Ralph Lauren People Team Associate

Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview
Please note this is a Fixed Term Contract - based out of our new Watford Offices at Clarendon Works, Watford. The People Associate will report into the P&D Manager and provide dedicated HR/people support across designated corporate functions, retail teams and People Services (when required). The role will act as a key point of contact for day-to-day employee queries, delivering timely, accurate and confidential support across the employee lifecycle, including HR administration, Workday transactions, onboarding, payroll coordination, employee relations, job requisitions, visa sponsorship processes and support the People Lead (UK & ROI) on designated people projects. The role requires strong attention to detail, sound judgement, a proactive approach and the ability to build trusted relationships while supporting the business in line with company policies, processes and best practice.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Act as the dedicated business associate within corporate functions, providing support and guidance on general people queries.
• Complete Workday actions for designated business areas, ensuring people data and transactions are accurate and completed in a timely manner.
• Work closely with People Services during payroll periods to ensure onboarding tasks are completed and payroll-related activity is supported effectively.
• Act as a point of contact for all employee queries and people-related concerns, leading and supporting conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and grievance handling.
• Lead and participate in People projects and initiatives, supporting the delivery of wider business and people priorities.
• Identify inefficiencies in people processes and recommend or implement improvements to enhance ways of working & drive operating with efficiency
• Actively support the people team at key periods of the employee life cycle e.g. salary planning/ audits, employee relations cases/ on boarding & holiday cover etc
• Support the business with job requisitions, ensuring alignment with career framework guidelines and keeping stakeholders updated on approval status.
• Support Talent Acquisition with the maintenance of the recruitment tracker.
• Work closely with managers during salary planning and the end-of-year cycle to ensure data accuracy and completion of required audits.
• Carry out regular workday/ HRIS audits, escalating concerns or data issues to the appropriate manager as appropriate.
• Manage all visa sponsorship requests that come through designated business areas and work directly with the immigration lawyer for Ralph Lauren, to provide a seamless process for both the business and employee.
• Promote an inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with company values, fostering employee engagement, wellbeing, and a positive workplace experience.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge
Previous experience in an HR, People, or Business Partnering support role.
• Good understanding of core HR processes, including onboarding, employee relations, recruitment governance, salary planning, and annual review cycles.
• Experience using Workday or a similar HR information system.
• A strong communicator with the ability to navigate complex scenarios & escalate accordingly
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate people data and complete audits effectively.
• Confident stakeholder management skills, with the ability to provide clear updates and guidance to managers and business stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and support operational HR activity in a timely and professional manner.
• Continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify process gaps and support practical solutions.
• Proficient in Microsoft: word/ excel & powerpoint platforms