Director, Employee Relations

Director, Employee Relations

Location: Orange County, CA

The Employee Relations function will play a critical role in enabling Envista's culture, protecting the organization, and ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant employment practices across our global workforce. We are seeking a Director, Employee Relations to build and lead a global Employee Relations Center of Excellence focused on delivering a consistent high-quality employee experience while proactively mitigating risk.

In this role, you will partner closely with HR Business Partners, HR Centers of Excellence, Compliance, Employment Law, and HR Technology to advise on complex workplace matters, lead investigations, strengthen ER processes, and identify trends that inform scalable programs, policies, and practices. The ER Director will bring deep employee relations expertise, strong judgment, and a proactive mindset to help build a forward-looking ER roadmap that supports business needs, reinforces accountability, and ensures employees are treated fairly and consistently. This position reports to the VP, Global Human Resources.

What You'll Do (Responsibilities)

• Build and lead Envista's Employee Relations Center of Excellence (COE)
• Design and implement a consistent, scalable ER operating model across regions and businesses
• Develop a group of highly skilled, high performing ER Partners
• Partner with business leaders to collaborate and coach regarding ER matters
• Lead complex employee relations cases and investigations, ensuring neutrality, consistency, and compliance
• Serve as a key strategic partner to execute on key business strategies while minimizing risk
• Develop ER playbooks, processes, and standard work for conducting investigations, managing performance, handling disciplinary actions, and resolving employee issues
• Establish intake, triage, escalation, and resolution processes aligned to ServiceNow and HR Service Delivery
• Partner closely with Legal on high-risk matters and ensure strong risk management practices
• Coach leaders and HR partners on employee relations matters and difficult conversations
• Develop ER metrics, dashboards, and insights to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Identify systemic issues and partner with HR leaders to address root causes through policy, training, or process changes

What You'll Deliver (Key Outcomes)

• Established ER COE with clear governance, scope, and operating model
• Consistent and timely resolution of employee relations cases
• Reduced volume of complaint escalation and improved employee trust
• Standardized processes and improved documentation quality
• Centralized data and insights on ER trends and risks
• Improved capability of leaders and HR partners to manage employee issues

Core Capabilities (How You Will Succeed)

• Applies creative thinking to complex, sensitive situations
• Exercises sound judgment balancing risk, fairness, and business outcomes
• Builds structured, scalable solutions to reduce recurring issues
• Uses data and trends to inform decisions and proactive actions
• Collaborates effectively across HR, Legal, and the business
• Delivers timely, consistent outcomes
• Adapts under pressure while building long-term capability
• Continuously improves ER practices and processes

Job Requirements:

What You Bring (Qualifications)

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in Employee Relations, investigations, or employment law
• Deep expertise in conducting investigations and managing complex employee issues
• Experience building or scaling an ER function, COE, or centralized capability preferred
• Strong understanding of employment law and compliance requirements
• Excellent judgment and ability to handle sensitive and high-risk situations
• Strong communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills, while earning trust.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment through an inclusive leadership style
• Travel up to 25%

Target Market Salary Range: $183,100 - $223,800

Operating Company: Corporate

Envista is a global leader in the dental industry, uniting more than 30 trusted brands—including DEXIS, Kerr, Nobel Biocare, and Ormco—under one mission: partnering with dental professionals to improve patients' lives. With a heritage of category-defining innovation, our brands have shaped modern dentistry: Nobel Biocare introduced the first dental implant, Ormco is a pioneer in both traditional and digital orthodontics, DEXIS has long been at the forefront of 2D, 3D and intraoral imaging, and Kerr has supported clinicians for over 135 years. Our high-performing culture is underpinned by our CIRCLe Values and the Envista Business System. Guided by these, we deliver a comprehensive portfolio of technologies, consumables, and services that empower clinicians to provide confident, efficient care—today and for the future. Learn more at

Envista and all Envista Companies are equal opportunity employers that evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics protected by law.