Vice President, Employee Relations, Mumbai

About this role

Our CEO and leadership team believe the long-term sustainability of our firm is heavily dependent on our people. At BlackRock, we make a deliberate effort to foster a unifying culture, to encourage innovation, to ensure that we are developing, retaining and recruiting the best talent, to align employee incentives and risk taking with those of the firm, and to incorporate inclusion and diversity into all levels of our business.

BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. The BlackRock Human Resources team strives to transform the human resources function in the same way we are transforming access to financial well-being. We are students of the market and technology that are passionate about finding, growing and retaining the best talent to help deliver on the firm’s purpose to help more people build a strong financial future.

The Employee Relations teams’ purpose is to ensure fair and consistent treatment of all BlackRock colleagues, through fostering a respectful and inclusive environment.   The team advises across BlackRock’s business areas on a number of employee related matters.    It is also the area responsible for handling employee complaints.

About the Employee Relations Team

This role will report to the Head of Employee Relations APAC.  The role is responsible for proactively managing employee relations investigations and complex employment matters.  The investigatory responsibilities include review of employee complaints, ensuring fairness, equity, thoroughness, timeliness, balance and neutrality in all investigations. Leveraging a standardized investigations framework, the team hold our people accountable where there is discriminatory conduct, harassment or other inappropriate behaviors, or where there has been any other breach of BlackRock’s policies according to globally consistent principles.

In addition, the role includes providing advice and support on a broad range of employee issues, including but not limited to:

• Guidance on employee underperformance

• Involuntary employee exits

• Interpretation of employment policy and practice

• Advising on policy exceptions for unique employee circumstances

• Handling employee impacts arising from business restructuring activities, including M&A, disposals, joint ventures, new market set up

The ER Team work with HR business partners and co-ordinate activity with other HR centers of expertise e.g Reward, HR Ops, as well as engaging other internal partners such as legal, compliance, enterprise security in enabling the development of individual employee solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Proactively manage complex ER cases, provide advice and support on a broad range of employee issues across the APAC region, including (but not limited to) management of conduct investigations, under-performance, involuntary exits (including redundancies) and interpretation of employment policy and practices.

• Conduct robust, timely, fair and equitable investigations into employee complaints and allegations of misconduct, in line with the global investigations framework and local policies, practices and legal frameworks.  Ensure outcomes are fair and consistent across the region and support BlackRock’s inclusive culture.

• Be active in directly managing ER matters from initiation through to conclusion, working directly with employees, business managers and leaders in executing procedural steps in line with established procedures.

• Partner with HR Business Partners, Legal & Compliance and the Regional Head of ER, to assess and mitigate legal, regulatory and reputational risk, whilst supporting Blackrock’s inclusive culture. 

• Advise on the employee relations impact of organizational change, including workforce reductions and acquisitions.

• Support the Regional Head of ER in defining and executing the ER strategy for APAC and ensuring ER practices and processes support BlackRock’s organizational objectives and culture.

• Liaise with and advise the global HR Business Partner community on investigations and areas of concern.

• Use the ER case management system to log cases and use the associated data to gather insights, identify trends and develop proactive strategies to remediate risk. 

• Interpret, communicate and maintain ER policies, processes and training, ensuring their content is current and fit for purpose.

• Assist in the design and delivery of training to managers, employees and HR partners on relevant ER topics. 

• Partner with other Center of Excellence (COE) teams such as Talent Management, Total Rewards and Talent Acquisition on firm-wide HR projects. 

• Responsible for the oversight and execution of strategic projects within the Employee Relations function to build the team’s impact, effectiveness and efficiency.

• Creates project plans, stakeholder management plans, communication plans, risk management plans and central project issue log to track, and close various projects. 

Knowledge/Experience:

• Years of Experience: 12 years of working experience with 6 years of relevant experience in Employee Relations

• Solid Employee Relations case management and advisory experience and/or HR Business Partner or Employment Legal experience, including hands-on investigations experience, preferably with APAC wide experience.

• Strong awareness and curiosity of regional employment laws and regulations, and ability to pragmatically apply this knowledge in a commercial environment.    

• Experience working in a highly matrixed and results oriented environment. Proven ability to navigate through ambiguity.

• Act as an effective thought partner when considering emerging issues and formulate considered and thoughtful responses.

• Excellent consultative, coaching and conflict resolution skills.

• Confidently influence and articulate complex issues to a diverse range of stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.  Experience building consensus on a cross-functional basis.

• Analytical and creative mind-set. Capable of challenging the status quo and flexing solutions to changing demands. Considers the local, regional and global impact of decisions.

• Highly motivated to seek higher levels of performance in self and in others.

• Operates with a risk-control mindset and is committed to the highest standards of excellence, confidentiality and personal integrity. 

• Preferred candidates within the Financial Services sector

• Able to independently juggle multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.  Proven track record in project management and successful delivery of complex projects 

Our benefits
To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.