Senior Retail Training & HR Partner in Sydney

At VF, we strive to foster a culture of belonging based on respect, connection, openness, and authenticity. This role supports Human Resources and Training across Australia and New Zealand, working closely with the HR Partner, AUNZ, the APAC Academy Team, and the wider Global HR group. It combines HR administration (25%), managing employee lifecycle processes in Workday, with training leadership (75%), executing and facilitating retail training programs across The North Face, Icebreaker, Timberland, and VANS. The position offers exposure to HR policy, process, and local employment law while driving retail excellence and employee development. Reporting to the HR Partner, AUNZ, the role requires strong relationship building across office, retail, and HR teams.

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more:

• Help managers in Australia and New Zealand with job requisitions, posting ads, screening applicants, setting up interviews, and guiding them through Workday processes.
• Prepare employment agreements, manage on-boarding tasks in Workday, and ensure new hires have a smooth start with everything ready for their first day.
• Design and deliver retail training across brand fundamentals, sales excellence, and leadership development, including workshops, on-site coaching, and digital learning sessions.
• Provide ongoing coaching in stores, reinforce training, and support managers in building strong teams and future leaders.
• Maintain HR content on the intranet, manage the HR inbox, create letters, and support payroll and benefits processes.
• Keep track of approved retail positions and recruitment activity using workforce planning tools.
• Assist with mandatory training follow-ups, seasonal uniform allocations, and ensure employment law requirements are met.
• Support managers with internal moves, promotions, and terminations, including off-boarding and exit interviews.
• Monitor training effectiveness, maintain accurate records, and provide reports on participation and impact.
• Help coordinate regional safety and well-being initiatives.

What do you need to succeed?

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Knowledge of Australian employment law, and ideally New Zealand as well.
• Experience working with HR systems (we use Workday).
• Exposure to recruitment processes and preparing employment agreements.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience managing training programs end-to-end, from needs analysis through evaluation.
• Understanding of retail operations across direct-to-consumer, distributor-to-partner, and wholesale models.
• Experience designing and delivering coaching frameworks that improve performance.

There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred:

• Comfort coordinating across multiple teams and priorities.
• Flexibility and resilience in adapting to change.
• Attention to detail when handling employment documentation and HR processes.
• Confidence working in self-service online systems.
• Ability to connect training initiatives to business outcomes with a strategic mindset.
• Strong communication skills with audiences ranging from front line staff to senior leaders.
• Collaborative, adventurous, and curious mindset with a passion for continuous learning and growth.

Now WE have a question for YOU. Are you in?