About this role
Job Description
The Senior Director of Employee Relations and HR Governance is a strategic leader responsible for shaping, directing, and executing the organization’s global employee relations strategy, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant employment practices. This role provides enterprise oversight for HR governance, policy management, workplace investigations, labor and employment risk mitigation, and ER-related data and insights. The Senior Director partners closely with HR leadership, Legal, Compliance, and business leaders to proactively strengthen the employee experience, reduce risk, and ensure operational excellence in all workforce-related practices.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
Define and execute the global employee relations vision, strategy, and operating model, leading a high-performing ER team for investigations, coaching, and conflict resolution.
Ensure consistent, high-quality investigations into misconduct, policy violations, and workplace concerns, while establishing proactive risk management frameworks.
Own the enterprise HR governance framework, driving policy development, compliance, and global alignment in partnership with Legal, Compliance, and HR COEs.
Advise on complex ER matters and partner with Legal on compliance, litigation support, audits, and preventative risk strategies through training and trend analysis.
Design and implement ER and policy training for managers, embed competencies into leadership programs, and create scalable tools to reduce ER escalations.
Lead ER analytics strategy, case management systems, and reporting; analyze trends to identify systemic issues and present insights to senior leadership.
Act as a trusted advisor to executives and HRBPs, fostering fair employment practices and influencing culture through ethical leadership and consistent decision-making.
Qualifications
• 12+ years of progressive HR experience, with deep expertise in employee relations, investigations, and employment law.
• Experience leading & developing ER practitioners as well as evolving ER functions at a complex, matrixed, global organization.
• Demonstrated success developing and managing HR policies and governance frameworks.
• Proven ability to advise senior executives on sensitive and high-risk matters.
• Exceptional communication skills, sound judgment, and high emotional intelligence.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities; experience with ER case management tools and analytics.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or JD preferred.
Leadership Competencies
• Strategic, enterprise-level thinker with the ability to navigate ambiguity.
• Credible and composed in high-stakes situations.
• Skilled at building trust, driving accountability, and influencing without authority.
• Commitment to fairness, inclusion, and ethical leadership.
• Ability to lead through change and build scalable, sustainable ER practices.
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Pay Range:
$222,400 - $333,600Disclosure Statement:
The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.
At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations. From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.
Company Information
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.
Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.
Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at [email protected]
Other facts
About Vertex Inc.
The rapid changes taking place in today’s global business, technology, and regulatory environments are having a compounding effect on the complexity of indirect tax management and putting more pressure on the corporate tax function than ever before. This complexity demands intelligent solutions that enable businesses to satisfy tax obligations and support growth opportunities.
The Trusted Leader in Tax Technology
We're Vertex (VERX). A pioneer in tax automation for more than 40 years. We proudly serve over 4,000 customers worldwide with distinction and provide comprehensive tax solutions that enable global businesses to transact, comply and grow with confidence.
Our software, content and services address the increasing complexities of global commerce and compliance by reducing friction, enhancing transparency and enabling greater confidence in meeting indirect tax obligations. As a result, our software is ubiquitous within our customers’ business systems, touching nearly every line item of every transaction that an enterprise can conduct. Our software is fueled by over 300 million data-driven effective tax rules and supports indirect tax compliance in more than 19,000 jurisdictions worldwide.
We partner with the world’s most respected companies and harness their strengths to deliver the best tax technology solution to businesses across the globe. We integrate with key technology partners that span ERP, CRM, procurement, billing, POS and e-commerce platforms. We also work closely with over 50 tax, accounting and consulting firms to provide the integrated tax technology solutions.
Our culture is the foundation of everything we do, guided by a common purpose to build trusted relationships at work, in business and in our communities. We strive to be a values-driven employer of choice who attracts, retains and inspires talented professionals to achieve their full potential. We employ over 1,100 full-time professionals today in the US, Europe and Brazil.
What you'll do
- The Senior Director is responsible for shaping and executing the global employee relations strategy and overseeing HR governance and policy management. This role includes leading investigations, advising on complex ER matters, and analyzing ER-related data to present insights to senior leadership.
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