HR Business Partner - Retail (12 month FTC, Mat Cover)

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

ROLE OVERVIEW
Partnering closely with senior leaders across corporate functions in the UK and international markets, the HR Business Partner (Retail) serves as a trusted advisor delivering commercially focused HR support across a diverse, multi-site workforce. This role balances strategic business partnering with operational delivery, collaborating with Centres of Excellence across Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Reward & Benefits, and Payroll to ensure a joined-up, high-impact people approach. The HR Business Partner (Retail) delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.

HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT
Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.

Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Collaborate closely with HR Business Partners across Retail, Commercial, and Operations to ensure a consistent, joined-up approach across Fanatics International Commerce.

• Work in close partnership with TA, TD, Reward & Benefits, and Payroll COE functions to deliver aligned, end-to-end people solutions across multiple geographies.

• Drive consistency in people practices across the UK and international markets, navigating local legislation and cultural nuances with confidence.

People Leadership:

• Coach and develop leaders to enhance people management capability, driving high performance, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement.

• Support organisational design, restructures, and consultation processes, ensuring alignment with business strategy and legal requirements.

• Anticipate organisational needs and proactively support leaders through periods of change and growth.

Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)

• Act as a true business partner, providing proactive, commercially focused HR guidance that supports performance, growth, and organisational effectiveness across the business.

• Take ownership of key HR programmes and initiatives — including engagement, retention, performance, and development — embedding BOLD Behaviours and driving actions that enhance the employee experience across all stages of the lifecycle.

• Contribute to building a strong, inclusive culture that values performance, innovation, and employee experience, ensuring all people practices reflect the needs of a high-growth, fast-paced environment.

• Partner with leaders to build high-performing, engaged teams that are equipped to deliver outstanding outcomes for fans and stakeholders alike.

Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)

• Analyse workforce data through Oracle and interpret people trends to provide insight-led recommendations that support strategic decision-making.

• Contribute to the ongoing transition towards a Centre of Excellence model, bringing creative thinking and a continuous improvement mindset to evolving people practices.

• Drive consistency and innovation in people frameworks, policies, and best practice across a geographically diverse workforce.

• Identify opportunities to embed new tools, technologies, and data-driven approaches to enhance the effectiveness of the HR function.

Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)

• Serve as a trusted advisor on Employee Relations matters, working closely with the ER Manager and Global Employment Counsel to ensure fair, consistent, and compliant outcomes.

• Support and embed people policies, frameworks, and governance standards, ensuring alignment and compliance across the UK and international markets.

• Manage multiple priorities across different functions, geographies, and employee populations with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.

• Take end-to-end ownership of complex HR initiatives and change programmes, ensuring delivery against business objectives and timelines.

AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY
We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to:
• Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes

• Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance

• Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working

• Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING
Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience operating as an HR Business Partner within a fast-paced, multi-site, retail, or eCommerce environment.

• Comprehensive working knowledge of UK Employment Law, with exposure to international markets — experience with Australian employment legislation is desirable.

• Demonstrated experience managing Employee Relations matters, with the ability to partner effectively with ER specialists and legal counsel.

• Experience working within or alongside a Centre of Excellence model, collaborating across specialist functions including TA, TD, Reward, and Payroll.

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance business outcomes, risk, and employee experience in a high-growth environment.

• Data-driven mindset with the ability to translate workforce insights — including through tools such as Oracle — into actionable people strategies.

• Excellent communication and coaching skills, with demonstrated ability to influence and build credibility with senior stakeholders and navigate complex, sensitive situations. Experience of TUPE and leading or supporting organisational change and transformation programmes is advantageous.

WORK LOCATION
Hybrid: Your work location will be onsite in Manchester 3 days per week. This role will also require frequent travel across the UK to our Retail Stores.

 

 

At Fanatics, we operate with a BOLD mindset - We Build Championship Teams, we’re Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you’re ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.

ABOUT US
Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.

ABOUT THE TEAM
Fanatics Commerce is a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods. It operates a vertically-integrated platform of digital and physical capabilities for leading sports leagues, teams, colleges, and associations globally – as well as its flagship site, www.fanatics.com.

Fanatics Commerce has a broad range of online, sports venue, and vertical apparel partnerships worldwide, including comprehensive partnerships with leading leagues, teams, colleges, and sports organizations across the world—including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Formula 1, and Australian Football League (AFL); the Dallas Cowboys, Golden State Warriors, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea FC, and Tokyo Giants; the University of Notre Dame, University of Alabama, and University of Texas; the International Olympic Committee (IOC), England Rugby, and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

At Fanatics Commerce, we infuse our BOLD Leadership Principles in everything we do:
· Build Championship Teams
· Obsessed with Fans
· Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit
· Determined and Relentless Mindset

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