Director, Human Resources & Talent Acquisition

Barnes & Noble Education•Florham Park, NJ

2d•$120,000 - $130,000

About The Position

At Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”) we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education. To help advance this mission, BNED is seeking a strategic and hands-on HR leader to support our corporate teams and strengthen the employee experience across the organization. The Director, Corporate Human Resources & Talent Acquisition leads key HR functions including HR business partnership, employee relations, talent acquisition, and core HR programs and processes. Reporting to the CHRO, this role ensures consistent, compliant, and effective delivery of HR services that support business priorities. The Director leads Corporate HR Business Partners and Talent Acquisition, serves as the escalation point for complex people matters, and oversees reception, mailroom, and workplace experience activities—including corporate employee events—to support a professional and engaging office environment.

Requirements

7+ years of progressive HR related experience, including leadership responsibility; director-level or equivalent experience strongly preferred
Bachelor’s degree preferred, equivalent experience considered
Deep knowledge of employment law, HR best practices, and employee relations
Demonstrated ability to operate as a strategic leader while remaining hands-on when needed
Proven experience leading and developing HR teams, including Talent Acquisition and HR Business Partners
Strong business acumen with the ability to influence and advise senior leaders
Experience with HRIS systems and data-driven decision-making
Exceptional communication, negotiation, coaching, and presentation skills
High degree of discretion and judgment when handling confidential information
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Experience supporting hybrid or remote workforces

Nice To Haves

SHRM, PHR, and/or SPHR certification strongly desired

Responsibilities

Lead corporate HR and talent acquisition operations, ensuring consistent execution of HR business partnership, employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and policy application.
Direct and develop the Corporate HR Business Partner and Talent Acquisition teams, setting priorities, monitoring performance, and ensuring timely, high-quality delivery of HR services.
Partner with senior leaders and people managers on workforce planning, staffing strategies, organizational needs, and employee performance, providing practical and solution-oriented guidance.
Serve as the primary escalation point for complex employee relations matters, including investigations, corrective actions, and policy interpretation, ensuring fair, compliant, and well-documented outcomes.
Oversee HR policy administration and compliance, maintaining current policies, ensuring adherence to employment laws, and partnering with legal counsel as needed to mitigate risk.
Execute talent management processes in partnership with the CHRO and Compensation, including performance cycles, merit planning, succession discussions, and leadership development support.
Drive recruiting and onboarding effectiveness, using data and feedback to improve time-to-fill, hiring quality, and new-hire integration and productivity.
Manage offboarding processes and exit insights, identifying trends and recommending actions to strengthen retention and employee experience.
Coordinate with HR Operations, Payroll, and HRIS to ensure accurate employee data, system integrity, and efficient HR service delivery.
Oversee reception and mailroom operations, ensuring reliable daily coverage, vendor coordination, and a professional front-of-house experience.
Support workplace experience initiatives, including planning and execution of corporate employee events (e.g., holiday parties, engagement activities, and recognition moments) that reinforce culture and connection.
Partner with Lerarning & Development team to ensure required training and compliance initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with business needs.