Director, Employee Relations

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Title and Summary Director, Employee Relations Overview Mastercard is seeking a senior Employee Relations leader with deep expertise in workplace investigations, employment law, policy interpretation, and risk management. This highly visible role serves as a strategic advisor to People Business Partners, Employment Counsel, Compliance, and business executives on complex employee matters with legal, regulatory, and reputational implications. The Role • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, HR Business Partners, Compliance, and Employment Counsel on complex employee relations matters involving legal, regulatory, and reputational risk. • Investigate employee relations concerns, including complaints of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and other work-related issues. • Prepare investigative documentation, including interview notes and summary of findings. • Partner closely with Employment Law to support litigation readiness, regulatory inquiries, agency responses, discovery requests, and employment-related compliance initiatives. • Develop and enhance global employee relations policies, procedures, governance frameworks, and guidance materials to ensure consistent and compliant practices across jurisdictions. • Conduct thorough fact-finding, witness interviews, evidence reviews, and documentation to support investigation outcomes and recommendations. • Assess legal, regulatory, employee experience, and reputational risk associated with employment-related decisions and provide recommendations to senior leaders. • Deliver training and coaching to HR and business leaders on employee relations practices, workplace investigations, risk mitigation, and employment law developments. • Lead cross-functional projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening organizational culture, compliance, and employee experience on a global scale. • Partner with internal employment counsel, compliance and HR Business Partners to effectively manage employee relations issues/investigations • Create insights from data to inform process and improvements to drive a culture consistent with Mastercard values. All About You: • Juris Doctor (JD) with a minimum 5+ years of practicing employment law in a law firm, in-house legal department, or combined legal and ER environment is strongly preferred. • 10+ years of employee relations, employment law, workplace investigations, labor and employment compliance, or a related field, with significant experience managing complex workplace investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, ethics concerns, and employee misconduct. • Experience advising on a wide range of complex U.S. employment law and employee relations issues. • Demonstrated experience partnering with legal teams to assess risk, develop investigations strategy, and guide employment-related decision making. • Strong knowledge of US employment law and strong investigative skills. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to organize and analyze data. • Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders on legally sensitive employee matters and risk mitigation strategies. • Proven project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage global projects. • Experience working in close partnership with in-ho