David Small

David Small

MBA • SHRM-CP

HR professional specializing in employee relations, talent acquisition, and people operations — helping organizations navigate the human side of business.

Cary, NC • Raleigh-Durham Triangle

About

I'm an HR professional with an MBA from the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management and a SHRM-CP certification. My background spans hands-on human resources at Target, office and operations management in hospitality, and financial services at USAA.

What drives me is the people side of business — building teams, creating inclusive cultures, and helping organizations navigate change. At Target, I supported 200+ team members across multiple stores, handling everything from full-cycle recruiting and employee relations to compliance, engagement programs, and workforce planning.

I completed my MBA while working full-time, which included selling a house and living in London for six months. That experience gave me an international perspective on work culture and deepened my interest in how organizations design work for the future. Throughout the program, I used AI tools extensively for research, analysis, and strategic planning — not as a theoretical interest, but as a working part of how I approach problems.

I'm currently exploring HR Business Partner, HR Manager, and People Operations opportunities in the Raleigh-Durham Triangle area. I'm especially interested in organizations thinking seriously about workforce transformation, employee experience, and how AI is reshaping the way we work.

David Small David Small in London

Experience

Human Resources Expert
Target Corporation
Cary & Raleigh, NC • February 2024 – May 2025
  • Served as on-site HR representative for three high-volume retail locations, supporting 200+ team members across workforce planning, scheduling, and development.
  • Led full-cycle recruiting for seasonal and permanent positions, managing hiring surges of 100+ team members during peak retail periods.
  • Drove employee engagement initiatives including Pride Month cultural programming, Angel Tree community partnerships, and Food Bank volunteer coordination.
  • Coached and developed team leads on performance management, conflict resolution, and inclusive leadership practices.
  • Applied AI tools to streamline HR reporting and analyze workforce data, identifying scheduling inefficiencies and improving labor allocation.
Professional Development — Career Break
March 2020 – February 2024
  • Completed MBA at the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, while living in London for six months.
  • Earned SHRM-CP certification from the Society for Human Resource Management.
  • Developed hands-on AI proficiency using generative AI tools for research, workforce modeling, and strategic analysis.
Administrative & Office Manager
Carolina Spirits Inc.
Raleigh, NC • September 2016 – March 2020
  • Managed daily operations and administrative functions for a multi-venue hospitality group in downtown Raleigh.
  • Oversaw hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and payroll coordination for a staff of 40+ across multiple locations.
  • Served as primary HR point of contact, handling employee relations, policy enforcement, and compliance with state labor regulations.
  • Managed vendor relationships, accounts payable/receivable, and inventory controls, reducing operational costs through contract renegotiation.
Financial Services Specialist
USAA
August 2015 – August 2016
  • Licensed insurance agent serving military members and families across all 50 states in property and casualty insurance.
  • Maintained member policies, identified value-savings opportunities, and provided claims support in a highly regulated environment.
  • Developed skills in compliance, client relationship management, and consultative service delivery.

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Arizona, Eller College of Management
Completed January 2026

Concentration in HR Management. Completed the program while working full-time, including six months of international study in London with coursework in global business strategy and organizational behavior. Supported by Target's Guild employer-sponsored education benefit.

Bachelor's Degree — HR Specialization

Skills & Certifications

Human Resources

Employee Relations Talent Acquisition Workforce Planning Performance Management Onboarding Change Management HR Compliance Employee Engagement People Operations Organizational Development

AI & Technology

ChatGPT Claude Microsoft Copilot Prompt Engineering People Analytics Data Visualization

Tools & Platforms

Workday BambooHR Microsoft 365 Google Workspace Slack Project Management

Community Involvement

Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC Volunteer coordinator supporting food distribution efforts across the Triangle region.
Angel Tree Holiday Gift Drives Organized workplace giving campaigns to provide gifts to children and families during the holidays.
Pride Month Workplace Programming Led cultural programming initiatives to foster inclusive and welcoming workplace environments.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to talk about HR, AI in the workplace, or opportunities in the Triangle area.