Senior Director, Global Employee and Labor Relations

Position Title: Director of European Employee Relations & European Workers Council (EWC) Management

Reports to:  VP of HR, EMEA, APAC, and Technical Functions, with a dotted line to Global Chief People Officer

ABOUT THE WELLA COMPANY

Together, 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.

For additional information about the Wella Company please visit www.wellacompany.com.

THE ROLE & OPPORTUNITY: 

Wella is committed to building a modern, strategic employee and labor relations function that fosters trust, ensures compliance, and reinforces our commitment to being a great place to work. This senior HR leader will play a dual role: leading our engagement with the newly formed European Works Council (EWC) and shaping an employee relations (ER) strategy that reflects Wella’s values and supports our people through transformation and growth.

This new role will develop strategy, manage, and coordinate interactions with Wella’s newly formed European Works Councils (EWC). It will also work in partnership with other HR team members to coordinate with local country-level works councils across the EU. 

This senior HR leader will also work closely with Wella’s Employment Legal team to ensure compliance with applicable labour laws and support constructive dialogue between Wella and its employee representatives. This position is key in shaping and executing Wella’s labour relations strategy in a multinational context.

As the primary liaison to the EWC, this leader will drive a collaborative, transparent relationship—one that goes beyond compliance to create meaningful dialogue and alignment with business priorities. They will also oversee all aspects of employee relations across Europe, including investigations, grievances, policy development, and case resolution. Managing and developing a small ER team, this individual will build capability across the business, promote fair and consistent practices, and provide expert guidance on complex employee and labor issues.

This is a high-impact opportunity to influence how Wella engages with its people across borders—strengthening our employee experience while enabling agile, people-centered business outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure EWC Compliance & Governance: Serve as the key point of accountability for compliance with EU Directive 2009/38/ECMaintain the EWC agreement, monitor regulatory developments, and partner with Wella’s Employment  Legal team to manage obligations, mitigate risks, and ensure no consultation duties are missed.

• Lead EWC Engagement & Consultation:  Act as a strategic partner and advisor as Wella’s primary liaison to the EWC, cultivating a transparent, trust-based relationship. Organize and facilitate meetings, align agendas with business priorities, guide consultation processes during business changes, and serve as a bridge between employee representatives and senior leadership.

• Coordinate Across Countries & Functions: Collaborate with HR and business leaders across Europe to ensure accurate, timely information sharing and alignment with EWC requirements and transnational matters such as reorganization, digital transformation, or cross-border initiatives.

• Act as Liaison with the broader European employee representation structure, including coaching local teams on consultation execution, follow-up actions, and employee communications.

• Strategic Integration & Advocacy:

  • Advise senior management on the employee relations landscape and labor sensitivities, risks, obligations, and strategies related to employee representation across Europe.
  • Contribute to labour relations planning for M&A, business transformations, or operational shifts.
  • Proactively embed EWC and employee voice into strategic planning, and advocate for business and HR priorities to foster alignment, support, and engagement.

• Policy Leadership & ER Strategy: Develop and implement a clear, consistent employee relations strategy and labor engagement policies aligned with Wella’s values and global standards. Oversee complex ER matters—such as investigations, grievances, and policy escalations—ensuring compliance, fairness, and business continuity

• Meetings with the EWC

  • Coordinate annual in-person and online meetings with EWC members, consultations, and communications with the EWC.

  • Support negotiations and guide cross-border restructuring, workforce changes, or other transnational issues.

  • Monitor trends in European labour law and industrial relations.

• Manage ER Investigations & Team Leadership: Lead and develop employee relations professionals, ensuring investigations and case management are conducted with integrity, consistency, and alignment to Wella’s values and policies.

• Collaboration & Training:

  • Work cross-functionally with Employment Legal, HR, and Operations teams to collaborate to ensure policy alignment and legal compliance.

  • Provide training and support to local HR teams on effective council engagement and compliance.

  • Deliver training for leaders and employee reps to build capability, mutual understanding, and high-quality dialogue.

  • Promote constructive relationships with employee representatives based on transparency and mutual respect to address and resolve conflicts or formal disputes, using mediation and proactive communication to maintain partnership.

• External & Union Stakeholder Management: Engage with union representatives and industry peers to stay informed on labor dynamics. Ensure Wella’s labor relations approach is locally relevant, globally consistent, and benchmarked against best practices.

• Executive Reporting & Continuous Improvement: Regularly update executive leadership on EWC activities, risks, and outcomes. Identify opportunities for improvement and innovation in employee and labor relations to reinforce Wella’s reputation as a great place to work.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• 10+ years in labour/employee relations within a multinational environment, with deep expertise in European labor relations and experience working with EWC’s, (including experience with a newly set up EWC), works councils or unions across multiple countries.

• Strong knowledge of EU labour law, including the EWC Directive, national labor laws in key markets (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, etc.), and national works council regulations.

• A strong understanding of employee representation in multinational settings and a  proven track record managing European Works Council strategy, leading transnational collective consultation processes.

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

• Skilled at developing strategy and building trust with employee reps and senior leaders; able to translate complex business issues into clear, actionable dialogue.

• Effective facilitator and negotiator with a calm, solutions-focused approach in high-stakes or contentious situations.

• Strong business acumen and ability to align employee relations strategy with broader organizational goals.

• Demonstrated commitment to ethical practices, confidentiality, and fostering inclusive, respectful workplace relationships.

• Intercultural skills/familiarity with cultural nuances in employee representation across Europe.

• Willingness to travel within Europe.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in English (required); additional European languages, especially German and French (both written and spoken), are a plus.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Human Resources, Labor Law, Industrial Relations, or related field.

• A background in conflict resolution or mediation training is a plus

#LI-DB1