Open To Work
Deirdre Richards
Hoboken,NJ
Work Preference
Summary
Strategic Human Resources Leader with 8 years of experience in talent development and performance management. Expertise in collaborating with executive teams to address employee relations, reduce organizational risk, and implement career development initiatives that enhance retention and engagement. Proficient in coaching leaders on sensitive issues and utilizing data-driven insights to shape workforce strategies, promoting inclusive and high-performing teams.
Overview
1
1
Certification
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Retail Talent Management
ARITZIA
New York, NY
08.2023 - Current
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on talent strategy, policy application, and organizational design, directly influencing workforce decisions for a high-volume, multi-million-dollar retail operation.
- Manage the full employee lifecycle—from onboarding and performance calibration to disciplinary action and offboarding—ensuring consistency, equity, and legal compliance at every stage.
- Design and deploy comprehensive training curricula focused on management development, leveraging performance data to close skill gaps and promote internal growth.
- Analyze turnover and engagement metrics to identify retention risks; present actionable insights and solutions to executive stakeholders during weekly strategic meetings.
- Spearhead employee recognition and team-building initiatives, directly improving team morale and reinforcing a culture of wellness and inclusivity.
- Partner closely with Legal and Compliance teams to investigate and resolve complex employee relations cases, including high-stakes separations requiring meticulous risk assessment and regulatory alignment.
Senior Specialist, Retail Talent Management
ARITZIA
New York, NY
08.2022 - 08.2023
- Developed executive-level KPI dashboards tracking headcount, turnover, and promotion velocity, enabling data-backed workforce planning for the region.
- Collaborated with business leaders to resolve complex operational HR issues, providing compliant solutions in a fast-paced environment.
- Coordinated multiple high-priority projects, ensuring alignment across hiring, training, and employee engagement initiatives.
- Onboarded and mentored Talent Management team members, enhancing their integration and productivity.
Retail Talent Management Generalist
ARITZIA
New York, NY
03.2019 - 08.2022
- Played an integral role in annual review and succession planning sessions, preparing materials that identified high-potential employees and shaped future leadership pipelines.
- Maintained master organizational charts and headcount records, ensuring real-time accuracy for informed succession planning and talent calibration meetings.
- Developed and delivered training presentations on HR policies, compliance updates, and professional development best practices for diverse employee audiences.
- Administered employee leave-of-absence and medical accommodation processes. Managed interactive dialogues to balance business needs with employee well-being.
- Facilitated offboarding procedures, capturing critical exit feedback to enhance retention strategies across the organization.
- Conducted confidential investigations into employee complaints and maintained meticulous investigation records, working alongside Legal to ensure fair and defensible outcomes.
Education
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PSYCHOLOGY
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY05-2011
Skills
- Talent Development
- Management Development
- Change Management
- Stakeholder Advisory
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Policy Interpretation
- Employee Relations
- Investigations
- Risk Mitigation
- Conflict Resolution
Certification
- Fundamentals of Human Resources, Baruch College
- SHRM-CP
Timeline
Manager, Retail Talent Management
ARITZIA
08.2023 - Current
Senior Specialist, Retail Talent Management
ARITZIA
08.2022 - 08.2023
Retail Talent Management Generalist
ARITZIA
03.2019 - 08.2022
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PSYCHOLOGY
Marist College