Manager, People Business Partner

SAKS & CO; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Exemplar Luxury Group, Bergdorf Goodman, seeks a Manager, People Business Partner to serve as a dedicated HR partner to the Women’s and Men’s stores. You’ll operate at the intersection of people strategy and business performance, earning trust of high-performing sellers and applying consistent HR practices across luxury selling.

The role reports to the Director, People Partner and spans both locations. In this fast-moving luxury environment you will lead employee relations, talent planning, and

Qualifications

• Own and manage employee relations matters with sound judgment.
• Navigate complex ER situations with discretion in a luxury environment.
• Partner with managers to ensure consistent performance documentation.
• Support talent acquisition, calibration, and succession discussions.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Employee Relations: Own and manage employee relations matters across the selling portfolio with sound judgment and consistency.
• High-Performing Talent & Retention: Develop understanding of population you support to drive engagement and loyalty, and partner with leaders on recognition and career growth.
• Talent Planning & Performance: Support talent acquisition and performance management processes, including calibrations and succession conversations.

Skills

People partnership

Employee relations

Talent management

Performance coaching

Leadership guidance

Job description

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:

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