HR Generalist

About us

Ann Taylor and LOFT empower women to find their authentic self-expression. Ann Taylor outfits the modern American woman so she's ready-for-work and ready-for-anything in timeless, tailored style. LOFT creates modern, feminine, versatile clothing for women with one common style goal: to look and feel confident wherever the day takes them.

Discover a culture that empowers employees with access to industry leaders and the tools you need to expand your skills and stretch your abilities. We'll meet you at every milestone with opportunities and benefits to make life better in and outside of work (not to mention your closet). Ready to join us?

About the Role

The HR Generalist plays a key role on the HR Business Partner team, providing day-to-day HR partnership and operational support as the team serves leaders and associates across the Ann Taylor and LOFT brands. This role collaborates closely with HR Business Partners and HR Centers of Expertise to deliver a consistent, positive associate experience in a fast-paced corporate retail environment. The position is based in the Times Square office in New York and is primarily in-office, with flexibility.

The ideal candidate is organized, analytical, and solutions-oriented, with sound judgment, strong communication skills, and a high level of urgency, discretion, and professionalism. The HR Generalist supports the full associate lifecycle, including onboarding, offboarding, employee relations, performance management and development, HR programs, workforce administration, reporting, and analytics. The individual must be comfortable navigating ambiguity and interacting confidently with leaders at all levels.

The impact you can have

• Associate Experience: Manage new-hire onboarding, including pre-start communication, orientation, check-ins, and ongoing program updates; coordinate offboarding and conduct and document exit interviews.

• Employee Relations and Performance: Respond to associate questions and concerns with consistency, empathy, and urgency. Partner with HR Business Partners to coach leaders and associates, support performance improvement plans, address employee relations matters, and participate in workplace investigations in coordination with Legal.

• Performance Management and Talent Programs: Support performance management, development planning, talent assessments, engagement surveys, internship programs, and other talent initiatives and events.

• Organizational Design and Workforce Planning: Support organizational design activities, maintain organizational charts, and coordinate workforce changes and restructurings.

• Talent Acquisition Partnership: Provide accurate requisition details and current job descriptions, coordinate with Talent Acquisition and hiring leaders, and participate in interviews as needed.

• Leave and Policy Support: Guide associates through leaves of absence and other policy-related processes, escalating complex matters when appropriate.

• Compliance and Documentation: Maintain accurate, confidential records related to employee relations, performance, engagement, corrective action, and workplace safety. Support policy administration, internal audits, Form I-9 compliance, OSHA reporting, and other applicable requirements.

• HR Operations and Data: Process associate changes and separations in Workday, maintain data integrity, and prepare HR reports and workforce insights for HR Business Partners and business leaders.

• Budget and Headcount Support: Partner with Finance and Compensation on headcount planning, compensation activity, and payroll budget management for assigned client groups.

• Contingent Workforce: Manage contingent workers for assigned client groups in partnership with the staffing agency and maintain accurate workforce reporting.

You’ll bring to the role

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Three years of HR experience in a fast-paced professional environment, including hands-on employee relations work and knowledge of applicable employment laws.

• Experience with HRIS data and the ability to learn new systems quickly; Workday experience preferred.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and AI-enabled productivity tools, including Microsoft Copilot, with the ability to use AI responsibly to improve research, analysis, drafting, and workflow efficiency; experience with pivot tables, lookup functions, or similar analytical tools is a plus.

• Strong judgment, problem-solving, organization, project management, and communication skills, with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, confidentiality, and adaptability, with the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively and to thrive in an environment that supports continuous learning and growth.

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.
• A culture of giving back - local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities.*
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K).*
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time off - paid time off & holidays.*
• The target salary range for this role is: $80,000 - $85,000.
• Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.
• This position works 4 days per week in our NYC office.

Location:

Position Type:

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation.