Assistant Manager, People Services (HR) - Southeast Market
NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP
Neiman Marcus Group (NMG) has been the premier destination for luxury fashion and goods, superior service, and an elevated retail experience for more than a century. Today, 9,000 associates contribute to the success of NMG’s brands: Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Last Call, and Horchow. There are 38 full-line Neiman Marcus stores in cosmopolitan markets across the United States and a sophisticated digital platform that attracts shoppers worldwide. Bergdorf Goodman operates two stores in landmark locations on Fifth Avenue in New York City and BergdorfGoodman.com, catering to loyal luxury customers globally. NMG also owns five Last Call stores and Horchow.com, an e-commerce site that offers premium furniture and home decor.
As an organization, NMG is on a transformational journey to become the preeminent luxury customer platform. NMG continues to deliver the best integrated customer experience and has evolved the business to succeed in the ever-changing retail landscape. NMG is a relationship business. What differentiates the organization from other luxury retailers are its unique assets: a strong store footprint, the most knowledgeable associates, an engaging online experience, solid brand partnerships, innovative digital and in-store experiences, the most loyal luxury customer base, and a strong balance sheet.
Our customers will always be at the center of everything NMG does. The company continues to reinvest in new technologies that enhance the customer experience. NMG meets customers where they are. NMG’s goal is to offer customers a seamless experience across its stores, online, and remote digital selling.
NMG’s priority is to develop a highly engaged and high-performing team where everyone belongs. The business attracts and retains best-in-class talent through unique offerings provided to associates in addition to standard employer benefits. These include an innovative way of working, associate discounts on merchandise, tuition reimbursement, associate hardship fund, and paid time off to volunteer, to name a few.
As part of NMG’s Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) work, the organization is focused on driving its core value of being “All Heart.” NMG is also assessing its current environmental and social impact while developing a three-year plan to lead the luxury industry in its commitment and transparency to environmental and social sustainability. NMG strives to become an employer of choice, driven by a culture of Belonging. A dedicated team focuses on this journey, directly impacting how NMG conducts business throughout the workforce, workplace, and marketplace dimensions.
NMG has incredibly passionate and committed corporate and store associates. NMG offers associates an environment where everyone feels welcomed, nurtured, and empowered. Our associates are the heart of NMG. As an organization, NMG leads with love – love for customers, love for associates, and love for brand partners.
Summary Statement: The People Services Market Assistant Manager is responsible for being an integral and strategic business partner and driver for the People Lifecyle in all things Recruiting, Hiring, Associate Relations, Onboarding, Performance Management, and Development. This individual works cross-functionally with both the Store Associates and Leadership Team to advise and counsel.
Responsibilities & Duties
Culture and Engagement
- Assists in creating change plans, secures commitment to change, and coaches leaders on their role in the change
- Shares best practices across store markets for recognition of extraordinary results and performance
- Champions Diversity and Belonging to build an environment where everyone is respected
- Exercises a high degree of confidentiality with sensitive information
Talent Management & Compliance
- Facilitates process of Talent Reviews and provide strategic support for people development
- Oversees and participates in performance management process in partnership with Store Leadership and PS Lead to proactively address opportunities
- Understands company strategy and goals, how individual work contributes to success, and helps transfer this understanding to Associates
- Owns assigned People Services initiatives and champion change adoption in market stores
- Partners with Lead and Store Leadership to stay aware of Associate concerns and address issues in a timely manner
- Conducts investigations by asking probing questions to determine action needed
- Facilitates mediation by asking insightful questions, listening to understand, and providing appropriate feedback to achieve resolution or improvement
- Reviews Associate issues and makes recommendations regarding People Lifecycle decisions (e.g., discipline, terminations, etc.) based on Associate performance to their PS Manager
- Utilizes exceptional interpersonal skills to advise, coach, and counsel Associates
- Delivers difficult and / or complex messages and determines the appropriate communication channels for these messages
- Enforces company policies and procedures, facilitating Associate and Manager understanding of them
- Maintains and utilizes knowledge of local and federal regulations to manage Human Resources policies and procedures
Recruitment and Training
- Supports talent selection process by screening and identifying top-tier talent across levels with Recruiter
- Shares for best practices for recruitment, onboarding, and talent development with store leadership
- Defines and assists with coordinating the onboarding experience for new employees across the Market Stores with Market Trainer and PS Lead
- Drives Market Store completion of all training plans as applicable (i.e. compliance training)
HR Systems and Processes
- Updates Associate information (e.g., status changes, reporting structure) in HRIS and other systems and maintains employee-related files
- Maintains accurate people data for expense allocation and reporting purposes
- Generates reports as needed or requested
- Acts as steward of the payroll and expense budget and maintains awareness of activities that may have an impact
Total Rewards
- Leads the annual benefits renewal and open enrollment process, as applicable
- Provides guidance on compensation decisions
- Reviews complex FMLA, ADA, Leave of Absence requests and engages in the interactive process to determine best resolution
Qualifications
- 2-4 years of relevant HR experience
- 4-year degree preferred
- HR-related certification preferred
- Basic financial acumen
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to effectively and tactfully resolve conflict
- Motivated and results-driven
- "Win together" mentality
- HR systems experience a plus
- Basic proficiency with MS Office Product Suite, advanced proficiency preferred
- Certain roles may require standing, bending, climbing stairs, and lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds
- Associates must be willing to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, which will include evenings, weekends, and holidays
Competencies
Passion for People
- Fosters a collaborative environment for Associates
- Builds and leverages relationships across the organization to get things done
- Resolves and addresses conflict in a timely manner
- Participates in and / or supports Manager with cascading communications to team
- Communicates and models expectations for performance and behavior
- Supports team in learning and developing job-related skills, using technology, and building personal goals
- Partners with People Managers to observe performance of coworkers and identify opportunities to coach for improvement
- Inspires and motivates team to achieve performance goals
- Takes ownership of internal and external customer problems and resolves them quickly
- Speaks with truth and candor, challenging the status quo as appropriate
- Collaborates with team to appropriately enforce policies and procedures, supporting understanding of all Associates
Passion for Business
- Proactively seeks opportunities to increase team productivity and business growth
- Understands and educates team on business drivers, the industry, and competitors
- Prioritizes and assigns tasks, using effective time management practices to drive team towards established deadlines
- Collects relevant information, asks for input, and applies learning from past performance when making decisions
- Executes project tasks and activities with other coworkers
- Demonstrates ability to champion change initiatives
Passion for Personal Growth
- Continuously builds skills and knowledge through training, coaching, and career experiences
- Demonstrates a working knowledge and appreciation of the NMG business and the fashion industry
- Conveys energy and enthusiasm for NMG and personal work
- Adapts personal approach in response to diverse situations and people
- Responds to unexpected changes in work environment with creativity and resilience
- Establishes and upholds high personal standards for individual work and environment
- Maintains a customer-centric mentality versus a solely store-centric one
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of duties, responsibilities, or activities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.