The Role
Provides HR advice and coaching to managers across the employee lifecycle, including performance, conduct, engagement, policy, and process matters. Supports annual people processes, employee experience initiatives, HR data analysis, and broader People Plan projects. Builds trusted relationships with leaders, mentors People Operations Advisors, collaborates with HR centres of excellence, and promotes inclusion, wellbeing, integrity, and a performance-led culture.
Summary Generated by Built In
The People Partnering team at River Island support the bsuiness to develop robust people plans to build the performance and capabilities within their teams to deliver the business plans.
The People Advisor role, role models the River Island values supporting line mangers to achieve high level of performance, conduct and engagement with their teams though a combination of good commercial thinking and best practise delivery of people, processes, and policies. Thy work alongside ethe centres of excellence and operational people teams to ensure transactional activity is delivered, whilst liaising with People Partners to support boarder projects.
The People Advisor role, role models the River Island values supporting line mangers to achieve high level of performance, conduct and engagement with their teams though a combination of good commercial thinking and best practise delivery of people, processes, and policies. Thy work alongside ethe centres of excellence and operational people teams to ensure transactional activity is delivered, whilst liaising with People Partners to support boarder projects.
Responsibilities:
- Advise on HR policy and process at employee and manager level, through the full employee lifecycle, tailoring approaches within the guidelines to drive best possible outcomes for both the individual and the business.
- Develop and maintain a foundational understanding of the business model, it’s priorities and challenges, as so to respond to people issues in a way that aligns to driving the best business outcomes.
- Develop and maintain a foundational understanding of different HR specialisms, know how they integrate and when to collaborate with COEs to provide best possible employee experience for employees, as well as meeting the needs of the business.
- Collaborate across the people team to help support the successful delivery of all annual process, including pay review and performance cycles as well as ad hoc activity as needed.
- Coach line managers and develop their skills and knowledge to be self-sufficient in most people management scenarios.
- Contribute to creating a performance led culture, supporting line managers with effective goal setting, clarity of expected performance standards and fair and consistent performance measurement.
- Act as a mentor for People Operations Advisors, providing support and guidance on 1st line support queries.
- Source, analyse and hare data insights to identify trends and support with recommendations on how to address challenges and opportunities; identify and gaps or inaccuracies in available data and work collaboratively to improve these.
- Support People Partner to deliver functional People Plan activity.
- Develop and maintain trusted partnerships with managers and leaders, providing constructive challenges as well as acting as a sounding board and advisor.
- Through role modelling River Island values and integrity, contribute to a workplace with wellbeing and inclusion at its core, taking action to identify and improve any people policies and practices that don’t support this.
- Take a proactive approach to self-development for yourself and others, using internal and external networks and resources to advance and share knowledge.
Job Role Competencies
- A passion for HR innovation and best practise, with a commercial outlook
- Highly organised with good prioritisation skills
- A genuine passion for employee experience
- Deep curiosity to understand people and situations, good listening, and questioning skills
- Good judgement and balanced approach to decision making
- Good analytical skills, able to balance both qualitive and quantitative
- Natural coaching style
- Experience in building meaningful, impactful relationships with teams and stakeholders
- Good written and verbal communication skills, able to flex your style as necessary
- Good interpersonal and collaboration skills, emotional intellegence and self-management
- Strong attention to detail, while also linking back to the bigger picture
- Comfortable with ambiguity, fluid situations, and changing deadlines
- Able to work calmly and effectively, in the face pf pressure and setbacks
- Strong integrity and ethical approach
About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
💻 Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
💻 Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
Keeping You Safe
We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all employees to uphold our values and contribute to a positive working environment.
Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. ore about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.
Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. ore about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.
Skills Required
- Passion for HR innovation and best practice with a commercial outlook
- Strong organisation and prioritisation skills
- Passion for employee experience
- Curiosity, active listening, and effective questioning skills
- Good judgement and balanced decision-making
- Good qualitative and quantitative analytical skills
- Natural coaching style
- Experience building meaningful relationships with teams and stakeholders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and self-management skills
- Strong attention to detail and ability to connect work to broader business objectives
- Comfort working with ambiguity, changing deadlines, pressure, and setbacks
- Strong integrity and ethical approach
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The Company
What We Do
Family owned from day one, we’ve been a big part of life on the UK high street for over 70 years. Today, still guided by shared values and a clear focus on our customers, we’re one of the strongest and most successful fashion brands around. And we’re changing like never before – exploring new ways to connect with our customers in person and online. And our talented Islanders are thinking differently about everything from products and stores to wellbeing and sustainability. The result is an energising culture you’ll love, work that’ll stretch you, a career you can build and a brand you’ll be proud to belong to. This is life on the island. Come and be part of it.
