Head of HR Compliance

Guardian Life

19d ago

Job
Full-time
Senior & Expert Level
People, HR & Administration
Bethlehem
Quick Apply

AI generated summary

You must have a relevant degree, 8-10+ years in HR compliance, knowledge of fair employment laws, and strong problem-solving skills. Experience in insurance/financial services and HRIS tools is a plus.
You will design HR compliance programs, monitor labor laws, conduct audits, lead training, manage reporting, and collaborate with departments to ensure adherence to regulations and best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Human Resources, Business Administration, Compliance, Risk, or a related field.
8-10+ years of demonstrated experience in HR compliance, with a focus on fair employment practices compliance and administration.
Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local fair employment practices related laws, regulations, and industry best practices.
Proven experience managing HR compliance programs and investigations.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with attention to detail and an ability to navigate complex issues.
Experience in the insurance or financial services industry a plus.
Experience with HRIS systems and compliance reporting tools needed.

Responsibilities

Design and implement comprehensive HR compliance programs, policies, and procedures.
Monitor developments in labor laws, industry standards, and regulations to ensure the company remains compliant.
Serve as the subject matter expert on fair employment practices compliance (EEO, FMLA, FLSA, ADA, OSHA, etc.) and HR and Payroll (HR) regulatory matters.
Lead initiatives to educate employees, managers, and executives on HR compliance obligations.
Conduct regular audits of HR processes and records to ensure compliance with legal requirements and organizational policies.
Lead the design and implementation of HR compliance and risk management strategies, identifying potential risks and implementing proactive mitigation measures.
Develop, implement, and maintain HR compliance strategy ensuring appropriate enterprise-wide governance and best practices including programs and policies to ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Collaborate closely with Colleague Relations to design HR compliance risk management approach.
Conduct regular risk assessments, identify areas vulnerability, recommend process improvement, and risk abatement, communicating these to HR Leadership and relevant stakeholders as appropriate.
Ensure the company maintains appropriate documentation for HR processes, policies, and practices.
Manage internal audits of HR practices and procedures and respond to external regulatory inquiries, audits, and investigations relating to HR compliance.
Lead investigations into potential HR compliance violations, providing recommendations on resolution and corrective actions.
Regularly review and update HR policies and procedures, mandatory trainings, and employee handbooks to ensure they align with current fair employment practices requirements.
Partner with Employment Law to maintain and update HR policies, procedures, mandatory trainings, and documentation in line with changes in applicable law and Company direction.
Provide recommendations on keeping applicable policies compliant, maintained, and aligned to business needs.
Promote effective dissemination and training on HR and colleague relations policies.
Direct and manage all compliance-related reporting, including but not limited to AAP, EEO-1, I-9, and VETS 4212 reporting, in collaboration with HR functional areas and external vendors.
Prepare and submit required compliance reports and filings, such as EEO-1, and other regulatory reports, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Function as liaison to government agencies and/or third-party service providers for this purpose.
Oversee the proper classification of employees and compliance with wage and hour laws.
Maintain accurate and complete records related to HR compliance activities.
Monitor Guardian’s contingent worker arrangements to ensure compliance with policy. Responsible for revising policies, practices, and procedures as appropriate.
Generate reports on compliance metrics and trends for HR leadership and other stakeholders.
Ensure employee data is collected, stored, and processed in accordance with relevant privacy laws and internal policies.
Develop and implement data governance frameworks, conducting regular audits to ensure compliance, and training HR staff on data protection best practices.
Collaboration with HR Data, Legal, IT, and Enterprise data security teams to mitigate risks and manage data breaches effectively.
Develop and deliver training programs and support on HR compliance topics to ensure awareness and understanding of responsibilities.
Provide regular updates and ongoing education to leadership on HR compliance trends, issues, and areas of concern.
Create clear, accessible resources for employees to understand their rights and responsibilities under fair employment practices standards.
Ensure all employees receive the required compliance training and the training records are accurately maintained.
Serve as the main point of contact for internal and external audits and regulatory inspections related to HR compliance.
Partner with internal departments such as Legal, Internal Audit, and Risk Management to ensure coordinated compliance efforts.
Act as a key advisor to HR leadership on compliance-related issues.
Conduct and deliver audits of business processes to monitor adherence to all Guardian policies and procedures.
Execute program redesigns to stay aligned with business VOC and automation.
Lead discussions with business leaders and obtain sign off on proposal and recommendations.
Conduct cross-functional process reviews to identify efficiencies and business opportunities.
Maintain expertise in business workflows and procedures, function as a SME in the respective area.
Provide quality feedback and findings to all levels of business leadership and include recommendations for continuous improvement.
Collaborate and facilitate with business partners to develop and analyze business intelligence needs and drive process improvements.
Act as the quality data source and technical experts for projects and initiatives.
Support critical business compliance and risk initiatives (e.g.: Internal Auditing, Internal Risk and Control) through execution of mandated protocols.
Apply comprehensive audit tools that identify and catalog end to end findings to share with business partners.
Document, catalog, and maintain all audit protocols.
Create presentations to share all process audit results with various audiences across varying lines of business and business partners.
Perform sophisticated analysis of data including the root cause of errors, trending over time, and connection/correlation to customer problems.

FAQs

What is the primary focus of the Head of HR Compliance role?

The primary focus of this role is to oversee the development, implementation, and management of the company's HR compliance programs and policies, ensuring adherence to all relevant federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, and best practices.

What qualifications are required for the Head of HR Compliance position?

Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Human Resources, Business Administration, Compliance, Risk, or a related field, along with 8-10+ years of demonstrated experience in HR compliance specifically related to fair employment practices.

How many years of experience in HR compliance are required for this position?

A minimum of 8-10+ years of demonstrated experience in HR compliance is required, with a focus on fair employment practices compliance and administration.

What are the preferred locations for this role?

The preferred locations for this hybrid role are Guardian home offices in Bethlehem, PA; New York, NY; Stamford, CT; Holmdel, NJ; or Boston, MA.

Will this role involve collaboration with other departments?

Yes, the Head of HR Compliance will collaborate closely with internal departments such as Legal, Internal Audit, and Risk Management to ensure coordinated compliance efforts.

Is travel required for this position?

Yes, travel to Guardian offices may be required as determined by the People Leader.

What is the salary range for the Head of HR Compliance position?

The salary range for this position is between $107,920.00 and $177,295.00, determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate.

Are there opportunities for career development in this role?

Yes, Guardian offers support and opportunities for skill-building, leadership development, and philanthropic opportunities to help colleagues grow their careers.

Will I be involved in data governance as part of this role?

Yes, the Head of HR Compliance will be responsible for ensuring employee data is collected, stored, and processed in accordance with relevant privacy laws and internal policies, as well as developing and implementing data governance frameworks.

What are the key responsibilities in terms of training and communication?

Key responsibilities include developing and delivering training programs on HR compliance topics, providing regular updates to leadership, and creating accessible resources for employees to understand their rights and responsibilities under fair employment practices standards.

Guardian Life

Finance

Industry

5001-10,000

Employees

1860

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Guardian Life has been a trusted resource for over 160 years, dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives during critical moments. Serving 29 million consumers, Guardian helps individuals and families prepare for the future, supports business owners in caring for their employees, and assists people in recovering from unexpected loss. As a modern mutual insurance company, Guardian focuses on creating value beyond dividends by investing in its employees, fostering an inclusive culture, and uplifting communities through impactful programs. Their core values—doing the right thing, valuing people, shaping the future together, and going above and beyond—guide their mission to protect what matters most.