Senior Director of Employee Relations & Compliance, Okta

• At Okta, we celebrate a variety of perspectives and experiences. We are not looking for someone who checks every single box - we’re looking for lifelong learners and people who can make us better with their unique experiences
• 10+ years progressive experience in employee relations, employment law, or HR leadership in a global, fast-paced tech or similar environment
• Proven track record leading global ER&C functions, scaling global processes, and leveraging metrics for large, complex global organizations
• Deep proficiency in investigations, conflict resolution, risk mitigation, global compliance, and performance management
• Exceptional judgment with the ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders
• Ability to translate data and trends into action
• Strong coach and mentor with demonstrated ability to develop ER&C talent
• High emotional intelligence and empathy balanced with sound business judgment
• Credibility as a partner to senior stakeholders
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and change with urgency and care

Desirable

• We are seeking a strategic and highly experienced Senior Director of Employee Relations and Compliance (ER&C) to lead our global Employee Relations and Compliance function
• This role is pivotal in defining how we build and maintain trust, ensure fairness, mitigate risk, and provide employee support across the organization
• You will be responsible for scaling ER&C operations, navigating complex and high-visibility employee matters, and partnering with Legal, Senior Leaders, and HR partners to strengthen the organizational culture and enhance the workplace experience
• This leader will balance strategic influence with hands-on operational excellence, build and mentor a global team of ER&C professionals, drive data-informed improvements, and ensure our practices are not only consistent and equitable but also agile enough to support a rapidly scaling, global technology company
• Strategic Leadership:
• Define and evolve the global ER strategy, frameworks, and policies to align with our high-growth trajectory
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing global team, fostering a culture of trusted partnership and expert issue management
• Drive key strategic initiatives, including the integration of ER&C processes into HR systems such as ServiceNow and Workday, and ensure compliance with emerging regulations, such as the EU Pay Transparency Directive
• Crisis & Risk Management:
• Serve as the lead escalation point for the most complex and sensitive ER&C matters, including large-scale organizational changes and crisis situations
• Oversee complex investigations, ensuring outcomes are consistent, legally sound, and reinforce our company values
• Proactively identify and mitigate ER&C risks by analyzing trends and anticipating systemic issues before they impact the business
• Partner with Legal and Security on any escalations and mitigate active risk while assessing root cause and developing remediation plans
• Data & Insights:
• Champion the use of ER&C analytics to deliver insights that inform business decisions, shape policy, and improve the employee experience
• Translate complex data into clear, strategic recommendations for senior leadership that drive proactive organizational and process changes
• Evolve our reporting capabilities to measure the impact and efficiency of ER&C programs and services
• Enablement & Advisory:
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, People Business Partners, and COEs on organizational design, leadership effectiveness, and critical ER&C decisions
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Security, and HR COEs to design and implement robust policies, training, and incident response protocols
• Enhance manager capability and accountability in handling complex workplace concerns through targeted, data-informed enablement
• What Success Looks Like:
• A globally consistent, scalable, and data-driven ER&C function with strong governance
• ER&C insights are integral to strategic planning, risk mitigation, and proactive cultural initiatives
• The ER&C team is recognized as a trusted partner and a highly valued center of excellence by leadership
• A demonstrable track record of successfully leading the people-related aspects of large-scale, complex business transformations