Director, Retail People

Company Overview

Gucci, established in Florence in 1921, is a globally recognized luxury fashion house. Guided by President and CEO Francesca Bellettini and shaped by the creative direction of Demna, the brand continues to evolve luxury through creativity, Italian craftsmanship, and innovation. Gucci operates within Kering, the international luxury group behind leading names across fashion, leather goods, jewelry, and eyewear.

Role Overview

The Director, Retail People acts as a strategic HR partner and service lead for the retail organization. The position is designed to strengthen business outcomes, support the employer brand for retail associates, and help shape the growth and organizational evolution of retail human capital. Working with retail leadership and People Partners, the role ensures that global and regional HR strategies are carried out effectively and that policies and procedures are applied consistently across retail operations. The role also involves providing clear quantitative and qualitative insights on retail HR needs and overseeing team performance in line with company standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze retail workforce structures, role design, and future staffing requirements to match business needs.
• Safeguard and actively reinforce the company’s mission, culture, and values in the retail setting.
• Embed diversity, inclusion, and inclusive practices throughout retail HR processes.
• Coach retail supervisors on performance management practices and methodology.
• Update and maintain retail job descriptions.
• Share both numerical and qualitative performance insights with senior leaders.
• Partner with business leaders to identify opportunities to lift performance and productivity.
• Support a coaching-oriented culture while ensuring disciplinary action and progressive counseling are handled promptly and effectively.
• Lead performance review and evaluation processes for retail teams.
• Drive ongoing recruitment activity with People Partners and retail leaders.
• Assess hiring needs and coordinate with Talent Acquisition to build a strong candidate pipeline and hiring approach.
• Use candidate profiles and related tools to attract the right retail talent, adding new materials when needed.
• Improve recruitment and selection outcomes through process enhancements and pilot initiatives.
• Work with senior leaders to identify high-potential employees for retention and development.
• Support succession planning using internal and external talent profiles for key retail roles.
• Encourage continuous feedback, learning, and self-development.
• Oversee retail training programs launched through HR partners or co-developed with them.
• Spot learning and development gaps and communicate business needs to cross-functional teams.
• Support retail career pathing and help identify advancement opportunities.
• Ensure People Partners and retail teams use HRIS tools and technologies effectively.
• Promote participation in company programs, including social responsibility and changemaker initiatives.
• Ensure employee relations issues are addressed from hiring through exit interviews.
• Investigate employee complaints and resolve concerns in a timely manner.
• Identify cases that may require legal support to prevent disputes from escalating.
• Manage labor costs in line with financial discipline and adjust initiatives as needed.
• Monitor retail headcount and FTE levels.
• Track personnel costs relative to sales performance.
• Support compensation review processes in retail.
• Collaborate on commission, incentive, and reward programs that improve performance and retention.
• Promote awareness and use of employee benefits.
• Support proper handling of insurance and workers’ compensation matters for illness or injury.
• Ensure HR policies and procedures are followed across retail and provide training where needed.
• Confirm that retail managers and HR teams comply with manuals and handbooks.
• Respond to HR policy and procedure questions from retail leaders.
• Oversee timely HR administrative processes and paperwork.
• Manage leave-of-absence administration and related requests.
• Obtain advice for involuntary separations and ensure termination decisions are well-supported.
• Maintain accurate documentation and recordkeeping practices.
• Escalate and investigate harassment, discrimination, and other unlawful workplace concerns appropriately.
• Recruit, coach, and develop People Partners.
• Align HR practices, methods, and expectations across all retail People Partners.
• Ensure the team is prepared to perform to expected standards.
• Contribute to short-, medium-, and long-term goal setting for retail operations.
• Provide functional HR expertise and leadership to retail People Partners.
• Create opportunities for cross-training and team support within the HR function.
• Support the growth of individuals and the broader HR team.
• Maintain a strong HR service model for Gucci Americas retail employees.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree is preferred; an advanced degree or HR certification such as SHRM or HRCI is a plus.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in human resources and/or retail management, including 3–5 years leading teams or a function.
• Experience working in luxury fashion retail and overseeing HR strategy across a retail network.
• Ability to connect HR strategy with commercial goals and understand what drives retail performance.
• Solid knowledge of employment law and HR best practices, ideally in a multi-state setting.
• Strong employee relations capability, including performance management, investigations, and conflict resolution.
• Proven skill in influencing senior leaders and partnering with them on talent, organization, and culture.
• Flexibility to travel and support multiple locations when required.
• Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States.

Additional Information

This position is classified as a regular full-time role based in New York City and is scheduled onsite. The expected start date is 2026-05-18. Gucci emphasizes an inclusive and accessible candidate experience; applicants who need reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process may request support by emailing accessibility.americas@gucci.com and should include their contact details, the role name, and the nature of the accommodation needed. Only accommodation-related inquiries should be sent to that address. The role is offered under Gucci America Inc. and follows equal employment opportunity principles.

Compensation

For New York City, the estimated base salary range for this position is USD 165,000 to USD 185,000 per year. Actual pay may vary based on business needs, experience, skill set, training, certifications, licensure, and location-based pay differentials.