Manager – People Business Partner - Bergdorf Goodman Stores

WHO WE ARE:

Exemplar Luxury Group, formerly Saks Global, is the luxury collective uniting coveted brands with unrivaled customer experiences across Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. Driven by a relentless devotion to our customers and powered by our talented colleagues, we offer expertly curated product assortments, unparalleled service and personalized experiences across our integrated retail model. Through strong partnerships with the world's most desired luxury brands and deep customer relationships enhanced by data-rich insights, Exemplar Luxury Group is committed to setting the standard of excellence for luxury retail.

Job Description:

ABOUT BERGDORF GOODMAN:

A New York landmark since 1901, Bergdorf Goodman represents the global pinnacle of style, service and modern luxury. With its rich history of showcasing leading and emerging designers, the iconic store at 5th Avenue and 58th Street—the crossroads of fashion—is a singular destination for discerning customers around the world.BG.com expands on Bergdorf Goodman's heritage, showcasing coveted collections for men and women in an unparalleled online shopping experience. Bergdorf Goodman is part of Saks Global's portfolio of top luxury retail brands and real estate assets. For more information on the latest news and events at Bergdorf Goodman, visitbergdorfgoodman.com or follow the brand on Instagram and YouTube.

YOU WILL BE:

As a Manager, People Business Partner for Bergdorf Goodman, you will serve as a dedicated People partner to one of the most distinctive and high-performing sales workforces in luxury retail. Supporting associates and leaders across both the Women’s and Men’s stores, you will operate at the intersection of people strategy and business performance, in an environment where excellence is not aspirational; it is expected. This role calls for someone equally at home on the selling floor and in a difficult conversation: a partner who earns the trust of high-performing sellers and brings consistency and clarity to how people practices are applied across the business. 

This portfolio is defined by its complexity and its caliber. You will partner with leaders to support a workforce that includes top-tier customer advisors and operational professionals, individuals whose engagement, retention, and performance directly impact the brand’s commercial results. Your ability to understand the unique dynamics of a luxury selling culture, build credibility with high-performing associates and their leaders, and bring thoughtful, consistent HR practice to a fast-moving environment will be central to your success.

Reporting to the Director, People Business Partner, you will be a visible, trusted, and solutions-oriented presence across both store locations, partnering closely with department managers and the broader People team to deliver an exceptional employee experience from the selling floor up.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Business Partnership & Selling Floor Presence

• Serve as the primary People partner to functional leaders and department managers across both the Women’s and Men’s stores, building deep knowledge of each department’s performance goals, team dynamics, and talent needs.
• Maintain a consistent and visible presence on the selling floor and throughout back of house, cultivating relationships with associates and managers that reflect the trust and discretion the Bergdorf Goodman brand demands.
• Translate business priorities and performance trends into actionable people plans, in partnership with the Director, PBP.
• Act as a credible advisor to managers navigating the nuances of a high-performance sales culture, including nuanced business dynamics, client relationship ownership, and associate engagement.
• Partner across both store locations with an understanding of the distinct culture, clientele, and team composition of each.

Employee Relations

• Own and manage employee relations matters across the selling portfolio with sound judgment, consistency, and a clear understanding of the stakes involved at every level of the workforce.
• Navigate sensitive and complex ER situations including performance management, interpersonal conflict, and conduct matters with the discretion and professionalism expected in a luxury environment.
• Partner closely with managers to ensure performance documentation is timely, thorough, and aligned with company policy and brand expectations.
• Identify and surface ER trends across the selling floor, bringing forward observations and recommendations proactively to the Director, PBP.
• Engage Legal, and other partners as appropriate, with a clear sense of when to act independently and when to align upward.

High-Performing Talent & Retention

• Develop a nuanced understanding of the population you support including the interpersonal, commercial, and cultural factors that drive their engagement and loyalty to the brand.
• Partner with appropriate leaders and Compensation to ensure recognition, performance, and compensation structures are applied consistently and equitably across the portfolio.
• Support managers in identifying and developing high-potential talent, contributing to a culture of growth, aspiration, and long-term career investment.
• Handle associate concerns related to competitive dynamics with care, fairness, and a clear understanding of business context.
• Serve as a trusted resource for colleagues navigating workplace concerns, ensuring they feel heard, supported, and valued by the organization.

Talent Planning & Performance

• Support the execution of talent acquisition and talent management processes across the organization, including performance reviews, talent calibrations, and succession conversations.
• Partner with department managers to set clear performance expectations, ensure consistent feedback practices, and address underperformance in a structured and timely manner.
• Contribute to workforce planning conversations that anticipate the talent needs of a high-volume, high-touch luxury selling environment.
• Support full-cycle recruiting and hiring initiatives, ensuring a candidate and onboarding experience that reflects the Bergdorf Goodman standard.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure consistent application of HR policies, procedures, and compliance requirements across the store employee population.
• Maintain accurate and thorough case documentation and workforce data, supporting reporting and people analytics that inform business decisions.
• Partner with Compensation, Benefits, Payroll, and other CoEs 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.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required:

• 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, proven 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, able to build credible, trusted relationships across all levels of a diverse workforce, from frontline associates to senior store leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities across multiple locations or departments without losing attention to detail or follow-through.
• Business-oriented mindset with the ability to connect people practices to selling floor outcomes and commercial performance.
• Exceptional discretion, professionalism, and composure consistent with the expectations of a luxury retail environment.
• Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal.

Preferred:

• Experience in luxury retail, fashion, or a high-touch, client-facing consumer environment.
• Familiarity with the dynamics of a book-of-business sales culture, including commission structures, client ownership, and seller retention.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or a related field.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems (ie. Workday)  and people reporting tools.
  

YOUR LIFE AND CAREER AT EXEMPLAR LUXURY GROUP:

• Opportunity to work in a dynamic fast paced environment at a company experiencing growth and transformation 

• Exposure to rewarding career advancement opportunities across the largest multi-brand luxury retailer from retail to distribution, to digital or corporate 

• Comprehensive benefits package for all eligible full-time employees (including medical, vision and dental)
• An amazing employee discount

Benefits: We offer the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, disability insurance, and a variety of additional voluntary benefits (such as critical illness, hospital and accident insurance).

Thank you for your interest with Exemplar Luxury Group. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Exemplar Luxury Group is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with Exemplar Luxury Group and would like to request special assistance or an accommodation, please contact [email protected].

Salary Range $95,790 - $139,000*

Compensation for this role varies by geographic location. The listed range reflects multiple markets, including higher-cost areas. Actual starting pay will be determined based on work location, experience, and other job-related factors.