Director of Employee Relations & Compliance
Location: Stamford, CT
Compensation: $170,000 - $190,000 + bonus
Working Model: 4 days onsite, 1 day remote
A leading global consumer products business is looking for an experienced Director of Employee Relations & Compliance to lead its employee relations strategy, workplace investigations and HR compliance framework.
This individual will act as a trusted advisor to senior HR and business leaders, providing guidance on complex employee matters, sensitive investigations, performance issues and employment-related risk. Alongside managing high-risk situations, they will play a key role in building scalable ER practices, strengthening HR governance and driving greater consistency across the organization.
This is a hands-on, strategic HR leadership role for someone with strong technical expertise in employee relations and US employment law, who can balance sound judgment and risk management with commercial priorities and employee experience.
Key Responsibilities
* Employee Relations Leadership Lead the organization's employee relations strategy, establishing consistent standards and practices while acting as the senior escalation point for complex and sensitive employee matters.
* Senior Stakeholder Partnership Advise HR Business Partners and business leaders on performance management, misconduct, disciplinary action, workplace conflict, employee complaints and involuntary separations.
* Workplace Investigations Lead and oversee complex investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct and policy violations, ensuring matters are handled objectively, thoroughly and confidentially.
* HR Compliance & Risk Management Own key HR compliance practices, partnering with Legal to ensure adherence to federal, state and local employment legislation and proactively mitigate organizational risk.
* Policy & Governance Lead the development, review and consistent application of employment policies, HR standards and documentation practices across the organization.
* ER Analytics & Insights Develop reporting and dashboards to monitor case volumes, investigation timelines, outcomes and recurring trends, translating data into actionable recommendations for senior HR leadership.
* Manager & HR Capability Build the employee relations capabilities of HRBPs and people managers through coaching, guidance and training on investigations, performance management, documentation and workplace conduct.
* Continuous Improvement Identify recurring employee relations challenges and implement scalable processes and solutions that address root causes, improve consistency and strengthen the overall HR function.
The Ideal Candidate
* 7-10 years of progressive HR experience, with significant depth in employee relations, workplace investigations and employment compliance.
* Proven experience managing complex, sensitive and high-risk workplace investigations, including matters involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation and misconduct.
* Strong working knowledge of US employment legislation, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA and FLSA, alongside varying state employment requirements.
* Experience operating within a multi-state organization, ideally with exposure to a complex, evolving business environment.
* Strong track record advising senior leaders and HR Business Partners on sensitive employee matters, balancing legal risk, commercial considerations and employee experience.
* Experience developing and implementing HR policies, investigation frameworks, compliance processes and governance standards.
* Strong analytical capabilities, with the ability to identify trends, assess organizational risk and translate ER data into meaningful business insights.
* A confident and credible communicator with excellent judgment, discretion and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
* SHRM-SCP, SPHR or equivalent HR certification preferred.
