Vice President - Human Resources

About us

KnitWell Group, a specialty retail operating company, comprises some of the most iconic brands in America – Ann Taylor, Chico's, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, White House Black Market. Individually, our brands are unique and strong. Together, we are powerful.Our common thread is our commitment to create exceptional products, provide memorable experiences, and achieve superior results. Our associates are innovators who thrive through collaboration and are dedicated to excellence. At the heart of it all are the customers we serve. We are dedicated to creating fashion that not only looks good but also makes our customers feel good.

VP, Human Resources – Talbots & Haven Well Within

About the role

Serve as the senior HR business partner and trusted thought partner to the executive leaders of Talbots and Haven Well Within, building a talent strategy that directly enables each brand's business strategy. Coach leaders to build high-performing teams, ground people decisions in workforce and business data, and strengthen the organizational capability each brand needs to win, while remaining a partner to associates and fostering an engaged, inclusive workforce. Balance the needs of an established brand with those of a growing, scaling brand, and partner with the HR Leadership Team to align brand priorities with enterprise human capital strategies, providing leadership in organizational design, talent management, workforce planning, associate relations, and employment compliance.

The impact you can have

• Act as a thought partner to the executive leaders of Talbots and Haven Well Within, challenging assumptions and translating each brand's business strategy into actionable, scalable people plans that align with enterprise HR strategies, programs, and services.
• Tailor the HR approach to the distinct needs of each brand—bringing performance discipline, productivity, and leadership depth to an established brand, and building the team, capabilities, and culture required to scale a growing brand.
• Apply a deep understanding of brand strategy, customer and market conditions, financial metrics, and operational goals to anticipate workforce needs, challenge assumptions, and focus HR priorities on the capabilities each brand must build or acquire.
• Build and execute a brand talent strategy aligned with the business strategy: assess current talent against the capabilities the future strategy requires, determine which capabilities to build internally and which to bring in from outside, and focus investment on the pivotal roles that drive brand performance.
• Lead organizational reviews to assess structure, capabilities, talent gaps, and operational effectiveness; recommend organizational design solutions that support business goals.
• Guide leaders and teams through organizational change with clear communication and consistent implementation.
• Lead talent reviews and succession planning with business leaders and HR partners, using objective assessments of performance and potential to build leadership depth and bench strength in pivotal roles and establish development plans for critical talent.
• Help leaders build high-performing teams by setting clear expectations, raising the talent bar, addressing performance gaps decisively, and clarifying roles, decision rights, and cross-functional accountability.
• Serve as coach to brand leaders and their leadership teams on leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, performance management, and conflict resolution, balancing constructive challenge with practical guidance and holding leaders accountable for building strong teams.
• Strengthen performance-management discipline and workforce productivity, linking individual and team expectations to customer and financial outcomes.
• Partner with business leaders on data-driven, multi-year workforce planning that aligns investment and capability with evolving business needs.
• In partnership with the HR Leadership Team, develop and execute engagement strategies informed by associate feedback data that strengthen the associate experience, shape the culture of each brand as it grows, and foster an inclusive, high-performance culture grounded in accountability and well-being.
• Leverages human capital and business data to assess organizational health, identify risks, measure the impact of people programs, and bring fact-based recommendations to leaders.
• Lead and develop a high-performing HR team, establish clear priorities and accountability, and build trusted cross-functional partnerships that advance talent, organizational capability, and business goals across both brands.

You’ll bring to the role

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role serving as a thought partner to executive teams, with demonstrated HR generalist expertise in associate relations, employment law, and performance management.
• Proven track record of building talent strategies aligned with business strategy and helping leaders build high-performing teams, supported by strong working knowledge of HR concepts, practices, policies, and procedures.
• Experience leading organizational design, change management, talent management, succession planning, and workforce planning in complex or matrixed organizations.
• Experience supporting multiple brands or business units at different stages of maturity, including both established and high-growth businesses.
• Ability to build trusted partnerships, influence stakeholders at all levels, and develop consensus without direct authority.
• Strong project management skills, including prioritization, execution, and cross-functional stakeholder coordination.
• Demonstrated success as a coach and thought partner to senior business leaders, with strong conflict resolution skills, sound judgment, discretion, and emotional intelligence in handling sensitive matters.
• Strong analytical skills and business acumen, with a demonstrated ability to translate HR and business data—including turnover, workforce costs, productivity, HR scorecards, and associate survey results—into insights that drive leadership decisions.

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.  
• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities.*  
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K).* 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time off – paid time off & holidays.*
• The target salary range for this role is: $195-242k

*Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.

This position works on-site at least 4 days per week consistent with the needs of the business at our Talbots office location in Hingham, MA. 

Applicants to this position must be authorized to work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. We are not providing sponsorship for this position.

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Location:

Corporate Office-Talbots-Hingham, MA 02043

Position Type:

Regular/Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation.