Director, Employee Relations

Location: Orange County, CA Must reside within a commutable distance to both Brea, CA and Irvine, CA, as the office location will be relocated from Brea to Irvine in approximately Q1 2028. This is not a hybrid or remote opportunity and requires onsite presence 4 days per week. Job DescriptionThe Employee Relations function will play a critical role in enabling Envista’s culture, protecting the organization, and ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant employment practices across our global workforce. We are seeking a Director, Employee Relations to build and lead a global Employee Relations Center of Excellence focused on delivering a consistent high-quality employee experience while proactively mitigating risk.In this role, you will partner closely with HR Business Partners, HR Centers of Excellence, Compliance, Employment Law, and HR Technology to advise on complex workplace matters, lead investigations, strengthen ER processes, and identify trends that inform scalable programs, policies, and practices. The ER Director will bring deep employee relations expertise, strong judgment, and a proactive mindset to help build a forward-looking ER roadmap that supports business needs, reinforces accountability, and ensures employees are treated fairly and consistently. This position reports to the VP, Global Human Resources.What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)Build and lead Envista’s Employee Relations Center of Excellence (COE)Design and implement a consistent, scalable ER operating model across regions and businessesDevelop a group of highly skilled, high performing ER PartnersPartner with business leaders to collaborate and coach regarding ER mattersLead complex employee relations cases and investigations, ensuring neutrality, consistency, and complianceServe as a key strategic partner to execute on key business strategies while minimizing riskDevelop ER playbooks, processes, and standard work for conducting investigations, managing performance, handling disciplinary actions, and resolving employee issuesEstablish intake, triage, escalation, and resolution processes aligned to ServiceNow and HR Service DeliveryPartner closely with Legal on high-risk matters and ensure strong risk management practicesCoach leaders and HR partners on employee relations matters and difficult conversationsDevelop ER metrics, dashboards, and insights to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunitiesIdentify systemic issues and partner with HR leaders to address root causes through policy, training, or process changesWhat You’ll Deliver (Key Outcomes)Established ER COE with clear governance, scope, and operating modelConsistent and timely resolution of employee relations casesReduced volume of complaint escalation and improved employee trustStandardized processes and improved documentation qualityCentralized data and insights on ER trends and risksImproved capability of leaders and HR partners to manage employee issuesCore Capabilities (How You Will Succeed)Applies creative thinking to complex, sensitive situationsExercises sound judgment balancing risk, fairness, and business outcomesBuilds structured, scalable solutions to reduce recurring issuesUses data and trends to inform decisions and proactive actionsCollaborates effectively across HR, Legal, and the businessDelivers timely, consistent outcomesAdapts under pressure while building long-term capabilityContinuously improves ER practices and processesJob RequirementsWhat You Bring (Qualifications)Bachelor’s Degree requiredMinimum of 10+ years of experience in Employee Relations, investigations, or employment lawDeep expertise in conducting investigations and managing complex employee issuesExperience building or scaling an ER function, COE, or centralized capability preferredStrong understanding of employment law and compliance requirementsExcellent judgment and ability to handle sensitive and high-risk situationsStrong communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills, while earning trust.Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment through an inclusive leadership styleTravel up to 25%IND123Actual compensation packages take into account a wide range of factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to geographic location; skill sets; relevant education and certifications; depth of experience; performance; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed reasonable estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Envista, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The total compensation package for this position may also include an annual performance bonus, medical/dental/vision benefits, 401K match, and/or other applicable compensation plans.$183,100 - $223,800Operating company:CorporateEnvista and its family of companies (Envista) will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Envista will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (Agency) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge and Envista will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt such unsolicited resumes. An Agency must obtain advance written approval from Envista's internal Talent Acquisition or Human Resources team to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully-executed contract approved by the Global Talent Acquisition leader and in response to a specific job opening. Envista will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such agreement and written approval in place.Envista and all Envista Companies are equal opportunity employers that evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics protected by law. The “EEO is the Law” poster is available at: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf