Senior Director, Head of Associate Relations

GEICO GEICO · Insurance · Bethesda, MD +4

This role leads and shapes the enterprise Associate Relations function, setting the long-term strategy and operating model to enable a fair, consistent, and values-driven associate experience. It involves modernizing people capabilities, standardizing processes, and leveraging technology. The role serves as a senior thought partner to executives and HR leadership on workforce risk, culture, and governance, defining the vision, standards, and expectations for employee relations work across the enterprise. Key responsibilities include enterprise strategy and transformation, leadership and governance, people and capability building, policy/risk/compliance oversight, and insights/continuous improvement.

What you'd actually do

  1. Define and execute a multi‑year Associate Relations strategy aligned to the Associate Value Proposition and overall people strategy.
  2. Design and evolve the Associate Relations operating model, including role clarity, case segmentation, escalation paths, and decision frameworks.
  3. Lead the modernization of Associate Relations processes, ensuring consistency, scalability, and defensibility across all regions and business units.
  4. Champion the use of data, insights, and technology to improve case outcomes, identify systemic issues, and inform leadership decision‑making.
  5. Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leaders on employee relations risk, organizational health, investigations governance, and complex workforce issues.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or equivalent experience
  • 10–12 years of progressive leadership experience in Associate Relations or Employee Relations
  • Proven experience designing and scaling investigations or employee relations operating models
  • Deep expertise in employment law, EEO regulations, anti-retaliation principles, and investigations governance
  • Strong executive presence and judgment
  • Track record of influencing senior leaders
  • Exceptional communication skills
  • Unwavering integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to fairness, confidentiality, and ethical leadership

Nice to have

  • advanced degree or certifications preferred

What the JD emphasized

  • enterprise-scale functions
  • large, complex organizations
  • employment law
  • EEO regulations
  • anti-retaliation principles
  • investigations governance
  • compliance risk