VP, Legal Investigations

Job Description:

Role Summary/Purpose:

The VP, Legal Investigations is a member of the Investigations Center of Excellence (ICOE) focused on conducting internal investigations within Synchrony. Investigations relate to potential policy violations of Our Code, including fair employment, compliance, regulatory, integrity, and information security-related violations, as well as employee relations concerns. The ICOE also is responsible for handling investigations to support the Company’s risk oversight leadership committees and other legal processes.

Candidates must have experience in conducting workplace-related investigations and reporting out investigative findings in a corporate setting. That includes planning investigations, conducting interviews, gathering, and reviewing documents and data, reaching findings, writing reports, orally reporting out findings and recommendations, and managing case files. This position will be responsible for investigations related all types of matters handled by the ICOE, but it is expected to focus on fair employment and employee relations matters. Thus, prior experience in human resources also is required, whether at Synchrony and or/or another corporate (including financial services/banking) employer.

Successful candidates must demonstrate strong professional writing skills, and the ability to independently take large amounts of information and prepare well organized, clear, accurate and actionable investigation reports. They also must possess strong oral communication skills and experience handling employee interviews and sensitive conversations and participating in report outs to stakeholders. The role requires confidentiality, critical thinking, objectivity, empathy, and commitment to upholding the Company’s open reporting culture and Company policies. The position will manage a large caseload, and thus, also requires strong time management skills.

Our Way of Working

We’re proud to offer you choice and flexibility. At Synchrony, our way of working allows you to have the option to work from home, near one of our Hubs or come into one of our offices. Occasionally you may be required to commute to our nearest office for in person engagement activities such as business or team meetings, training and culture events.

This position also requires flexibility to align one’s work schedule to meet the needs of our global investigation participants and stakeholders. It may require occasional domestic and international travel, on short notice, to conduct investigations. If working remotely, the position also requires regular and reliable, high-speed internet and telephone connectivity, and a private work location where confidentiality can be maintained and be free from interruptions.

This position is in the Legal function and reports to Synchrony’s Investigations Counsel & ICOE Leader.

This position is in the Legal function and reports to Synchrony’s Investigations Counsel & ICOE Leader.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Plan and conduct confidential internal investigations, including interviewing individuals, and collecting and reviewing documents, electronic data, and other evidence.

• Prepare formal, written investigative reports, detailing the information obtained and results of the investigation.

• Assess risk, determine disclosure strategy, and make recommendations to management and counsel within the context of an investigation.

• Provide briefings on investigative matters, including to concern raisers, subjects and management, as well as members of the Synchrony Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and other senior executives that comprise oversight committees.

• Handle integrity, employee relations and other workplace matters objectively and sensitively, including concerns about discrimination and other types of unfair treatment.

• Identify significant issues and control weaknesses in the course of investigations and make recommendations to management to minimize risk of exposure and loss, reputational and/or legal issues.

• Formulate and recommend action responses based on results of investigations.

• Work with Investigations, Litigation and L&E counsel, internal auditors, Compliance & Ombuds Leaders, Human Resources, Information Security, and Physical Security and other personnel to assess, manage, resolve and administer a large caseload of matters to be investigated.

• Perform other duties and/or special projects as assigned, including training, and policy and procedure management duties.

• Be available to work outside of traditional/regular business hours to accommodate investigatory interviews, emergency matters, meetings, etc. with participants in other time zones.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a human resources role(s) with at least 2 years of direct experience managing employee relations matters to resolution.

• 5 years of experience working in financial services, law firm or another corporate setting; or 2 years of experience working in financial services, law firm or corporate setting along with 3 years of government or military experience.

• Demonstrated experience handling workplace-related investigations in a corporate setting.

Desired Characteristics:

• Outstanding written communication skills with the ability to write coherent, well organized, and factually and grammatically accurate investigative reports.

• Strong verbal communication skills: the position requires effective, organized, and professional communications with participants in investigations, management, and stakeholders.

• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage a heavy caseload and multiple priorities.

• Ability to operate with objectivity and empathy and develop trust.

• Strong analysis skills and judgment, with the ability to quickly identify and prioritize issues, and synthesize large amounts of data and other information.

• Experience handling confidential personal and business proprietary information.

• Familiarity with labor and employment laws.

• Effective at partnering with teammates, legal counsel, and management stakeholders.

• Ability to work efficiently in a remote/work from home setting, including leveraging virtual communication, file sharing, and meeting technologies.

• Experience with responding to employment regulatory proceedings (e.g., EEOC, DOL, OFCCP, OSHA) or similar a plus. JD welcome but not required.

• Experience with credit card or other financial services regulations and operational processes including relating to customer service and collections functions a plus.

• Internal Synchrony experience a plus.

Grade/Level: 12

The salary range for this position is 110,000.00 - 185,000.00 USD Annual and is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.

Actual compensation offered within the posted salary range will be based upon work experience, skill level or knowledge.

Salaries are adjusted according to market in CA, NY Metro and Seattle.

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be 18 years or older

• You must have a high school diploma or equivalent

• You must be willing to take a drug test, submit to a background investigation and submit fingerprints as part of the onboarding process

• You must be able to satisfy the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

• New hires (Level 4-7) must have 9 months of continuous service with the company before they are eligible to post on other roles. Once this new hire time in position requirement is met, the associate will have a minimum 6 months’ time in position before they can post for future non-exempt roles. Employees, level 8 or greater, must have at least 18 months’ time in position before they can post. All internal employees must consistently meet performance expectations and have approval from your manager to post (or the approval of your manager and HR if you don’t meet the time in position or performance expectations).

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Our Commitment:

When you join us, you’ll be part of a diverse, inclusive culture where your skills, experience, and voice are not only heard—but valued. We celebrate the differences in all of us and believe that our individual, unique perspectives is what makes Synchrony truly a great place to work. Together, we’re building a future where we can all belong, connect and turn ideals into action. Through the power of our 8 Diversity Networks , with more than 60% of our workforce engaged, you’ll find community to connect with an opportunity to go beyond your passions.

This starts when you choose to apply for a role at Synchrony. We ensure all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice:

• Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

• If you need special accommodations, please call our Career Support Line so that we can discuss your specific situation. We can be reached at 1-866-301-5627. Representatives are available from 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday, Central Standard Time

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