People & Development Manager

Your Journey

Sweaty Betty delivers the perfect fusion of fitness, functionality and fashion –what we like to call “beautiful technical.”  We design product that goes beyond the gym or studio, an authentic London-cool outlook on style, and a culture that recognizes it’s all good fun… we exercise to look and feel good (not necessarily to find enlightenment), and know that the best workouts are shared with good friends and are followed by a glass of wine or cake (or both). 

Founded by our Creative Director, Tamara Hill-Norton, in 1998 in London’s Notting Hill, Sweaty Betty now has over 44 stores in the UK and 8 (and counting) in the US.  We are poised for explosive growth in the US over the next five years and there has never been a more exciting time to join our team.

Sweaty Betty is growing exponentially. There has never been a more exciting time to join us. Our people are our most important asset. Every employee is chosen for their passion and capabilities, for their desire to push boundaries, and of course for their love of living the Sweaty Betty lifestyle. This is a crucial role in the business as you will be a guardian of the company culture, responsible for attracting and recruiting the very best, ensuring that every person that comes on board is as passionate about our values and beliefs as we all are.  

What You’ll Be Doing

As part of our awesome and growing People team of 6, this role is key in providing support and managing the development of Sweaty Betty’s People.  You are a People person in the truest sense of the meaning and understand benefits of fostering a strong values-based culture to build a happy and strong business. 

This would be a great opportunity for a Senior HR/People Advisor looking for the next step in to a People Manager role.

Specific responsibilities include:

People Support

• Fosters a strong relationships across the business and has a presence within our stores across the UK.
• Providing consistent advice and support to managers on People topics.  This includes, adhoc meetings with all managers in the business, with the People Manager, leading the weekly Retail Meeting with the area managers, documenting such meetings and following up with each manager to ensure advice and actions have been followed.  Regularly speaking with boutique managers either on the phone or in person.
• Providing full support to managers around formal performance management.  Including, day to day advice on what it means to be a Sweaty Betty manager, informal performance advice and tools, comprehensively documenting performance concerns, advising managers on formal performance management practices as and when required.  Understands disciplinary practices and our own internal policies. Makes objective and balanced judgements based on factual information.
• Providing all employees with advice on resolving concerns they have both informally and formally through our grievance procedure.  Manages the formal grievance process thoroughly and promptly in an effort to minimise the impact on the employee and the business. 
• Keep up to date with employment law changes, ensure your own development of knowledge through reading and attendance of relevant workshops.  Use this knowledge in your day to day advice and support.

Internal Communication

• You will be one of the primary users and administrators of Sweaty Betty’s intranet.  You will be responsible for ensuring new users and content across both the ‘learn’ and ‘connect’ core areas are uploaded regularly whilst also being first point of contact for any queries.  This will include actively managing communities and continuously seeking to optimise such tools
• Work with the Senior People Development Manager to create new content in alignment with our engagement strategy.

Development

• Responsible for the organisation of training days including; scheduling, communication, materials and sustenance
• Create training materials and content for People related training topics.  Delivers content on People and management topics.
• Works with Senior People Development Manager and Head of People to create and communicate clear development paths from team member to manager and manager to Head of Department.
• Act as a mentor to managers with regards to management skills.  Use these opportunities to understand our manager’s development needs better.
• Works with the Senior People Development Manager in managing the performance review process.  Taking opportunities to evolve our practices through innovative tools and enhancing our manager’s skills in developing their team members.  
• Identify training and development needs and opportunities through job analysis, performance reviews and regular one to one’s with our managers and communication with People team colleagues. 
• Use this information to recommend and implement development courses or experiences that are underpinned by our values and drive engagement.

Induction

• Working with the Senior People Development Manager, be responsible for the facilitation of the UK’s monthly induction day (our WOW Day) for all new starters and leads some of the People sections of the days.  Uses the opportunity to get to know new starters and build relationships across the business.
• Constantly reviews and refreshes the induction day to make sure information is current and engaging.  Gathers feedback from participants and incorporates changes where appropriate.
• Provides guidance to support office managers with regards to the induction of new members of the team.  Is a passionate ambassador for embedding key parts of the Sweaty Betty induction such as store visits and the participation in classes.

Apprenticeships & Work Shadowing

• Coordinates SB’s annual apprenticeships.  Manages the end to end cycle including, overseeing recruitment, selection, induction as well as mentor to apprenticeship and line managers.
• Coordinates adhoc work shadowing across the business, as and when required.

Other

• Drafting support office contracts and other relevant admin

Must Haves

• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in an HR role preferably within retail for a similar sized company
• Excellent communication skills
• Thorough knowledge of UK employment law
• Experience and confidence dealing with a variety of difficult situations and carrying out challenging or sensitive conversations

The Extras

Generous clothing allowance, 50% off SB all Sweaty Betty merchandise, daily workout classes, sample sales, cycle to work scheme, company bonus scheme…and lots more!

Our D&I Commitment

You are a People Person, whilst also commercial, who loves their job and really wants to make a difference. A natural ambassador of the brand, you love to be active and embrace everything the brand stands for. You are quick to build relationships at all levels you are a proactive and positive character. You are confident and creative whilst also approachable and empathetic and always willing to help where possible. You love to work in a fast paced environment with high levels of autonomy and are keen to really make your mark and provide value in our business.