Director of Human Resources

Job Summary

Barnes & Noble is the leading book retailer in the United States, with a rich history dating back to 1873. Under CEO James Daunt and private ownership by Elliott Advisors, the company operates approximately 700 bookstores nationwide, serves over 700 communities across all 50 states, and maintains a robust digital presence through BN.com, NOOK eBooks and audiobooks, and educational resources such as SparkNotes. The company also includes complementary retail brands like Paper Source, Books Inc., Tattered Cover, and B. Dalton, expanding its market reach.

About the role

As a Director of Human Resources, you will support the development and execution of the Company’s HR strategy and key initiatives, with primary responsibility for the NYC Home Office population and additional support for teams located across multiple locations. Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, the Director will be a trusted advisor to senior leaders across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the VP of HR and collaborate with leaders across the organization to understand business priorities and develop HR strategies that support organizational goals.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders and provide proactive counsel on organizational effectiveness, talent, employee relations, and leadership capability.
• Lead organizational and talent review discussions with leaders, assessing team capabilities, organizational structure, leadership needs, talent risks, and development opportunities to ensure teams are positioned for success.
• Provide strategic day-to-day HR leadership for designated Home Office functions across locations with a focus on succession planning, leadership development, performance management and employee relations.
• Promote internal mobility by identifying high-performing and high potential employees and creating meaningful opportunities for continued growth and development.
• Partner with Learning & Development team to identify organizational and individual development needs and implement programs that strengthen leadership capability, and employee skills.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and retention strategies for designated functions and positions.
• Conduct full-cycle recruitment for key roles and partner with hiring managers to develop effective sourcing, selection, interviewing and onboarding strategies.
• Coach hiring managers throughout the recruitment and onboarding process, ensuring a thoughtful, consistent, and effective candidate and new-hire experience.
• Provide guidance and counsel on employee relations matters.
• Guide leaders toward appropriate resolutions while promoting consistency, fairness, and alignment with Company policies and practices.
• Identify emerging employee relations themes and workplace trends and partner with leaders and the HR team to develop proactive solutions, programs and practices that strengthen employee engagement, recognition and retention.
• Take an active role in shaping the Home Office employee experience by listening to employees, identifying opportunities to strengthen connection and engagement, and bringing forward creative, practical ideas that encourage collaboration.
• Analyze exit interview data and other employee feedback to identify trends, communicate areas of concern, and develop targeted strategies to address recurring themes and improve retention.
• Support the implementation and rollout of the new Dayforce system, partnering with the HR team and other stakeholders on project activities as needed.
• Work as part of a task force team to develop and maintain HR policies including but not limited to the Employee Handbook.

Requirements

• Sound understanding of all HR and people processes.
• Makes thoughtful and correct decisions.
• Influence others resulting in appropriate action and decisions.
• Communicate effectively and comfortably across all levels of the business both internally and externally in support of strategies and delivering expected results.
• Build collaborative working relationships across all levels of the business both internally and externally.
• Can understand and empathize.
• Can deliver honest and constructive feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a hands-on, fast-paced and evolving environment, with a willingness to move seamlessly between strategic thinking and day-to-day execution.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential matters appropriately.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations with the ability to apply sound judgment to complex employment matters.
• Experience with HR technology and HCM systems required; experience with Dayforce is a plus.
• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including experience in senior HR leadership, HR Business Partner, or similar role supporting senior leaders and complex organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree.

Qualifications

• Genuine passion to deliver better bookshops through our people.
• Understand the business goals and how they apply to each area.
• Customer service focused and passionate about the employee experience.
• Can coach and influence others to achieve potential.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and makes excellent people decisions.
• Able to negotiate and has a high level of empathy for both sides of a discussion.
• Able to diffuse tense situations and remain calm under pressure.
• Anticipates issues and is a problem solver.
• Collaborative and considerate.
• Results driven.
• Adaptable, positive, and proactive.
• Reactive and balanced.
• Discrete and unbiased.
• Is learning agile.

Benefits

• Annual starting rate between $170,000 - $200,000 depending on experience, seniority, geographic locations, and other factors permitted by law.
• For those scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP and Sick Pay.
• For those scheduled to work between 20 and 29.99 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay and Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, Transit and 401(k) with Company Match.
• For those scheduled to work 30 hours or more: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay and Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, 401(k) with Company Match, Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision), Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, Healthcare Spending Account, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Transit, and Tuition Reimbursement.

Pay

$170,000 - $200,000 annually, depending on experience, seniority, geographic locations, and other factors permitted by law.

Schedule

Full-time position.