HR Compliance Lead

HR Compliance Lead

Function:
People

Location:

CA, US Work Arrangement:
Hybrid

Position: HR Compliance Lead

Location:

Calabasas (Hybrid- 3 days onsite) Direct Reports:
None Scope:
North America

ABOUT THE WELLA COMPANY WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves. Wella Company is one of the world's leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves.

As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.

Position Summary:

The HR Compliance Lead, is the senior North America owner of HR compliance, governance, statutory reporting, and workplace investigations. The role sits within the global Employee & Labor Relations function, with hands-on knowledge of California and New York regulatory requirements and autonomous operational authority over US and Canadian compliance matters. This is a senior individual contributor role with end-to-end operational ownership.

The role partners closely with Employment Counsel, Global Employee & Labour Relations, People Business Partners, Total Rewards, Talent & DEI, Risk Control & Audit, and Global Facilities / EHS.

Key Responsibilities:

• HR Governance, Policy & Documentation Drive, own and maintain the NA HR policy library, including the US and Canadian employee handbooks, state-specific addenda, and all regional policies, including but not limited to those covering conduct, leave, accommodation, and separation. Lead the annual policy review cycle in coordination with Employment Counsel and relevant Centers of Excellence. Translate federal, state, provincial, and local regulatory developments into clear policy and process updates.
  
  Maintain version control, audit trail, and effective-date management. Document policy decisions and underlying compliance rationale in an audit-defensible manner. Own the HR record retention schedule and oversee periodic audits of personnel files, investigation records, and I-9 documentation in coordination with Legal. Monitor multi-state remote work compliance across all US states where employees are located, including jurisdictional triggers (tax registration, unemployment insurance, compliance obligations), new-hire reporting, state-specific leave laws, posting requirements, and wage and hour rules.
  
  Coordinate with Payroll and Legal.
• Compliance Audit, Statutory Reporting & Vendor Management Operate the NA HR compliance calendar covering federal, state, and provincial filing deadlines, mandatory training cycles, and posting requirements. Lead annual statutory reporting cycles (EEO-1, VETS, California Pay Data, OFCCP / Affirmative Action Plan submissions, and applicable state and provincial equivalents). Be accountable for data accuracy and timely submission. Design and run periodic HR audits covering wage & hour, classification, leave administration, I-9 documentation, contingent workforce, and onboarding / offboarding compliance.
  
  Maintain Cal/OSHA workplace safety plans (WVPP, IIPP) in partnership with Global Facilities / EHS. Perform compliance controls for North America in coordination with Risk, Control & Audit. Own NA vendor relationships for HR compliance services (harassment prevention training, AAP preparation, I-9 management). Budget ownership, performance management, escalation handling. Support agency-facing matters in coordination with Employment Counsel, including EEOC, DOL, California CRD, OFCCP, OSHA, and state and provincial regulator inquiries.
• Workplace Investigations Conduct workplace investigations end-to-end across the NA workforce into allegations of misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and policy violations, applying the Global Investigation Guidelines. Scope, plan, and execute investigations, including witness interviews, evidence handling, written reports with factual findings, recommended remediation, and interim…