James Smith
About James Smith
James Smith is the Director of Human Resources at Penguin Random House in the Greater New York City Area, with a background in HR roles in both the UK and the US.
Company
James Smith currently works at Penguin Random House, based in the Greater New York City Area. As the Director of Human Resources, he serves multiple divisions including Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Random House Publishing Group, Corporate Communications, and Corporate Development.
Title
James Smith holds the position of Director, Human Resources at Penguin Random House. His role involves overseeing talent acquisition, employee growth, development strategies, and compensation recommendations.
Education and Expertise
James Smith earned an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management from CIPD Qualifications, completing his studies in 2013. Prior to this, he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Film and TV Studies from the University of Surrey in 2004. His educational background has equipped him with comprehensive knowledge and skills in human resources management.
Career Background
James Smith's HR career began in 2006 at Sitel as a Human Resources Delivery Partner. He then moved to B&Q, serving as a Human Resources Coordinator from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, he joined Penguin Random House UK as a Senior Human Resources Advisor, advancing to HR Manager from 2013 to 2015. Currently, he is the Director of Human Resources at Penguin Random House in New York.
Human Resources Initiatives
James Smith has pioneered several HR initiatives, including developing best practice strategies to enhance talent acquisition and retention by broadening candidate pools and using current technology. He also collaborated with teams to support employee growth, compensation recommendations, and implemented a 'Meet the Team' page to connect employees with HR colleagues. Additionally, he partnered with Random House to create ‘Open Doors’ events for students from non-traditional publishing backgrounds.