Director of Employee & Labor Relations (EMEA)

About the role

Dow Jones is seeking a senior leader to steer employee and labor relations across its EMEA operations. Reporting to the VP of Employee & Labor Relations in New York, you will act as the primary on‑the‑ground partner for compliance, negotiation and relationship management throughout Europe.

Key responsibilities

• Directly manage high‑stakes employee relations matters, including complex grievances, investigations and disciplinary hearings.
• Provide coaching and guidance to the EMEA People Team and regional leaders on conflict resolution and risk mitigation.
• Develop and deliver training programs on performance management, dispute resolution and employee awareness.
• Analyze employee relations data to identify trends and partner with stakeholders to address macro‑level issues.
• Serve as the main company contact for works councils, unions and employee delegates in Germany, France, Spain and the UK.
• Lead negotiations with employee representatives on collective bargaining agreements, shop agreements, policy rollouts and equality plans.
• Advise on sectoral collective bargaining agreements and ensure compliance with evolving legislation.
• Collaborate with Global Compliance to assess legislative impact on contracts, HRIS and the employee lifecycle.
• Partner with the EMEA GM and People Teams, maintaining a feedback loop with the New York VP.

Required profile

• 12+ years of experience in employee and labor relations, performance management and compliance.
• Professional fluency in English and Spanish.
• Knowledge of Spanish employment and labor laws; familiarity with other European regulations is a plus.
• Proven project and process management abilities with a track record of delivering results.
• Ability to make independent, risk‑based decisions in a fast‑paced, global environment.
• Builder mindset, comfortable navigating complex employee ecosystems.
• Experience working with collective bargaining agreements.
• High discretion and ability to handle confidential matters.

Required skills