Job DescriptionWe are looking for a strategic HR Director, Business Partner to serve as a trusted advisor and people strategy champion within our global HR organization, based out of our San Mateo (soon to be Redwood City), CA offices. In this high-impact role, you will partner directly with the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Product Officer to drive people initiatives that fuel business performance across multiple geographies. The HR Director, Business Partner delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.
HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT
Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)- Partner with the CMO and CPO to architect forward-looking people strategies that build high-performing, future-ready teams.
- Lead succession planning and talent pipeline development to ensure the organization has the leadership depth to scale and compete globally.
- Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to senior leaders, elevating their effectiveness in managing, inspiring, and developing their teams.
- Champion a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, empowering teams to grow alongside emerging technologies and shifting business demands.
Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)- Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion by leveraging advanced analytics and AI to identify gaps and drive measurable, fan-forward outcomes.
- Partner with senior leaders to design HR strategies that directly enhance the employee experience and, in turn, elevate the quality of service delivered to fans and customers.
- Provide expert guidance on performance management and leadership effectiveness to ensure teams are energized, aligned, and focused on delivering exceptional fan experiences.
- Collaborate with Centers of Excellence to deploy modern, tech-enabled HR solutions that attract and retain the talent needed to serve a global fan base.
Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)- Act as a thought partner on evolving ways of working, including how AI is reshaping roles, skills, and team structures across the organization.
- Experiment with and champion new AI tools, helping leaders and teams adopt them responsibly, effectively, and at speed.
- Harness AI and automation to streamline HR processes, enhance employee experience, and unlock productivity at scale.
- Ensure ethical, transparent, and compliant use of AI across all people practices, setting a standard for responsible innovation.
Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)- Lead workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational design using data-rich, AI-informed insights to anticipate and meet future talent needs.
- Drive enterprise change initiatives-including M&A, restructuring, and digital transformation-with clarity, urgency, and accountability.
- Provide expert counsel on complex employee relations and leadership challenges, ensuring swift and compliant resolution that keeps the business moving forward.
- Partner with COEs to execute integrated HR solutions across compensation, benefits, learning, and talent acquisition with precision and impact.
AI & DIGITAL CAPABILTY
We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to:
- Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes
- Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance
- Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working
- Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
Capabilities & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING
- 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years as an HR Business Partner supporting senior executive stakeholders across complex, global, and matrixed organizations-with a proven track record of translating talent strategy into measurable business outcomes.
- Deep expertise partnering with Marketing (including Digital Marketing) and Technology organizations; e-commerce experience is a strong plus.
- Demonstrated ability to influence at the C-suite level, driving organizational change, workforce planning, and leadership effectiveness with confidence and credibility.
- Fluency with HR technologies, data analytics, and AI-driven tools-including generative AI, predictive talent analytics, and workflow automation-with the ability to turn emerging trends into practical, high-impact HR applications.
- Exceptional communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills, with the agility to operate effectively in fast-moving, ambiguous environments where priorities shift and structures evolve.
- Strong business acumen and a solutions-first mindset-you connect people strategy to performance outcomes and approach every challenge with ownership, curiosity, and a bias for action.
- Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience); MBA or HR certification (SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD) is a plus.
WHERE YOU'LL WORK AND WHAT'S REQUIRED:
- San Mateo, CA (in office 3-4 days a week)
- Ability to travel 10-35% of the time for meetings, events and other relation activities
- Occasional International travel
The salary for this position is between $180,000 and $210,000 per year, in compliance with California salary transparency requirements. This range reflects the expected compensation based on qualifications and experience.
At Fanatics, we operate with a
BOLD mindset-We Build Championship Teams, we're Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a
Determined and Relentless Mindset. If you're ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.
