Description

As Employee Relations Director, Americas, you will lead the Employee Relations team for about 12,000 employees across diverse markets, creating a fair, respectful, and legally compliant work environment that supports growth and embodies our values worldwide.

You will provide strategic leadership for the Americas employee relations function, aligning with the Global Employee Relations Centre of Expertise, advising senior leaders on evolving employment law, and designing frameworks that balance global consistency with local relevance.

Your responsibilities include proactive risk and compliance stewardship, shaping labor and union relations strategy, leading complex case resolution, and supporting people-side transformation during restructuring, M&A, and cultural shifts.

You will engage internal and external stakeholders, partnering with People Services, Compliance, Data Privacy, works councils, regulators, and industry bodies to embed best‑in‑class practices and represent Arcadis diplomatically.

Leading the Americas employee relations team, you will foster a learning culture, collaborate globally with other Employee Relations Directors, and use data, analytics, and AI to drive continuous improvement and an exceptional workplace.

As a guardian of Arcadis’ values, you will advocate for culture and inclusion, ensuring every employee relations touchpoint contributes to a respectful, inclusive, and positive employee experience and employer brand.

The role may require occasional travel and work outside normal business hours, and you will act as a visible steward of health and safety, promoting wellbeing and resilience.

• Lead the Employee Relations function for the Americas, overseeing ~12,000 employees.
• Advise senior leaders on employee relations strategy and employment law compliance.
• Design and implement employee relations policies balancing global consistency and local relevance.
• Identify emerging risks and ensure compliance with labor laws across jurisdictions.
• Develop and execute labor and union relations strategies, including collective bargaining support.
• Serve as escalation point for high‑impact employee relations cases and investigations.
• Provide expertise during restructuring, M&A, and cultural transformation initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with internal partners (People Services, Compliance, Data Privacy) and external bodies (works councils, regulators).
• Lead and develop a globally dispersed employee relations team, fostering a learning culture.
• Leverage data, analytics, and AI to drive continuous improvement in employee relations practices.
• Champion a culture of inclusion, respect, and fairness through employee relations initiatives.
• Promote health and safety compliance, wellbeing, and resilience within the organization.
• Travel occasionally to meet stakeholders and attend workshops, with potential out‑of‑hours work.
• Utilize analytical mindset to interpret trends and turn insights into actionable strategies.
• Provide 401(k) retirement plan, disability and life insurance coverage.

Requirements

We seek a globally minded leader with extensive employee relations and employment law experience, qualified as an employment lawyer, proven ability to lead in complex, multicultural environments, and strong strategic influence and stakeholder management skills.

The ideal candidate demonstrates people leadership, experience supporting change and transformation, data‑driven decision making, cultural fluency, and personal attributes such as purpose‑driven, solutions‑oriented, emotionally intelligent, and courageous.

• Possess qualified employment lawyer credentials and deep global labor law knowledge.
• Demonstrate proven experience leading employee relations in large, matrixed, multicultural organizations.
• Exhibit strong strategic influence, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Show expertise in supporting change, transformation, and workforce restructuring projects.
• Exhibit purpose‑driven, solutions‑oriented, emotionally intelligent leadership qualities.

Benefits

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, EAP, 401(k), disability, life insurance, parental leave, wellbeing programs, adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement, nine paid holidays and 15 days PTO; salary range $136,000‑$299,000, varying by experience and location.

• Offer comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision) and employee assistance program.
• Include paid parental leave, adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement, and wellbeing programs.
• Grant nine paid holidays and 15 days of PTO annually.
• Salary range $136,000‑$299,000, based on experience, location, and internal equity.

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance