Associate, HR Risk and Operational Excellence

About this role

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented HR Risk and Operational Excellence Associate to support governance frameworks, enhance reporting processes, and assist in overseeing HR risks and operations. This role will focus on supporting HR teams in managing risks and operational challenges, helping maintain accountability at the appropriate levels.

The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of operational risk management, be able to provide insights, and take a collaborative approach to process improvement. This role focuses on supporting the establishment of frameworks and reporting mechanisms that enable teams to manage and resolve issues independently. This role is a second-line function focused on enabling HR teams to address risks and operational challenges effectively while maintaining accountability at the appropriate levels.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Risk Management and Governance

• Support data analysis to identify trends in HR risks and assist in developing mitigation strategies.
• Assist in tracking HR Business Risk Indicators (BRIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor risk and performance.
• Help HR leadership by providing actionable insights and guidance on risk management practices.
• Support the development and maintenance of governance frameworks to identify and track HR risks.
• Assist in collaborating with stakeholders to ensure accountability and ownership of risk mitigation actions.
• Prepare and support the delivery of reports to senior management, summarizing key metrics and trends.
• Promote transparency and adherence to governance processes across HR functions to support risk mitigation.

Policy Governance

• Help maintain the HR Policy Governance framework, ensuring it aligns with regional regulatory requirements.
• Assist in collaborating with Employment Legal and HR teams to track regulatory changes that may affect HR policies.
• Support governance oversight to ensure policy updates are effectively implemented by HR functions.

Third-Party Governance

• Support HR third-party risk management, assisting Vendor Relationship Owners (VROs) with compliance on sourcing, vendor management, privacy, and information security requirements.
• Support the development and maintenance of effective third-party governance frameworks, ensuring HR vendor inventory oversight aligns with organizational standards.

Audit Readiness and Support

• Assist in communication between HR teams and internal/external auditors, ensuring alignment of expectations throughout audits.
• Help evolve an audit preparedness framework, defining protocols for ongoing monitoring and periodic reviews of HR processes to confirm readiness.
• Coordinate with process owners across HR functions to address requests for clarification, additional evidence, or follow-up actions during audits.
• Monitor the resolution of audit issues by tracking management responses and action plans, ensuring timely and effective remediation.
• Conduct independent assessments of remediation actions to confirm their effectiveness and alignment with audit objectives.

Training and Development

• Design and deliver targeted training programs to increase awareness of HR risk governance and policy requirements, including training on audit preparedness to equip HR teams with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate audit processes confidently.
• Provide specialized coaching on essential systems and governance processes, supporting smooth transitions for new initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field.
• 4-6+ years of experience in HR governance, compliance, or risk management roles, preferably in a global, matrixed environment.
• Understanding of employment laws, regulatory requirements, and HR governance practices and how to apply to processes.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across teams.
• Knowledge of HR risk management frameworks, policy governance, and third-party oversight.
• Analytical skills with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing risks.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with privacy and compliance programs.
• Clear communication skills, including the ability to write in 'Plain English' and create simple visual presentations.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and support initiatives in a dynamic environment.

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including: retirement investment and tools designed to help you in building a sound financial future; access to education reimbursement; comprehensive resources to support your physical health and emotional well-being; family support programs; and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics at law.