifications, audits, and required training programs.
• Spot process bottlenecks or friction points and proactively suggest fresh ideas to improve our workflows, templates, and resources.
• Partner with broader HR specialist teams to roll out people initiatives and flag potential risks early.

Qualifications and Experience

Required:

• 5+ years of hands-on HR generalist or advisory experience, with a strong track record supporting employee relations, HR administration, and the end-to-end team member lifecycle.
• Exceptional communication skills - you know how to connect with people at all levels authentically, build trust quickly, and handle sensitive conversations with grace and discretion).
• Proven experience coaching retail, multi-site, or fast-paced operational leaders through performance management, investigations, and everyday people processes.
• Highly organized with a natural knack for juggling multiple priorities, strict deadlines, and high-volume operations without missing a beat.
• Solid working knowledge of employment laws, compliance standards, and HR information systems (HRIS).

Preferred:

• Experience supporting dynamic retail, hospitality, or fast-growing multi-site workforces.