Employee Relations Manager

Opentext; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenText in India is seeking an Employee Relations Manager to join the Global Employee Relations team and our new Centre of Excellence supporting India, APJ and MEA. You will partner with leaders, HR, and employees on complex matters, including investigations, leave management, and policy interpretation.

This office-based role, five days a week, is preferably based in Bangalore, with Hyderabad also considered, and requires strong knowledge of India employment law, confidentiality, and risk

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent HR experience.
• 8+ years of HR experience with deep Employee Relations expertise.
• Strong knowledge of India employment law and practices.
• Experience conducting neutral, thorough workplace investigations.

Responsibilities

• Coach leaders on performance management and documentation.
• Lead complex workplace investigations independently.
• Support PoSH-related handling of sensitive matters.
• Manage complex employee relations, maintain neutrality and objectivity.
• Review disciplinary actions to ensure proper processes and mitigate risks.
• Oversee complex leave scenarios with HR and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Legal and HR to assess HR legal matters and actions.
• Interpret and apply India labour laws across APAC/MEA and India.

Skills

Employee relations

Mediation

Conflict resolution

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Mentoring/coaching

Confidentiality

India labour law

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR

Job description

Job Summary

As an Employee Relations Manager, you will be a key member of the OpenText Global Employee Relations team and our newly developed Employee Relations Centre of Excellence supporting India, APJ and MEA.

You will serve as a trusted Employee Relations partner to leaders, HR teams and employees, bringing expertise and sound judgement to complex matters spanning performance management, employee grievances and investigations, offboarding, policy interpretation, leave management, HR legal matters, compliance and workplace accommodation.

With deep knowledge of India employment law and practices, you will help leaders navigate sensitive employee situations objectively, consistently and with the right balance of employee experience, business needs and risk management.

This is an office-based role, five days a week, preferably based in Bangalore, with Hyderabad also considered.

Responsibilities

• Coach and advise leaders on performance management cases, helping them deliver objective, constructive feedback while ensuring appropriate documentation.
• Lead complex workplace investigations independently, including establishing investigation teams, gathering relevant facts, interviewing key witnesses, reviewing comparable cases and recommending appropriate courses of action.
• Serve as a member of the PoSH team, supporting the appropriate handling of sensitive workplace matters.
• Manage complex and emotionally charged employee relations situations with composure, neutrality and objectivity.
• Review proposed disciplinary actions and terminations to ensure appropriate processes have been followed and potential risks have been identified and mitigated.
• Meditate workplace issues and employee disputes to help minimise conflict and support effective working relationships.
• Oversee complex leave situations in partnership with HR Shared Services, Benefits and other relevant stakeholders, including effective communication and return-to-work processes.
• Partner with Legal, HR stakeholders and business leaders to assess HR legal matters, analyse facts and recommend appropriate courses of action.
• Interpret and apply relevant labour and employment laws across India and other APAC and MEA countries.
• Help leaders diagnose and resolve complex employee matters through effective questioning, active listening and thoughtful risk assessment.
• Apply OpenText policies, procedures and best practices consistently while advising leaders and helping reduce organisational risk.
• Collaborate with internal legal counsel and, where appropriate and approved, external legal counsel.
• Deliver quarterly Employee Relations reporting, interpret trends and data, and recommend opportunities to positively influence the work environment.
• Build credibility and trusted relationships across the organisation while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality when handling sensitive employee and HR information.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent HR experience.
• 8+ years of HR experience, with significant depth and demonstrated expertise in Employee Relations.
• Strong knowledge and practical understanding of India employment law.
• Demonstrated experience conducting neutral, thorough and timely workplace investigations.
• Experience managing complex performance, grievance, disciplinary, termination and employee relations matters.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, supported by strong active listening and questioning capabilities.
• Proven ability to handle difficult, sensitive or volatile situations professionally and objectively.
• Strong mediation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Sound judgement and a demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive employee information.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with experience assessing complex situations and recommending practical solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and conflicting demands while delivering consistently under tight deadlines.
• Ability and desire to mentor, develop and coach others.
• A highly self-motivated approach with the ability to operate autonomously while keeping relevant stakeholders appropriately informed.
• Strong business acumen and experience working within a large, global organisation.
• A high degree of professional ethics, integrity and transparency.
• Experience supporting APAC and/or MEA countries in addition to India would be an advantage.