Job Description

Job Title: Head of People Team Operations and Associate Experience

Location: Corporate

Department: People Team

At Wawa, we are proud to be part of a beloved brand committed to putting people first, doing the right thing, and making every day a little brighter. We know that it is our Associates who truly put the “wow” in the Wawa experience. When you join the Wawa team, you join a tradition of success that spans decades, over a thousand stores, multiple states, and counting. As Associate owners, our team members have a shared stake in our success. As we grow, our Associates will continue taking the lead in bringing joy to even more friends and neighbors: one hoagie, smile, or experience at a time.

The Head of People Team Operations and Associate Experience plays a pivotal role in creating effective strategies that support the organization’s entire associate population.  This includes the oversight of all services that are provided to our associates, including the Associate Service Center, Associate Relations, Leave of Absence, Associate Experience, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategies.  This individual ensures the appropriate allocation of resources and prioritization of work within the People Team through strong governance processes, portfolio management, strategy oversight, and the successful operationalization of the People Team. 

Principle Duties:

Identify and create synergies between organizational needs and potential people initiatives in the pursuit of overall alignment of high-level strategy and operational execution.

Awareness and comprehensive understanding of people-centric initiatives across the organization and ensuring our people strategies, roadmap, and work efforts align. ​

Oversee the implementation of strategic initiatives by utilizing support metrics and analytics with a focus on people-centric execution.

Oversee HR strategic partnerships with the business.

Design the Engagement survey strategy and roadmap and lead the Associate Experience team in understanding results that lead to action. 

Drive the organization's goals and objectives by assisting executive leadership in decision-making and program management.

Coordinate People Team project resources and develop a prioritization schedule that will systematically allocate human capital.​

Create a transformational strategy and operational plan for project and portfolio management​ and overall People Team operations.

Develop strategies and procedures to manage Operational Services initiatives to meet established targets through continuous evaluation, quality assurance, and focused improvement efforts. 

Provide oversight for the Company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategies which includes understanding both current associate population needs as well as driving programs within the broader organization. 

Provide leadership in the administration of the company’s medical, prescription, wellness, dental benefit plans, short- and long-term disability program, healthcare reimbursement accounts as well as voluntary benefits to ensure the efficient delivery of services to associates. 

Lead the Associate Relations department to ensure compliance with corporate policies, programs, and applicable collective bargaining agreements to both mitigate risk to the Company and provide for the fair and consistent treatment of associates.  Provide leadership and guidance regarding policy interpretation, federal and state regulations, and recommendations for disciplinary action.  Provide consultation, leadership and guidance for performance concerns and terminations for executive-level associates.

Oversee the Leave Process to ensure it is administered in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and consistency with company policy and our values.

Collaborate with People Team leadership to support all policies, plans, and procedures as well as understand and align the long- and short-term People Team strategy, plan and priorities.  Collect feedback from HR Business Partners regarding the support of products, programs, and services to continuously improve efficiency and effectiveness.  Provide feedback to COE leaders on necessary changes to strategies.

Identify ways to integrate Operational Services with Workforce, Total Rewards and HR Business Partners to improve People Team service delivery.  Lead continuous efforts and evolve operational services offerings and tools.

Forecast and oversee operational performance metrics.  Review and enhance processes for evaluating operational performance against established metrics.

Ensure that the products and services provided continue to meet the Company’s needs in a cost-effective manner.

Provide overall direction and support for team and monitor and assess individual work in accordance with high standards of excellence.  Provide feedback, coaching, support, and opportunities for development, complete performance appraisals, take corrective action when appropriate, and participate in hiring decisions.

Attributes:

Thought leadership and credible influencing skills. The ability to be a trusted strategic advisor, who can solve business issues by facilitating collaboration amongst others and negotiating the alignment of agendas

Ability to see the “big picture” and build and execute on strategic plans in furtherance of achieving companywide objectives and People Team strategies

Proven ability to proactively translate changing business objectives to effective People Team strategies

Must have problem-solving and analytical skills to enable one to identify and solve problems, analyze data, and make informed decisions

Systems-thinker with highly developed consultative, strategic, facilitative and project management skills

Ability to prioritize business needs and resources

Establish and maintain a working environment conducive to positive morale, individual style, quality, creativity, and teamwork

Strong leader of both individuals and large teams

Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

High degree of professionalism and confidentiality

Ability to effectively negotiate

Ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously

Ability to interface effectively across job levels, functions, and companies

Possess dynamic team-building skills

Ability to manage difficult/sensitive issues with a high level of discretion and care

Qualifications:

10 years of experience in Human Resources, Program Management, Employee Relations, DEI, Store Operations or related fields preferred, and relevant management experience

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent work experience. Advanced training and/or degree in a related field a plus

Experience administering employee benefits programs preferred

Previous experience leading an associate relations function preferred

Previous experience leading an HR service center preferred

Working knowledge of all key HR skill areas and using HR levers to drive business performance

Prior experience in a retail organization and familiarity with a geographically dispersed hourly workforce preferred

Wawa will provide reasonable accommodation to complete an application upon request, consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation, please contact our Associate Service Center at asc@wawa.com or 1-800-444-9292.

Wawa, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Wawa maintains a work environment in which Associates are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and Associates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.