Employee Relations Director (Lawyer), Americas

Strategic Leadership 

Lead the employee relations function for Americas, supporting the vision for the Global Employee Relations Centre of Expertise and assisting with the execution of a globally consistent employee relations strategy that aligns with our values, empowers our people, and supports sustainable business success. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping them navigate the evolving employee relations and employment law landscape with clarity and confidence. 

Policy Innovation & Global Governance 

Design and oversee employee relations frameworks that strike the right balance between global consistency and local relevance. Champion forward-thinking, inclusive policies that reflect our cultural aspirations and local labor realities—ensuring fairness, transparency, and long-term trust. 

Proactive Risk & Compliance Stewardship 

Anticipate challenges before they arise. You’ll lead with a proactive lens to identify emerging risks, ensure global compliance with labor laws and employment practices, and guide decisions that protect both people and the business. 

Labor & Union Relations Strategy 

Shape and influence our approach to union engagement and collective bargaining, building collaborative relationships with labor partners and works councils (as applicable). Ensure local HR teams are empowered with the right guidance, resources, and tools to lead with confidence. 

Complex Case Leadership & Resolution 

Be the escalation point for the most sensitive and high-impact employee relations and employment law cases and investigations globally. Model principled, fair decision-making that reflects our values and protects the integrity of our culture. Equip and coach HR leaders to build strong employee relations and employment law acumen at all levels. 

Change Leadership & Organizational Transformation 

Play a pivotal role in managing the people side of transformation—in particular major transitions such as restructuring, M&A, and cultural shifts by providing strategic employee relations and employment law support ensuring smooth execution and minimal risk. Ensure our people feel seen, heard, and respected during change. 

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence 

Build and nurture strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders—internally and externally. 

Internally, partner closely with People Services, People Business Partners and Advisors, Compliance, Data Privacy and senior leadership teams to embed best-in-class employee relations and employment law practices into day-to-day operations and strategic planning. 

Externally, act as the face of the organization in engagement with works councils, regulators, and industry bodies. Represent the company with credibility, diplomacy, and a commitment to collaboration. 

Team Development & Global Collaboration 

Lead the employee relations team for Americas. Cultivate a learning culture, build deep expertise, and ensure the team is equipped to navigate complexity with agility. Partner seamlessly with the Global Employee Relations Director, the Employee Relations Directors for UK, Ireland, Asia & Middle East and Europe (and their teams), the Global Employee Relations Operations Manager, the wider People team, Compliance, and Data Privacy teams as well as senior leaders to co-create solutions. 

Data-Driven Strategy & Continuous Improvement 

Leverage employee relations and employment law updates, insights, analytics, employee voice data and AI to inform decisions, identify patterns, and improve our approach. Your ability to turn data into action will help us foster a workplace that’s not just compliant—but exceptional. 

Culture & Inclusion Advocacy 

Act as a guardian of the company’s values and culture through employee relations and employment law strategies that promote respect, inclusion, and fairness. 

Ensure that every employee relations and employment law touchpoint contributes to a workplace where all employees feel valued, included, and heard. Ensure that employee relations approaches contribute positively to employee experience and employer brand. 

General   

• Act as a visible steward of health and safety and ensuring familiarity and compliance with Health and Safety regulations and guidelines including wellbeing and resilience. 

• Where required, undertake external promotion and presence for both the Arcadis and personal brand in the marketplace through though leadership and speaking engagements. 

• Travel: This role will may require travel from time to time to meet with key stakeholders, and attend meetings and workshops. 

• Depending on location it may require work outside normal business hours

We’re looking for a dynamic, globally minded leader who combines strategic vision with deep expertise in employee relations and employment law. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in complex, multicultural environments and brings a balance of legal knowledge, people leadership, and business acumen. 

• Extensive Employee Relations and Employment law Experience 
  Proven track record of leading employee relations strategy and employment law in large, complex, and highly matrixed organizations across multiple geographies. 

• Leadership in Complex Environments 
  Proven experience managing employee relations and employment law issues across different geographies, labor law frameworks, and cultural contexts. You understand how to lead globally while adapting to local realities. 

• Strong Employment law knowledge 
  Must be a qualified employment lawyer with a deep understanding of global labor and employment laws. Ability to interpret and apply legal principles pragmatically in a business setting is essential. 

• People Leadership 
  Inspirational people leader with experience managing and developing globally dispersed teams. Experience leading through change, transformation, or crisis. You’ve supported business transitions such as mergers, restructuring, or global expansions while ensuring people are treated with dignity and fairness. 

• Strategic Influence & Stakeholder Management 
  Adept at building trusted relationships across senior business leaders, HR, Legal, Compliance, and external labor bodies. You have the presence, communication skills, and credibility to influence at the highest levels. 

• Change & Transformation Expertise 
  Experience supporting M&A, restructuring, or workforce transformation initiatives with a people-first approach and strategic employee relations planning. 

• Data & Insight Driven 
  Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret employee relations and employment law trends, use data and AI to drive strategy, and turn insights into action. 

• Culturally Fluent & Globally Minded 
  Deep appreciation for cultural nuance and diversity. Able to navigate complexity with sensitivity, diplomacy, and an inclusive mindset. 

Personal Attributes: 

• Purpose-driven, values-led, and courageous in standing up for fairness and integrity. 

• Solutions-oriented and agile—able to pivot between strategy and execution. 

• Emotionally intelligent, calm under pressure, and a natural relationship-builder. 

• Comfortable with uncertainty and competing priorities.  

• Passionate about creating workplaces where people feel safe, respected, and heard