HR Compliance Asst Director

The Hartford•Hartford, CT

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled professional to join the HR Compliance team as an Assistant Director, supporting the HR organization. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in HR Compliance and employment-related legislation, along with the ability to shape strategy, drive operational excellence through AI and automation, and influence outcomes across the organization. This role will also drive modernization efforts through process discovery, innovation, and automation. This position leads a small team of HR Compliance professionals and is accountable for ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulatory obligations including responsibility for executing employment related federal and state AI legislation. The position is also responsible for proactively managing risk and continuously improving compliance processes. The role partners closely with the Law Department, HR, and key business and functional stakeholders, and provides oversight of all employment-related regulatory requirements. This role can have a hybrid or remote work arrangement. Candidates who live near Hartford will have an expectation of working in an office in alignment to our hybrid work schedule (currently three days per week (Tuesday through Thursday)). Candidates who live near other office locations may have a similar expectation or may have a remote work arrangement depending on location. Candidates who do not live near an office will have a remote work arrangement, with the expectation of coming into an office as business needs arise.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred or related experience
5+ years of experience with Compliance, HR, and/or employment law
Experience with state and federal regulatory reporting programs
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex regulatory environments
Strong risk management & mitigation strategy experience
Demonstrated people leadership experience, including managing and developing teams
Proficient preparing executive and/or board level materials and presenting to executive audiences
Knowledge of HR policies, practices, and employment law frameworks
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Copilot
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Flexible, embraces change; can operate equally at a strategic and tactical level as needed
Effective time management and ability to multi-task and prioritize to meet stringent deadlines

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team of HR Compliance professionals, including setting priorities, providing coaching, and ensuring high-quality deliverables
Foster a culture of accountability, efficiency, continuous improvement, and strong risk awareness
Vendor relationship management, contracting and financial oversight of vendor costs
Oversee day-to-day HR Compliance operations, including accuracy of data preparation and on-time reporting to meet regulatory obligations, legislative monitoring, and unemployment claim processing
Accountable for oversight and participation in the creation, governance, and continuous improvement of regulatory reporting processes to support government obligations, including but not limited to wage & hour, EEO, Section 503, VEVRAA, pay equity, and other required filings, serving as the end-to-end process owner for all HR regulatory compliance obligations
Oversee and provide direction on new and emerging regulatory requirements and support organizational readiness
Maintain expert knowledge of HR policies and procedures
Oversee and/or lead the planning and implementation of regulatory changes and corresponding revisions to HR policies, processes, and controls
Own identification, assessment, and mitigation of HR Compliance risks
Serve as a strategic advisor to HR and business leaders on complex risk and compliance matters
Present existing and emerging HR Compliance risks to executive audiences, providing clear insights, trends, and recommended mitigation strategies
Translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, actionable strategies and influence executive decision-making
Lead analysis of employee data and trends to inform strategic decision-making
Develop executive-level reports, presentations, and communications for senior leadership audiences
Provide guidance to HR on laws and regulations governing the employment relationship, including but not limited to FLSA/state wage and hour, EEO, unemployment, I-9/eVerify, ACA, HIPAA, pay transparency, leave laws, and related requirements
Present complex information clearly and effectively to senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams
Lead the evaluation, adoption and scaling of automation and AI-enabled solutions to enhance compliance workflows
Drive continuous improvement and transformation of compliance processes