Bergdorf Goodman People Business Partner Manager

About Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf Goodman is an iconic luxury retailer known for an exceptional, curated assortment and white‑glove customer service. Part of the Saks Global portfolio, the brand operates within a multi‑channel luxury ecosystem and maintains elevated standards in-store and in its food & beverage operations, delivering highly curated experiences to a discerning clientele.

Role & Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary People partner to functional leaders and department managers across the Women’s and Men’s stores, building knowledge of each department’s performance goals, team dynamics, and talent needs.
• Maintain a visible presence on the selling floor and throughout the back of house, cultivating trusted relationships with associates and managers.
• Translate business priorities and performance trends into actionable people plans in partnership with the Director, People Business Partner.
• Advise managers on high-performance sales culture, business dynamics, client relationship ownership, and associate engagement.
• Partner across both store locations with an understanding of each location’s culture, clientele, and team composition.
• Manage employee relations matters across the selling portfolio with sound judgment, consistency, and an understanding of the stakes at every workforce level.
• Navigate sensitive employee relations situations, including performance management, interpersonal conflict, and conduct matters.
• Partner with managers to ensure performance documentation is timely, thorough, and aligned with company policy and brand expectations.
• Identify employee relations trends across the selling floor and proactively provide observations and recommendations to the Director, People Business Partner.
• Engage Legal and other partners as appropriate, determining when to act independently and when to align upward.
• Develop an understanding of the interpersonal, commercial, and cultural factors that drive the supported population’s engagement and brand loyalty.
• Partner with appropriate leaders and Compensation to ensure recognition, performance, and compensation structures are applied consistently and equitably.
• Support managers in identifying and developing high-potential talent, contributing to a culture of growth and long-term career investment.
• Handle associate concerns related to competitive dynamics with care, fairness, and an understanding of business context.
• Serve as a trusted resource for colleagues navigating workplace concerns, ensuring they feel heard, supported, and valued.
• Support talent acquisition and talent management processes, including performance reviews, talent calibrations, and succession conversations.
• Partner with department managers to set performance expectations, ensure consistent feedback practices, and address underperformance in a structured and timely manner.
• Contribute to workforce planning for a high-volume, high-touch luxury selling environment.
• Support full-cycle recruiting and hiring initiatives, delivering a candidate and onboarding experience that reflects the Bergdorf Goodman standard.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies, procedures, and compliance requirements across the store employee population.
• Maintain accurate case documentation and workforce data to support reporting and people analytics for business decisions.
• Partner with Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, and other Centers of Excellence to resolve associate inquiries and ensure seamless HR service delivery.
• Support leave-of-absence processes, guiding managers and associates through each step with clarity, accuracy, and care.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive retail HR or People Business Partner experience, with demonstrated ownership of a sizeable and complex employee population.
• Experience partnering with high-performing, client-facing sales talent and maintaining standards while preserving strong relationships.
• Strong employee relations expertise and the ability to independently manage sensitive cases with sound judgment, consistency, and discretion.
• Experience supporting a retail or similarly performance-driven workforce, with an understanding of what motivates and retains high-performing commercial talent.
• Strong interpersonal presence and ability to build credible, trusted relationships across a diverse workforce, from frontline associates to senior store leadership.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple locations or departments while maintaining attention to detail and follow-through.
• Business-oriented mindset and ability to connect people practices to selling-floor outcomes and commercial performance.
• Exceptional discretion, professionalism, and composure consistent with a luxury retail environment.
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills.
• Preferred: Experience in luxury retail, fashion, or a high-touch, client-facing consumer environment.
• Preferred: Familiarity with book-of-business sales culture, including commission structures, client ownership, and seller retention.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or a related field.
• Preferred: Familiarity with HRIS systems such as Workday and people reporting tools.

Skills

Experience

5–7 years of progressive retail HR or People Business Partner experience, including ownership of a sizeable and complex employee population.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or a related field (preferred).

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 95,790 to USD 139,000 per annum.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; basic and supplemental life insurance; disability insurance; voluntary benefits such as critical illness, hospital, and accident insurance; employee discount; and career advancement opportunities. Comprehensive benefits package applies to eligible full-time employees.

Culture

The workplace emphasizes impeccable service, attention to detail and collaboration across culinary and retail teams. Employees operate in a fast‑paced, guest‑centric environment where professional conduct and adherence to luxury standards are expected.

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.