Vice President, Associate Relations & HR Compliance

Marriott International is a global leader in hospitality, with a diverse portfolio of brands and a longstanding people-first culture. Guided by our core values—Put People First, Pursue Excellence, Embrace Change, Act with Integrity, and Serve Our World—we create opportunities for associates to build meaningful careers and help deliver exceptional experiences for guests, owners, and communities around the world.

Position Summary

The Vice President, Global Associate Relations & HR Compliance leads the enterprise strategy for associate relations, workplace investigations, HR compliance, human rights, and people-related risk. As the senior subject matter expert in these areas, the role partners with Legal Compliance, Internal Audit, ESG, HR Partners, and HR Centers of Excellence promote fair, consistent, and legally compliant employment practices. The leader advances a proactive, data-driven governance model that identifies emerging risks, strengthens leadership accountability, and builds organizational trust.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy and governance: Set the global Associate Relations and HR Compliance strategy, standards, and operating model, balancing enterprise consistency with local legal and cultural requirements.
• Investigations and reporting channels: Oversee intake, triage, investigation, and resolution of workplace concerns. Maintain rigorous standards for quality, confidentiality, documentation, and procedural fairness.
• Advisory services and appeals: Advise executives, HR leaders, and managers on performance, discipline, accommodations, workplace conduct, employee complaints, reorganizations, job eliminations, and other risk-sensitive employment decisions.  Supports employment appeals and the Guarantee of Fair Treatment process.
• Compliance, immigration, and work authorization: Direct governance, audits, controls, and risk assessments covering employment-related obligations, including wage and hour, leave and accommodations, equal employment, worker classification, workplace postings, anti-harassment, anti-retaliation, immigration compliance, and work authorization. Oversee enterprise standards and controls for employment eligibility verification, visa and immigration processes.
• Associate data privacy: Establish and oversee enterprise requirements for the lawful, ethical, and secure collection, use, access, retention, transfer, and disposal of associate data. Partner with Privacy, Legal, Cybersecurity, HR Technology, and business leaders to embed privacy-by-design principles, manage data-related risk, and support compliance with applicable global privacy laws.
• Analytics and executive reporting: Use data and predictive indicators to identify trends, emerging risks, and preventive actions. Provide clear reporting to executive leaders and governance committees on workplace culture, case outcomes, compliance, and people-related risk.
• Prevention, capability, and process improvement: Translate case trends, regulatory developments, and risk insights into training, communications, manager tools, and preventive programs. Build global Associate Relations capability through common standards, quality reviews, knowledge sharing, and communities of practice, while advancing case-management technology, data integrity, automation, and process improvement.
• Human rights and ESG: Serve as the enterprise expert on workplace human rights and responsible employment practices. Partner with Legal, Finance, and ESG to govern human-capital disclosures and reporting related to workforce practices, labor standards, demographics, and human-rights commitments.
• Enterprise partnership and policy governance: Oversee the development, maintenance, review, and governance of enterprise HR policies and associate handbooks, ensuring they remain current, clear, legally compliant, and aligned with organizational values and business needs. Influence policies, programs, and organizational decisions through an associate-relations and compliance lens, aligning closely with Legal, HR Partners, and Centers of Excellence.
• Team leadership: Build and develop a high-performing global team with deep expertise in investigations, associate and labor relations, compliance, governance, and human rights. Establish clear performance standards, capability building, and succession plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Human Resources, Law, Business, Industrial or Labor Relations, or a related field preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in associate or employee relations, labor relations, HR compliance, employment law, or a related discipline, including significant global or multinational responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading complex workplace investigations, employment-risk programs, executive or governance reporting, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Deep knowledge of employment law, investigations, labor relations, HR compliance, human rights, ESG and human-capital reporting, regulatory governance, and enterprise risk management.
• Strong business acumen, executive presence, judgment, influence, analytical capability, and discretion in highly sensitive matters.

At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates.  We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.