About this role

We are seeking a strategic and experienced HR Risk and Operational Excellence Vice President to strengthen governance frameworks, enhance reporting mechanisms, and enable effective oversight of HR risks and operations. This role is a second-line function focused on empowering HR teams to address risks and operational challenges effectively while maintaining accountability at the appropriate levels.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in operational risk governance, the ability to provide actionable insights, and a collaborative approach to driving compliance and process improvement. This role does not directly remediate issues but instead establishes frameworks, guidance, and reporting mechanisms to empower teams to resolve challenges independently.

• Analyze data and trends to identify emerging HR risks and prioritize mitigation strategies.
• Define and oversee HR Business Risk Indicators (BRIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor risk and performance.
• Advise HR leadership with actionable insights and strategic guidance on risk management and governance practices.
• Develop and implement governance frameworks for the proactive identification, tracking, and management of HR risks.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to monitor remediation progress, ensuring accountability and ownership at the appropriate levels.
• Prepare and deliver governance reports to senior management, summarizing key metrics, trends, and actionable insights to inform decision-making.
• Promote transparency and adherence to governance processes across HR functions to enhance risk mitigation and compliance.

• Support and maintain the HR Policy Governance framework, ensuring it aligns with regional regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with Employment Legal and HR teams to design and enhance mechanisms for horizon scanning, enabling functions with the ability to timely identify regulatory changes that may impact HR policies.
• Provide governance oversight to confirm policy updates are operationalized effectively by the relevant HR functions, with clear ownership and accountability.

• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for HR third-party risk management, enabling Vendor Relationship Owners (VROs) to comply with sourcing, vendor management, privacy, and information security policy requirements.
• Support the development and maintenance of effective third-party governance frameworks, ensuring HR vendor inventory oversight aligns with organizational standards.

• Act as a liaison between HR teams and internal/external auditors, ensuring alignment of expectations and clear communication throughout the audit lifecycle.
• Establish and maintain an audit preparedness framework, defining protocols for ongoing monitoring and periodic reviews of HR processes to confirm readiness.
• Coordinate with process owners across HR functions to address requests for clarification, additional evidence, or follow-up actions during audits.
• Monitor the resolution of audit issues by tracking management responses and action plans, ensuring timely and effective remediation.
• Conduct independent assessments of remediation actions to confirm their effectiveness and alignment with audit objectives.

• Design and deliver targeted training programs to increase awareness of HR risk governance and policy requirements, including training on audit preparedness to equip HR teams with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate audit processes confidently.
• Provide specialized coaching to HR Teams on essential systems and governance processes, supporting smooth transitions for new initiatives.

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field; advanced degree or certifications (e.g., CIPD, SHRM, HRMP) preferred.
• 6-8+ years of experience in HR governance, compliance, or risk management roles, preferably in a global, matrixed environment.
• Strong understanding of employment laws, regulatory requirements, and HR governance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and foster cross-functional collaboration in complex organizations.
• Expertise in HR risk management frameworks, policy governance, and third-party oversight.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with privacy and compliance programs.
• Clear, effective communication skills, including proficiency in 'Plain-English' writing and visual storytelling.
• Experience navigating ambiguity and driving initiatives independently within a dynamic environment.