HR Specialist/ER Specialist

ABOUT KENDO

Kendo Holdings, Inc. is a San Francisco-based beauty brand developer and wholesaler owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury group. A play on the words “can do”, Kendo has become the hub of creativity and next generation beauty product development for global Sephora channels and selective retailers outside of Sephora.

Through original development, collaborations and acquisitions the Kendo stable of brands will always be creative, inspiring and innovative. A dynamic engine of speed, expertise and market-savvy, the Kendo team continues to redefine the beauty industry through great product, great storytelling, great retail and direct-to-consumer partnerships. This shows up in everything we do and in what we stand for:

• “Can Do” Spirit: We work together to make our wildest dreams a reality: As entrepreneurs, we embrace optimism and find creative ways to reach our goals
• Advocacy, Diversity, and Inclusion: We recognize and celebrate the full spectrum of personal identities. We create safe spaces so everyone’s voice is heard. We listen with humility and act with courage.
• Storytelling: We tell authentic stories like no, one else. It’s our key to inspire trust and build relationships, rallying, our people, partners, and consumers around our brands.
• Resilience: We embrace challenges as opportunities. Change is ever- constant, and agility is our strength.
• Product Excellence: We put the consumers first: We constantly raise the bar to create products of the highest quality that everyone just has to have.

The salary range for this position is $81,900 - $94,100 per year. Offered salary is dependent upon experience and San Francisco location. Kendo Total Rewards offerings also include an annual bonus and a comprehensive benefits package including: medical, dental and vision insurance, flex paid time off program, parental leave, employee discount/perks, a retirement plan with employer contributions, Summer Fridays, opportunity to work from anywhere for two weeks during the calendar year and December wellness/shutdown week for applicable positions.

The Kendo house of brands currently includes: Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Fenty Eau de Parfum, Fenty Hair, Ole Henriksen, Lip Lab.

SUMMARY

The HR Generalist/ER Specialist will play a vital role in ensuring the efficient and compliant operation of our Human Resources department. This position is responsible for supporting key HR functions across multiple jurisdictions, including California, other US states, and Canada. The HR Generalist will focus on maintaining a robust compliance framework, overseeing administrative aspects of the employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding, and providing crucial support in employee relations matters. This role requires a strong understanding of relevant labor laws, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion while engaging effectively with diverse stakeholders.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Compliance

• Regulatory Knowledge, Monitoring & Framework Optimization
  • Maintain and optimize the company's HR compliance framework, ensuring robust and efficient adherence to all federal, state (including California), provincial (Canada), and local employment laws and regulations.
  • Develop and implement HR policies and procedures, ensuring they are harmonized or localized as required, and that company practices consistently align with current legislation.
  • Manage employee handbook updates and distribution, ensuring compliance and clear communication of company policies.
  • Collaborate with legal counsel, department heads, and external compliance consultants to foster a comprehensive understanding and consistent application of labor laws and best practices throughout all operational regions.
• Reporting & Audits
  • Prepare and own internal HR reporting in support of HRPPs data needs.
  • Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance with HR policies and legal requirements across all operating locations.

Administrative Onboarding and Offboarding

• Onboarding
  • Manage administrative aspects of the new hire onboarding process, such as assisting with I-9 verification and maintenance, and ensuring a smooth integration into the company.
  • Coordinate with the Talent and Development team for onboarding activities.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records in the HRIS system.
• Offboarding
  • Process all administrative tasks related to employee offboarding, including exit interviews, termination paperwork, and benefits continuation information.
  • Ensure compliance with all COBRA and other separation-related regulations for U.S. employees, and similar provincial regulations for Canadian employees.

Employee Relations

• Serve as a first point of contact for employee inquiries regarding HR policies and procedures, escalating issues as appropriate.
• Assist with employee relations matters, including investigation intake, documentation, case tracking, disciplinary actions, and dispute resolution, while providing guidance to employees and managers in partnership with HRPPs and in compliance with applicable laws and company policies.

General HR Support

• Assist with benefits administration, including enrollment, changes, and answering employee questions (considering differences in US and Canadian benefits structures).
• Support performance management processes.
• Manage employee anniversary and birthday programming.
• Maintain and execute HR PP Quarterly dashboard.
• Participate in HR projects and initiatives as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality of all HR-related information.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3+ years of progressive HR experience, with a focus on compliance (specifically including CA, multi-state US, and Canadian labor laws), onboarding/offboarding, and employee relations.
• Employee relations experience preferred or demonstrated interest in learning and developing expertise in employee relations.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state (especially California), provincial (Canada), and local employment laws and regulations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems such as ADP and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to sit for extended periods.
• Ability to use a computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to commute to San Francisco office 3 days per week (Tues, Wed, Thurs).