Head of HR Strategy and Operations

Join Vanguard's executive leadership team and shape the future of global HR strategy and transformation. Vanguard is a global leader in investment management, known for its long-term perspective. We are seeking a seasoned HR executive to lead our enterprise-wide HR strategy, operations, and transformation agenda. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of work at scale—driving innovation, operational excellence, and a modern, data-informed crew experience.

Reporting directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), the Head of HR Strategy, Operations & Transformation will serve as a key member of the HR executive leadership team, this role is responsible for shaping and delivering Vanguard's HR strategy, driving enterprise-wide transformation, and ensuring operational excellence across the HR function. The ideal candidate brings deep global expertise in HR strategy, operations, and change management, with a proven ability to modernize the crew experience and lead through complexity.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Lead the development and execution of HR's multi-year strategy, aligned with enterprise goals and the evolving future of work.

• Own the annual HR business and fiscal planning process in partnership with Finance.

Transformation & Innovation

• Lead enterprise-wide HR transformation initiatives.

• Champion the integration of AI, automation, and emerging technologies into HR practices to enhance productivity and decision-making.

• Shape and execute a forward-looking strategy for workforce evolution, including hybrid work, skills-based talent models, and digital fluency.

Operational Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement in HR service delivery, governance, and risk management.

• Oversee HR operations, including Crew Relations, HR Communications, and service delivery modernization.

• Ensure strong vendor management and first-line risk oversight.

Crew Experience & Insights

• Lead efforts to modernize the crew experience through intuitive HR processes, personalized digital tools, and data-driven insights.

• Use advanced analytics to measure and improve crew engagement, satisfaction, and productivity.

• Foster a culture of inclusion, transparency, and trust across all HR touchpoints.

Enterprise Collaboration

• Partner closely with IT, Risk, OGC, Communications, and other HRET functions to ensure integrated and compliant HR solutions.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on human capital trends, risks, and opportunities.

Key Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including global HR operations, transformation, and strategy.

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MS in HR or Organizational Development) strongly preferred.

• Deep, global expertise in HR strategy, operations, planning, and change management (HR COO-type experience).

• Proven track record of leading large-scale, enterprise-wide HR transformations.

• Demonstrated success in enhancing the employee experience through process simplification, modern UX, and actionable insights.

• Strong history of cross-functional collaboration with IT, Risk, Legal, and Communications.

• Forward-thinking perspective on the future of work, including the impact of AI and automation on workforce strategy.

• Consistent delivery of HR operational excellence and measurable productivity improvements.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.