Head of HR Strategy and Operations

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 o