Manager, Associate Experience & Engagement

The Manager, Associate Experience & Engagement leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of Build‑A‑Bear’s associate experience across the full employee lifecycle. This role ensures associates feel informed, supported, connected, and valued from onboarding through offboarding. Partnering closely with HR, Field Operations, Communications, and business leaders, the Manager drives engagement, culture, and experience programs that strengthen retention and reinforce Build‑A‑Bear’s values.

Responsibilities:

• Design and manage associate experience programs that enhance key lifecycle moments, including onboarding, performance, recognition, development, and offboarding, etc.
• Lead employee journey mapping efforts to identify friction points, experience gaps, and opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, and connection across the associate lifecycle.
• Own the end‑to‑end onboarding experience, ensuring a seamless transition from candidate to new hire; maintain orientation content, Day 1 readiness, and cross‑functional coordination with HR, IT, Operations, and hiring managers.
• Develop and execute engagement strategies, including enterprise surveys, pulse checks, listening channels, and feedback loops; analyze results and partner with leaders to drive targeted action planning.
• Manage associate‑facing communications, ensuring messaging is timely, clear, accessible, and aligned with company values; maintain intranet content, handbooks, and experience guides.
• Lead culture‑building and recognition programs, including various company events, celebrations, and initiatives that reinforce belonging, appreciation, and organizational values.
• Apply structured program management practices to plan, launch, and sustain Talent and Culture initiatives, including timelines, stakeholder alignment, communication plans, and success measures.
• Partner with HRBPs, Talent Acquisition, and various cross‑functional teams to streamline processes, reduce friction, and ensure programs and workflows are associate‑centric and easy to navigate.
• Develop manager‑facing tools and resources that strengthen leadership capability and support consistent, high‑quality associate experiences across all locations.
• Track, analyze, and report on Associate Experience metrics, including engagement, retention, onboarding effectiveness, and feedback trends; using insights to recommend strategic improvements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and escalation point for associate experience matters, providing guidance, problem‑solving, and support to leaders and associates across the enterprise.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in HR, employee engagement, communications, or people‑focused roles
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering employee experience or engagement programs
• Strong communication skills with the ability to craft clear, compelling messaging
• Experience partnering across HR, Operations, and business leaders
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives
• High attention to detail, organization, and follow‑through
• Ability to navigate sensitive situations with discretion, empathy, and professionalism 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in Industrial/Organizational Psychology or applied behavioral science, with experience leveraging research‑based methods to enhance employee engagement, motivation, and workplace experience
• Experience with engagement platforms, HRIS systems, and survey tools; retail industry experience a plus
• Experience developing manager‑facing resources and training
• Demonstrated experience with internal communications and change management

Behavioral Traits for Success:

• Strong initiative and urgency
• Persuasive, influential communication
• High self-confidence and poise
• People-centric leadership
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Comfort with delegation
• Motivating presence
• Resilience and undaunted drive

Working Environment:

• Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs
• Corporate Office located St. Louis, MO
• Up to 10% overnight domestic travel may be required

Your Performance Will Be Measured On:

Your performance will be measured by your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following:

• Decision-making, judgment, and execution
• Clear and thorough communication, both spoken and written
• Timeliness and follow-up
• Problem solving and removing obstacles
• Planning and organization
• Building strong relationships with cross-functional team members
• Tenacity and commitment to tasks
• Internal and external stakeholder feedback

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent an expressed or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter your at-will employment, and Build-A-Bear, Inc. reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as may be deemed appropriate.