Director, Digital Partner HR and Legal

About the role

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd, with 6,000 employees globally and presence in over 100 countries. The Director, Digital Partner for HR and Legal is a strategic and delivery-focused technology leader responsible for enabling Wella’s global HR and Legal functions through scalable, secure, and business-aligned digital solutions. Reporting to the Senior Director of Corporate Functions, this role partners closely with HR and Legal leaders to drive targeted transformation across workforce management, employee experience, compliance, and legal operations—unlocking efficiency, improving service delivery, and ensuring regulatory adherence.

Responsibilities

• Application Strategy & Architecture (Success Factors, QMS, ADP, etc) – Define and execute the application strategy for HR and Legal systems, aligned with business capability models, regulatory requirements, and enterprise architecture standards; own and maintain the IT roadmap across key HR and Legal processes (e.g., Hire to Retire, workforce management, legal case management, contract lifecycle management); drive modernization by rationalizing legacy applications and promoting scalable, cloud‑based solutions; promote a “buy over build” approach; partner with Enterprise Architecture to ensure integration, interoperability, and security standards are met.
• Solution Delivery, Operations & Lifecycle Management – Oversee delivery and lifecycle management of HRIS, legal systems, and supporting platforms (including SaaS and packaged solutions); ensure end‑to‑end accountability from roadmap through implementation and ongoing operations; drive disciplined release management, testing, and change control processes; champion user‑centric design; ensure stable operations in partnership with global IT teams; act as escalation point for HR and Legal applications, ensuring continuity of critical processes such as payroll, workforce administration, and compliance reporting.
• Business Engagement & Value Delivery – Serve as a trusted advisor to HR and Legal leaders and global process owners, aligning IT initiatives with functional strategies; drive strong collaboration with stakeholders to align platform capabilities with workforce transformation, talent management, and legal compliance priorities; support and shape transformation initiatives across Hire to Retire and Legal process domains; accelerate outcomes such as workforce digitization, employee self‑service, and legal process automation; represent HR and Legal technology priorities in governance forums; define and track business value, including efficiency gains, user satisfaction, and compliance improvements.
• Vendor & Partner Ecosystem Management – Manage relationships with HR and Legal technology vendors, including SaaS providers and implementation partners; ensure vendor performance, contractual compliance, and value realization; collaborate with Procurement on sourcing, licensing, and service‑level agreements; ensure all third‑party solutions comply with InfoSec, data privacy, and regulatory requirements; support budget management and resource allocation aligned with priorities.
• Data, Analytics & AI Integration – Collaborate with Data, AI & Analytics teams to ensure HR and Legal data is structured, governed, and insight ready; support integration of application data into enterprise data platforms; enable use of analytics and AI capabilities for workforce insights, compliance monitoring, and legal operations efficiency.
• Leadership & Organizational Development – Lead and develop a focused HR and Legal technology team, including functional specialists and delivery resources; promote accountability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement; strengthen partnership with business teams to ensure prioritization and adoption of solutions; support talent development and capability building in HRIS and Legal technology domains.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in enterprise applications, with focus on HR and/or Legal systems.
• Experience partnering with HR and Legal stakeholders, translating business needs into technology delivery.
• Proven experience delivering HR transformation (e.g., HRIS, workforce management) and/or Legal technology solutions.
• Hands‑on experience with platforms such as SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, ServiceNow HRSD, legal case/matter management, or contract lifecycle management tools.
• Experience in regulated or compliance‑heavy environments preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in information systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• MBA or relevant leadership training is a plus.
• Preferred certifications