Sr. Director, Employee Relations

We believe that difference sparks brilliance, so we welcome people and ideas from everywhere to join us in stretching what's possible.
At Tapestry, being true to yourself is core to who we are. When each of us brings our individuality to our collective ambition, our creativity is unleashed. This global house of brands - Coach & Kate Spade New York - was built by unconventional entrepreneurs and unexpected solutions, so when we say we believe in dreams, we mean we believe in making them happen. We're always on a journey to becoming our best, but you can count on this: Here, your voice is valued, your ambitions are supported, and your work is recognized.
A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive.
Primary Purpose: In this pivotal role, you will serve as the architect and steward of our Employee Relations (ER) strategy and team. You will mentor and guide the ER team, providing support and direction to ensure the effective handling of all employee relations matters. As a visionary and accomplished leader, you will be entrusted with owning the development, implementation, and continuous evolution of innovative global ER policies, practices, programs and procedures that uphold our values.
The effective cultivation of integral partnerships with senior leadership, HR business partners, and cross-functional teams to foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing culture is critical. Your expertise will be essential in navigating the complexities of global employment law, cultural nuance, and organizational transformation within the ever-evolving world of luxury fashion.
This role is based in New York City and in accordance with our Hybrid work arrangement including the requirement of performing in-office work at our corporate headquarters and travel to stores and fulfillment centers approximately 10% - 15% of the time.
The successful individual will leverage their expertise in Employee Relations to...

• Design, implement, and refine ER strategies and frameworks to support the company's mission, growth, and evolving priorities.
• Plan, prioritize, and direct the resolution of complex, sensitive, and escalated ER matters, serving as the subject matter expert.
• Conduct and manage impartial investigations into claims and concerns involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, workplace violence, or other policy violations, ensuring thoroughness, confidentiality, and compliance with legal requirements.
• Utilize advanced fact-finding methodologies including in-person and remote interviews, evidence review, and detailed documentation of investigative processes.
• Lead and deliver clear, comprehensive written investigative reports and partner with stakeholders on the implementation of remedial and preventative action steps.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to HR and other business leaders, providing expert guidance on conflict resolution, de-escalation, and navigating difficult conversations.
• Oversee the review, assignment, and resolution of HR-related Ethics Hotline reports; ensure timely and appropriate case handling.
• Track, enter, and maintain open and self-reported cases in a secure database; conduct regular quality assurance audits to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Oversee and support the accommodation process for employees seeking adjustments for health, religious, or other protected reasons, guiding the interactive process and ensuring accurate documentation. Advise on accommodation options and identify trends or gaps to inform future policy development.
• Create and deliver training and development programs to enhance ER skills among HR Business Partners and people managers globally; tailored as required to different compliance requirements by country.
• Monitor staff performance, identify skill gaps, mentor and ensure the completion of required training as part of individual development plans.
• Champion efforts related to inclusion, partnering with functional leaders to embed these values into every facet of the employee lifecycle.
• Collaborate with asset protection, security, legal, and facilities teams to develop and execute crisis response protocols.
• Provide oversight and administration for severance policies and programs, ensuring consistency, compliance and dignified, compassionate transitions.
• Monitor global ER trends, industry benchmarks, and emerging best practices; provide actionable insights and recommendations to executive leadership.

The accomplished individual will possess...

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required. Master's degree in Human Resources, Law, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or related field strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive HR experience, including at least 5 years in a senior-level employee relations leadership role within a global, matrixed organization with a distributed workforce (fashion industry experience is a plus).
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting complex, high-stakes investigations and drafting comprehensive reports.
• Expert knowledge of employment law, regulatory requirements, and best practices in employee relations, investigations and risk mitigation.
• Proven capability to handle highly confidential and sensitive situations with professionalism, tact and sound judgment.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills; fluency in English required; proficiency in additional languages a plus.
• Advanced analytical abilities, including the use of HRIS and case management systems for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong coaching, facilitation, and presentation skills, with a demonstrated commitment to developing others.
• Experience leading teams through change, influencing senior stakeholders, and driving cross-functional initiatives.
• Ability to connect ER practices to business objectives and drive enterprise-wide impact.
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook. Data visualization platforms, tools and skills are a plus.
• Ability to travel as needed (10-15%).
• Available to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the retail clients across various time zones (including handling critical calls if needed when retail stores are open weeknights and weekends)

Our Competencies for All Employees

• Courage: Doesn't hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and "actionable" positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
• Creativity: Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
• Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
• Dealing with Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn't upset when things are up in the air; doesn't have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
• Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
• Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
• Learning on the Fly: Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; analyzes both successes and failures for clues to improvement; experiments and will try anything to find solutions; enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks; quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything.

Our Competencies for All People Managers

• Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
• Developing Direct Reports and Others: Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; is aware of each person's career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes people to accept developmental moves; will take on those who need help and further development; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.
• Building Effective Teams: Blends people into teams when needed; creates strong morale
  and spirit in his/her team; shares wins and successes; fosters open dialogue; lets people finish and be responsible for their work; defines success in terms of the whole team; creates a feeling of belonging in the team.

Tapestry, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and we pride ourselves on hiring and developing the best people. All employment decisions (including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, transfer, training, discipline and termination) are based on the applicant's or employee's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration. These decisions are made without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally-recognized protected basis prohibited by applicable law.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Tapestry, Inc. will provide applicants and employees with reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact Tapestry People Services at 1-855-566-9264 or [email protected]
Visit Tapestry, Inc. at http://www.tapestry.com/
Work Setup:
BASE PAY RANGE $180,000.00 TO $210,000.00 Annually
Here are some of the benefits that we offer: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, 401 (K), Paid Paternity and Maternity leave, Commuter Benefits, Disability insurance and Tuition assistance. Please click here for a complete list of U.S Corporate Compensation & Benefits .
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