Employee Relations Specialist

About Our Company

     Lids Sports Group is the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, selling fan and fashion-oriented headwear and apparel across the US and abroad. Operating out of Indianapolis, IN, our retail stores offer officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional sports teams, plus top brands like Nike, New Era, Adidas, and Mitchell & Ness.

     We currently operate 1,300+ brick and mortar locations, including specialty concept stores for the NBA, NHL, Paris Saint-Germain, and numerous MLB teams. In recent years, Lids has built partnerships with iconic global brands including Marvel, Playboy, and the Harlem Globetrotters, and gained ambassadors like Justin Jefferson, Quavo, and Josephine Skriver – creating a community for both sports fans and fashion lovers.

     The company is currently expanding with the goal of becoming the largest licensed brick-and-mortar sports retailer across the globe.

General Position Summary

An Employee Relations Specialist plays a vital role within the Lids Human Resources Department and is responsible for timely responses and resolutions of internal investigations covering a variety of employee matters. This position primarily supports our retail locations throughout the US and Canada. As an Employee Relations Specialist, you will be a key partner to our District Sales Managers, as well as other corporate and field partners, for issues needing HR guidance. 

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides timely responses to employees who have HR related questions, and works with Payroll, Benefits, Onboarding, and other HR functions to obtain the required information to resolve the request.
2. Provides information around recent communication trends and develops proactive communications to address employee questions and concerns.
3. Identifies and conducts prompt, thorough, and detailed investigations into employee concerns. Provides recommendations for actions based on investigation findings. 
4. Serves as a subject matter expert on Lids policies, procedures and practices and provides policy interpretation and disciplinary advisement.
5. Manages and tracks employee documentation related to progressive steps of discipline. 
6. Coaches, counsels and guides managers before the execution of employee disciplinary actions.
7. Participates in developing department goals, objectives, and systems. 
8. Leads regular conference calls on HR trends and policy changes with remote field management teams.
9. Assists in evaluation of reports, decisions, and results of department in relation to established goals.
10. Recommends new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continuous improvements in efficiency of department and services performed. 
11. Collaborates with management and HR leadership by providing information that leads to proactive solutions or action plans that impact policies, processes and procedures.
12. Assists in the delivery of HR programs developed by Talent team.
13. Assist with onboarding and resolving onboarding issues for employees and hiring managers.  
14. Other duties as assigned.

Job Required Knowledge & Skills

1. Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years relevant experience in Human Resources, Business, Communications or related discipline required. 
2. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate verbally in a clear, audible, and grammatically correct manner primarily over the phone and through email.
3. Ability to build effective working relationships with remote business partners; ability to work closely with people of diverse cultures or backgrounds.
4. Proven ability to work independently, manage one’s time and complete multiple projects/tasks simultaneously.
5. Meticulous organizational skills necessary to document detailed information, prioritize workload, meet deadlines and goals, and provide timely resolutions.
6. Ability to obtain a professional certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SP) within 2-4 years of employment.  
7. Experience with handling internal investigations or related experience, experience in California employment law a plus. 
8. Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. 
9. Prior knowledge of US and Canada employment law is ideal.

Education

Reports To

Director of HR

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