At Build-A-Bear we believe in the power of imagination, creativity, and memorable experiences. Our mission is to add a little more heart to life by creating unique experiences, lasting connections, and beloved memories that create lasting emotional connections. We are a multi-channel, site-based experience and entertainment company, with diversified categories and consumer segments. We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Vice President of Talent and Culture to join our dynamic team.

In this role you will play a critical role leading the vision, development, and execution of talent, culture, and change management programs to retain and enrich our associates. In addition, you will partner with the Executive Leadership Team in forecasting future talent needs and developing an organizational structure that supports the company's strategic objectives.

This is a unique opportunity to join an iconic brand and an innovative and disruptive industry leader.

The Vice President of Talent & Culture is responsible for overseeing the experience of our organization's most important resources - its people. This critical role is responsible for leading the vision, development, and execution of talent and culture management programs to retain and enrich our associates. This leader will proactively plan for, address, and forecast future talent and culture needs, including change management. The role will report to the SVP Chief People Officer and work with the leadership team to ensure the development and advancement of an empowered, value-driven, diverse, and inclusive workplace culture.

Responsibilities:

Organizational Effectiveness

• Drives organizational performance through leadership by linking strategy to structure, implementing transformational change methodologies, and adeptly addressing intricate organizational issues.
• Collaborates with peers across the organization to develop and integrate workforce planning and analysis, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management, employee engagement and retention, succession planning, and compensation strategies.
• Influences organizational decision-making with the use of relevant, value-added metrics and data. Skilled at Leadership and Talent Management.
• Designs and implements integrated talent management solutions, including executive coaching, individual development planning, talent review, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Leads and develops results-driven performance management tools and processes that integrate with Build-A-Bear values and core competencies.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy and builds diversity and inclusion as a capability throughout leadership and the organization.
• Advances existing talent development processes and tools to ensure/ track the quality of the assessments and dialogues across all levels of the organization.

Workplace Culture Management

• Fosters a culture of accountability; diversity, equity, and inclusion; trust; recognition; and results among staff at all levels.
• Responsible for all elements of strategies aimed at maintaining a healthy workplace culture, including employee communications, engagement, and relations across the enterprise.
• Proactively drives effective employee communications while maintaining a solid pulse on staff morale, sentiments, and concerns.
• Effectively addresses workplace culture components that impede organizational and individual effectiveness in a manner consistent with Council's values. Other Human Capital Management Responsibilities.
• Provides dynamic leadership to the human resource team through timely feedback, fostering an environment of continuous learning consistent with the needs of the organization, team, and individual staff members.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in Human Resource Management, preferably with an organization of national scope.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certifications such as SPHR, SHRM-SCP or similar credentials.
• MBA or Master's Degree in Organizational Development, HR or related field.

Behavioral Traits for Success:

• Initiative, coupled with a sense of competitive drive, and the ability to stay focused on results despite changing conditions, is the key to achieving the performance objectives of this job.
• Decision-making is focused on implementing practical, timely solutions.
• The emphasis on building rapport and relationships with individuals and groups requires an outgoing, poised and persuasive communication style.
• Effective delegation.

Working Environment:

• Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs
• Corporate Office located St. Louis, MO