Benefit Cosmetics Senior Employee Relations Manager
- Location
- San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Senior
- Compensation
- $116,000–178,000/year
- Department
- Human Resources, People & Culture
- Posted
- May 17, 2026
About Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit Cosmetics is a global, consumer-facing beauty brand known for its playful voice and accessible, service-driven retail experience. Operating within the Perfumes & Cosmetics division, Benefit combines creative marketing with rigorous retail execution. As part of a larger luxury group, the brand emphasizes high standards of customer experience, cross-functional collaboration between retail and corporate teams, and development opportunities for HR professionals.
Benefit Cosmetics — San Francisco: Senior Employee Relations Manager (hybrid) leading investigations, ER strategy and compliance across retail and corporate teams.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and manage internal investigations across corporate and retail operations, including allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics violations, policy breaches and workplace misconduct.
- Design comprehensive investigation plans: identify witnesses, collect evidence, conduct impartial interviews, and maintain meticulous documentation of processes, timelines, findings and resolutions.
- Produce clear, defensible investigation reports with recommended corrective actions and next steps; partner with Legal, HR Business Partners and senior HR leadership on outcomes.
- Develop and implement best practices and policies for employee concern reporting, conflict resolution and disciplinary processes to ensure consistency and legal compliance.
- Monitor federal, state and local employment law changes (e.g., Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA) and advise leadership on mitigation strategies and policy updates.
- Partner with HRBPs and Training & Development to deliver manager and employee education on respectful workplace conduct, investigation protocols, effective communication and mediation techniques.
- Generate regular Employee Relations reporting and analytics to identify trends, root causes, risks and opportunities; present strategic insights to senior leadership.
- Act as primary advisor and point of contact for employees and managers on workplace concerns, providing guidance that preserves confidentiality and promotes a fair workplace.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
- 7–9 years of progressive employee relations experience with significant exposure to complex investigations; experience in retail or fast-paced consumer environments preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state and local employment laws and regulations and their practical application.
- Proven ability to conduct discrete, impartial and legally defensible investigations with high integrity and sound judgment.
- Experience partnering with Legal and senior stakeholders on sensitive cases and potential litigation.
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Relevant certifications (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, CEI) are a plus.
Skills
Experience
Seven to nine years of progressive employee relations experience, with a demonstrated track record conducting complex investigations and advising leaders in retail or similarly fast-paced environments.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent professional experience accepted.
Workplace
This position is based in San Francisco, California, USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 116,000 to USD 178,000 per annum.
Benefits
Eligible annual bonus; comprehensive health, dental and vision plans; 401(k) with employer matching; paid time off programs; employee discounts/perks; life insurance; disability insurance; flexible spending accounts.
Culture
Benefit cultivates a spirited, customer-centric culture that celebrates inclusivity and a light-hearted brand voice while maintaining professional rigor across retail and corporate functions. The People team emphasizes employee development, collaborative problem-solving and pragmatic, policy-driven HR practices.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Benefit Cosmetics, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Employee Relations Partner», «HR Investigations Manager», «Employee Relations Lead», «Senior HR Business Partner – Employee Relations», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.