VP, People

What You’ll Do

The Vice President of People Experience is a hands-on and highly capable HR leader responsible for ensuring that all people operations run seamlessly, efficiently, and in full alignment with the company’s goals and values. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer, this role oversees the full spectrum of HR, from recruiting and onboarding to compliance, compensation, and performance management, ensuring consistent and high-quality employee experience at every stage.

The ideal candidate combines operational rigor with strong people instincts. You bring structure to scaling organizations, streamline processes, and strengthen HR foundations that enable the business to perform at its best. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, lead with clarity and empathy, and view HR not as a back-office function, but as a core business enabler.

The successful candidate must have proven, hands-on experience in designing and implementing HRIS platforms and compensation & benefits programs suitable for the company’s size and maturity, ensuring scalability and data integrity.

This role will also work closely with the parent organization, L’Occitane Group, ensuring alignment on people strategy, governance, and key initiatives while representing the needs and priorities of the Sol de Janeiro brand.

What You’ll Be Working On

People Strategy & Workforce Planning

• Develop and lead the company’s workforce planning strategy, ensuring alignment with business growth, organizational design, and budget targets
• Design and implement talent sourcing strategies to attract and retain top talent across all functions and regions
• Establish and maintain succession planning frameworks for critical roles, including leadership pipeline development
• Partner with Finance and executive leadership on headcount planning, organizational modeling, and long-term people strategy
• Oversee the design and evolution of job architecture, pay grades, and compensation frameworks to ensure scalability and internal equity

Operational Leadership

• Oversee all day-to-day HR operations, including talent acquisition, onboarding, HRIS, compensation and benefits administration, performance management, employee relations, and compliance
• Lead HRIS strategy and execution, including system selection, implementation, and optimization to enable accurate reporting and streamlined processes
• Design and execute scalable global compensation and benefits frameworks, leveraging market insights and analytics to ensure competitiveness and pay equity
• Build and lead a high-performing HR operations and business partnering team that provides excellent service and guidance to leaders and employees
• Implement efficient, data-driven processes and systems that support scalability and accuracy
• Maintain HR systems integrity and reporting dashboards for headcount, turnover, engagement, and compliance
• Partner with Legal and Finance to ensure adherence to employment laws, audits, and policy governance across all locations
• Manage employee relations matters with professionalism, confidentiality, and balanced judgment

Business Partnership & Execution

• Partner with the CFOO and executive global leaders to ensure organizational structures, staffing plans, and workforce data align with business objectives and budgets
• Translate company goals into actionable plans, setting timelines, milestones, and accountability
• Deliver insights through HR metrics and analytics to guide decision-making on headcount, retention, and organizational health
• Lead the design and execution of performance management and appraisal systems, including goal-setting frameworks, evaluation criteria, and review cycles
• Ensure consistent and effective performance evaluation processes across teams, enabling clear accountability and development
• Establish appropriate HR controls and governance mechanisms to ensure consistency, compliance, and data integrity across people processes
• Oversee compensation and benefits programs, including benchmarking, annual review processes, and pay equity
• Oversee executive compensation programs, including equity and long-term incentive plans, in partnership with Finance and leadership

Employee Experience & Culture

• Ensure that policies and practices are both compliant and reflective of the company’s values and culture
• Drive engagement, development, and recognition programs that enhance connection and retention
• Foster open communication, fairness, and consistency across all levels of the organization
• Model integrity, collaboration, and accountability, setting the tone for a culture of trust and performance
• Lead the development and execution of a global HR communications strategy, ensuring clarity, transparency, and consistency across the employee lifecycle
• Oversee the design and administration of the annual employee engagement survey, including insights, action planning, and leadership alignment

Team Management

• Manage a global team of 5–7 HR professionals
• Connect with global investor group and provide reporting on an as-needed basis
• Hire and develop the team with best practices and new capabilities

Must Haves

• 15+ years of progressive HR experience, with demonstrated strength in HR operations, employee relations, and people systems
• Proven track record of implementing HRIS platforms and compensation and benefits programs in high-growth, multi-country environments
• Experience in beauty brands, consumer goods, retail, or other high-growth, product-driven industries strongly preferred
• Deep knowledge of HR compliance, compensation administration, and process design
• Skilled in HRIS management, reporting, and data-driven decision-making
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels
• Demonstrated ability to balance operational discipline with empathy and agility
• Calm and collected under pressure, with the ability to lead confidently and maintain clarity in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field required; advanced degree or HR certification preferred

Success in This Role Looks Like

• HR operations that run smoothly, efficiently, and consistently across all teams and locations
• Clear, accurate workforce reporting and analytics that inform business decisions
• High employee satisfaction with HR processes, communication, and responsiveness
• A culture of fairness, engagement, and accountability
• Strong partnership and trust between HR, Finance, and Operations leadership
• Strong, effective partnership with the L’Occitane Group, with clear alignment on people strategy, reporting, and governance, while maintaining the agility and distinct culture of the Sol de Janeiro brand