SVP Human Resources (Consultant)

Engagement Overview

The company is seeking an experienced HR Consultant with deep expertise in international reductions in force (RIFs) to lead and guide workforce reductions outside the United States. This consultant will serve as a hands-on partner to executive leadership HR and Legal to design and execute compliant consistent and efficient separations across multiple countries.

This is a short-term engagement (approximately 23 months) with flexibility for part-time or full-time support. The consultant may begin as early as this week. No travel is required.

Company Background

• Public company (IPO completed last year).
• Raised $100M and invested significantly over the past year.
• Currently implementing cost-cutting initiatives.
• U.S.-based RIFs have already been completed successfully.
• International RIFs are underway but have encountered legal cultural and executional challenges.

Scope of Countries

• Japan
• Taiwan - trouble employee here
• Ireland
• United Kingdom
• France

Approximately 45 employees are impacted across these regions . Only one or two international separations have been completed to date.

Current Challenges

• Complex statutory requirements and local employment laws.
• Overreliance on mutual separation agreements that do not always succeed.
• Risk of escalating severance offers when agreements stall.
• Lack of a clear fallback strategy when mutual agreement is not achievable.
• Gaps in leadership alignment documentation and execution consistency.
• Need for clear guidance on messaging sequencing and decision-making.

Consultant Responsibilities

The consultant will:

• Lead the international RIF strategy and execution across all in-scope countries.
• Develop a country-by-country playbook including:
• Statutory minimums and legal constraints.
• Recommended severance frameworks.
• When and how to pursue mutual agreements vs. alternative pathways.
• Advise leadership on what to say what to do and what not to do throughout the process.
• Partner closely with internal HR (Nevada-based) and Legal (San Francisco-based).
• Ensure documentation process and execution are consistent and defensible.
• Help leadership avoid unnecessary escalation of severance offers while mitigating risk.
• Provide real-time guidance on complex or sensitive employee situations.
• Bring prior hands-on experience and judgment rather than purely theoretical advice.

Ideal Consultant Profile

• Proven experience leading international RIFs particularly in Europe and Asia.
• Strong working knowledge of employment practices in Japan Taiwan UK Ireland and France.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous high-stakes environments.
• Able to quickly assess situations ask the right questions and establish clear direction.
• Executive presence and ability to advise C-suite leadership.
• Practical decisive and action-oriented.

Required Experience:

Senior Exec