Associate Director - HR Governance

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

Job Description

We are seeking an HR Governance Lead to establish and oversee governance practices across HR, starting with Talent Acquisition and expanding over time into broader HR governance. 

This role will help ensure that candidate and employee data, AI-enabled tools, and related decision processes are managed responsibly and in line with global legal, regulatory, ethical, and company standards covering privacy, retention, processing, access, fairness, transparency, and human oversight. 

The role will act as a key partner across HR, Talent Acquisition, Legal, Privacy, Security, Procurement, and Technology to identify risks, strengthen controls, and enable compliant, practical ways of working. This is a high-visibility role requiring strong stakeholder management, structured project leadership, and sound judgment in navigating evolving legislation, emerging AI regulation, and operational change. 

What this role will oversee: 

• Governance of HR and Talent Acquisition data practices, with an initial focus on candidate data 
• Governance of AI-enabled HR and TA processes, tools, and decision support practices 
• Risk identification and mitigation related to data privacy, retention, processing, access, fairness, transparency, and human oversight 
• Governance requirements across HR and TA tools, processes, and third-party vendors 
• Cross-functional coordination on policy interpretation, controls, remediation, and readiness 
• Ongoing monitoring of legislative and regulatory developments affecting HR data handling and AI-enabled people processes globally 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the design and implementation of governance practices across HR, beginning with Talent Acquisition 
• Define and embed governance standards for the responsible use of AI in HR and Talent Acquisition, including screening, matching, assessment, workflow automation, and decision support tools 
• Identify and assess risks related to data privacy, data retention, lawful processing, data sharing, access management, and AI-related decision risk 
• Partner with Legal, Privacy, Security, Procurement, Technology, HR stakeholders and suppliers to define governance standards, controls, decision rights, and escalation paths 
• Review HR and TA processes, systems, and vendor arrangements to identify compliance gaps, operational risks, and AI governance concerns 
• Establish practical controls for AI-related risk, including fairness, transparency, explainability, human oversight, documentation, and vendor accountability 
• Drive governance-related projects and remediation plans, ensuring clear ownership, timelines, and stakeholder alignment 
• Support the development and maintenance of retention requirements, processing standards, guidance, and governance documentation 
• Translate legal, regulatory, and policy requirements into practical operating processes and guardrails for HR and TA teams 
• Provide oversight and challenge on the implementation or use of HR and TA tools, with a focus on compliant and responsible data and AI practices 
• Build reporting and governance updates for senior stakeholders to track risk, progress, decisions, and readiness 
• Promote awareness and adoption of sound governance practices across HR and Talent Acquisition teams globally 

A little bit about you:

You are credible with senior stakeholders, disciplined in project delivery, and confident translating regulatory, policy, or technical requirements into clear actions for teams. You take a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach and know how to interpret guidelines in a way that enables progress rather than shutting it down. You are curious, comfortable working with data, and confident using evidence to spot patterns, challenge assumptions, and support areas such as bias reviews and audit activity. You bring strong AI fluency, not just awareness of the landscape, but the ability to engage critically with AI-enabled tools, ask the right questions, and help teams apply them safely, responsibly, and effectively. 

Qualifications

Must have: 

• Significant experience in stakeholder management across multiple functions and levels 
• Strong project or program management experience, ideally across risk, compliance, governance, process, systems, or transformation initiatives 
• Good understanding of data privacy, data retention, data processing, and access management principles 
• Working knowledge of global legal, regulatory, and governance frameworks relevant to HR data and AI-enabled decision making, including GDPR, UK GDPR / Data Protection Act, the EU AI Act, automated decision-making considerations, and other applicable local privacy, employment, and AI-related requirements 
• Awareness of global responsible AI expectations and practical governance considerations such as fairness, transparency, explainability, documentation, accountability, and human oversight 
• Experience drafting, implementing, or overseeing policies, controls, governance frameworks, or operating standards 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex requirements for business audiences 

Preferred:

• Experience in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, Governance, Risk, Compliance, Data Privacy, or Responsible AI 
• Experience working with Talent Acquisition or HR tools and related processes 
• Exposure to vendor governance, risk assessments, audit activity, privacy reviews, or control frameworks 
• Experience working in a global or multi-jurisdiction environment 
• Familiarity with global AI governance frameworks or standards such as NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001, ISO/IEC 23894, or equivalent responsible AI approaches 

Plus: 

• Direct experience with Talent Acquisition tools, HR platforms, or implementation/change activity in HR systems 
• Familiarity with candidate lifecycle data, consent, retention schedules, and vendor data processing considerations 
• Experience supporting governance for AI-enabled hiring, assessment, matching, or workflow tools 

Success measures:

• Governance framework established for Talent Acquisition, with a clear path to broader HR governance ownership 
• Improved visibility of privacy, retention, processing, and AI-related risks across HR and TA 
• Stronger controls and more consistent governance practices across systems, vendors, and processes 
• Clear and timely remediation of identified risks or compliance gaps 
• Effective stakeholder engagement and decision-making across HR and partner functions 
• Practical governance standards in place for the responsible use of AI across HR and Talent Acquisition 

HR Governance Lead 

We are looking for an HR Governance Lead to build and oversee governance practices across HR, starting with Talent Acquisition and expanding over time into broader HR governance. This role will focus on managing risks related to data privacy, retention, processing, and AI-enabled people practices, while helping ensure HR data and tools are used in a compliant, responsible, and practical way. 

Working across HR , TA, Legal , Privacy , Security , Procurement , and Technology , this person will identify risk, strengthen controls, coordinate remediation, and translate legal, regulatory, and policy requirements into clear operational practices that help the business move forward. The role also includes helping define governance standards for the responsible use of AI in HR and Talent Acquisition, including vendor oversight, human oversight, fairness, transparency, and documentation expectations. We are looking for someone who can interpret guidelines with sound judgment, enable progress, and help teams get things done in the right way. 

The ideal candidate will bring experience in governance, compliance, risk, HR operations, data privacy, or related disciplines, along with strong stakeholder and project leadership skills. Experience with HR or TA tools, global regulatory environments, and AI governance considerations will be a strong advantage. 

Additional Information

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles:

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

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Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence. All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the