Director of Human Resources

Director of Human Resources

Barnes & Noble is the leading book retailer in the United States, with roots dating back to 1873 and a long history of growth through innovation and expansion. Today, under CEO James Daunt and private ownership by Elliott Advisors, Barnes & Noble operates approximately 700 bookstores nationwide, serves over 700 communities across all 50 states, and maintains a robust digital presence through , NOOK® eBooks and audio books, and educational resources such as Spark Notes.

The company also includes complementary retail brands such as Paper Source, Books Inc., Tattered Cover, and

B. Dalton, further strengthening its market reach. Following a period of revitalization, Barnes & Noble is experiencing strong momentum, with plans to open approximately 60 new stores in 2026, underscoring renewed confidence in physical retail and local bookselling. Combining expansive store networks, curated selections, enhanced in-store experiences, and growing omnichannel capabilities, Barnes & Noble remains the #1 bookseller in the U.S. and a trusted, evolving partner within the publishing and retail ecosystem.

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. This role combines strategic partnership with hands-on execution, translating business priorities into practical and effective people solutions.

You will operate as a proactive advisor to the leadership team, identifying and communicating issues, trends, organizational risks, while partnering with leaders and the broader HR team to develop thoughtful and effective solutions. In this role, you will provide leadership across employee relations, performance management, talent development, organizational effectiveness, succession planning and talent acquisition. You will also partner with other members of the HR team and leaders throughout the organization on select field and store-related matters.

What You Do:

• 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.
• Partner with leaders to develop proactive succession plans and build a strong pipeline of talent for critical and future roles. 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. This may include system testing, process review and design, data validation, training…