Associate, People & Culture

Associate, People & Culture About Leap: At Leap, we believe the future of retail is omnichannel and the next generation of brands belong in neighborhoods, not just on screens. Today, the Leap platform powers retail across over 100 stores for 50 brands with ambitions of scaling to thousands of stores and hundreds of brands. We don’t just operate stores, we bring brands to life - with built in advantages powered by data, systems and scale. Whether you’re based at our NYC headquarters or on the front lines at one of our stores, we are one team with aligned goals. We move with disciplined urgency to solve the challenging complexities of retail, ensuring that every store we launch and operate is high-performing and every shopper always feels welcomed. While our platform provides the data and infrastructure across our +100 stores, our people are the key to our success. We are looking for smart, energized individuals who are ready to act as owners and help us build our platform - both in-store and at HQ. So, come take this leap with us and help us rewrite the future of retail. The Role: The People & Culture team at Leap operates as a high-performing function within a high-performing company and the Associate, People & Culture is critical to making that engine run. This role owns the operational backbone of HR: HRIS administration, benefits, leave, and employee support. If you're someone who finds deep satisfaction in getting the details exactly right, cares about the employee experience behind every data entry, and wants to grow in a People function that is actively building something meaningful, we want to meet you. This is a role for someone who is organized, curious, and energized by being the person employees can count on to get things done accurately and on time. This role is classified as L2 and encompasses all competencies associated with this level. Role Location: This role can be based in Chicago or New York. We are also open to considering remote applicants. Core Responsibilities: HRIS Administration Serve as the day-to-day administrator of UKG (HRIS), processing new hires, terminations, and employee status changes with accuracy and timeliness. Maintain the integrity of employee records, conducting regular audits and resolving discrepancies. Generate reports and pull data to support business requests. Partner with Payroll to ensure employee status changes are communicated and reflected accurately. Benefits Administration Serve as a first point of contact for employee benefits inquiries. Administer benefit enrollments, qualifying life event changes, and offboarding from plans in partnership with brokers and carriers. Manage benefit file feeds and troubleshoot discrepancies with vendors to ensure accurate and timely data transfer. Support open enrollment planning and execution, including employee communications and system configuration. Leave Administration Administer leave of absence processes from initiation through return, including FMLA, state leave programs, Short-Term Disability (STD), and ADA accommodations. Communicate clearly with employees and Managers throughout the leave process, setting expectations and ensuring legal compliance. Track leave cases and maintain documentation in compliance with applicable law and company policy. Stay current on multi-state leave laws and flag changes that require policy or process updates. Employee Support Respond to HR inquiries from employees within established timeframes. Triage questions appropriately, escalating complex issues to the right team member. Help maintain a positive employee experience by making it easy for people to get the information and support they need. HR Projects & Cross-Functional Collaboration Assist with HR initiatives including policy updates, compliance tracking, labor law posters, compliance needs, and process improvement. Support the broader People & Culture team with ad hoc projects as priorities evolve. Outcomes & Measures of Success: All HRIS transactions processed accurately and timely. Employee benefits and leave questions resolved with speed, clarity, and compliance. Benefit file feeds running cleanly with issues identified and resolved proactively. HR inquiries responded to within 3 business days with a high rate of resolution. Reliable, trusted support for the People team. Candidate Requirements 2–4 years of HR operations experience, with direct exposure to HRIS administration and benefits. Working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, STD, ACA and applicable state leave laws. Experience with UKG (strongly preferred) or comparable HRIS platform. Exceptional attention to detail. Strong written communication skills and a service-oriented mindset. Comfortable handling sensitive employee information with discretion and professionalism. Proficient in Google Suite; adaptable to new systems and tools. Salary Range Transparency A reasonable estimate of the current base salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000. All corporate roles are eligible for annual cash bonuses and equity awards based upon performance and other factors. Actual compensation offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level. What We Offer Leap offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes: Healthcare benefits (medical, dental, vision) Hybrid work culture (NYC office location) Flexible time off (paid company holidays, unlimited paid time off, sick leave, parental leave) Access to company perks (commuter benefits, 401K, paid sabbatical, employee discounts at Leap stores, employee referral bonus, telecom reimbursement) Employee Assistance Program Work Authorization Applicants must be able to provide valid U.S. work authorization. Visa sponsorship is strictly limited to mission-critical dependencies that cannot be fulfilled through local recruitment efforts. Leap EEO Statement However you identify, whatever your path to get here; Leap celebrates diversity and is committed to maintaining a safe, rewarding and inclusive environment where Leapers thrive individually and as a team. In order to achieve our mission, building the world's largest network of branded retail stores – powered by data, systems and scale; we need to work hard to foster a diverse community to support the brands and customers we serve. These aren't just words, this is who we are. We know that our differences are what make our organization special and are paramount to our culture. Your age, skin color, beliefs, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, parental status, vet status, gender identity are valued. Thank you for your interest in this opportunity! Unfortunately, due to the high volume of inquiries received, we may not be able to respond to all applicants.