Director, Employee Relations

Advance Stores Company Inc (500); United States; Hybrid; USD 148,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellness benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is seeking a Director of Employee Relations to lead enterprise-wide ER strategies across a 4,000+ store population, partnering with HR Leadership, Legal, Compliance, and business leaders to address complex matters and drive proactive solutions for a positive workplace culture.

The role requires 15+ years of progressive HR experience with at least 5+ years in leadership, a bachelor’s degree in HR or related field, and experience in large, multi-site or retail

Qualifications

• Extensive experience conducting and overseeing complex workplace investigations.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations (EEO, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, etc.).
• Experience advising senior leaders on complex employee matters.
• Excellent collaboration and relationship-building across functions.
• Ability to manage sensitive, confidential, high-risk situations with sound judgment.
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience supporting large, multi-site or retail organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement enterprise-wide employee relations strategies, programs, and policies.
• Lead and develop a team of Employee Relations professionals with guidance on complex matters.
• Establish standard processes, tools, and frameworks for consistent practices.
• Monitor trends and recommend proactive solutions to address risks and opportunities.
• Oversee complex investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and policy violations.
• Partner with Legal and Compliance on high-risk matters.
• Establish metrics and reporting to measure trends, case volume, and organizational risk.

Skills

Investigations

Employment law

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business or related field

Job description

Job Summary:

The Director, Employee Relations provides strategic leadership and oversight for the organization's employee relations function, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant employment practices across a 4,000+ store population with potential to expand support of other business functions. This role is responsible for developing and executing employee relations strategies that promote a positive workplace culture, mitigate organizational risk, and support business objectives. The Director partners closely with HR leadership, Legal, Compliance, business leaders, and HR Business Partners to address complex employee matters, conduct investigations, and drive proactive solutions that strengthen employee engagement and workplace effectiveness.

What will you do?

Employee Relations Strategy & Leadership

Develop and implement enterprise-wide employee relations strategies, programs, and policies that support organizational goals and foster a respectful, inclusive workplace culture. Lead and develop a team of Employee Relations professionals, providing direction, coaching, and guidance on complex employee matters. Establish standard processes, tools, and frameworks to ensure consistent employee relations practices across all business units and locations. Monitor employee relations trends and recommend proactive solutions to address organizational risks and opportunities. Manage employee relations operating budget, resources and strategic vendor partnerships.

Investigations & Workplace Concerns

Oversee complex workplace investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace misconduct, policy violations, and other employee complaints. Ensure investigations are conducted objectively, thoroughly, timely, discretely, and in accordance with company policies and legal requirements. Review investigation findings and recommendations to ensure consistency, fairness, and appropriate resolution. Partner with Legal and Compliance teams on high-risk employee relations matters.

Reporting & Analytics

Establish metrics and reporting to measure employee relations trends, investigation outcomes, case volume, root causes, and organizational risk factors. Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and HR executives. Utilize data-driven insights to inform business decisions and improve employee relations practices.

Risk Mitigation & Compliance

Advise senior leaders and HR partners on employee relations best practices and organizational risk mitigation. Assess trends in employee relations data, hotline reports, investigations, and corrective actions to identify potential risks and recommend action plans. Support responses by the Employment Law Compliance team to government agency charges, audits, and employment-related legal claims.

Leadership Coaching & Consultation

Serve as a trusted partner to HR leaders and managers on sensitive employee issues, performance management, disciplinary actions, workplace conflict, and organizational effectiveness. Provide guidance regarding adherence to progressive discipline policies, workplace conduct, and policy interpretation. Coach leaders on effective communication, conflict resolution, and employee engagement strategies.

Culture & Organizational Effectiveness

Promote a culture of accountability, respect, and inclusion, the organization. Partner with HR Centers of Excellence and HR Business Partners to provide insights on key themes and opportunities to address employee experience concerns. Lead initiatives aimed at improving manager effectiveness and improving workplace experience while reducing employee relations risk.

Qualifications:

• Extensive experience conducting and overseeing complex workplace investigations.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations, including EEO, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, and other applicable federal and state laws.
• Experience advising senior leaders on complex employee and organizational matters.
• Exceptional collaboration and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions, navigate competing priorities, and drive solutions in complex organizational environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive, confidential, and high-risk situations with sound judgment and professionalism.
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience supporting large, multi-site or retail organizations.
• Experience working closely with counsel on litigation, agency responses, and employment-related claims.

Certifications:

None required

Experience:

15+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5+ years of significant leadership experience, preferably within a large, multi-site or retail organization; and Education: Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or related field; or, equivalent combination of experience and/or education

Location & Work Availability:

This position is Hybrid (4 days in office, 1 day remote), based at our corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Benefits Summary:

We believe in supporting our Team Members and those they love through comprehensive health & wellness benefits. Learn more here: https://jobs.advanceautoparts.com/us/en/benefits

Company Overview:

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers. As of January 3, 2026, Advance operated 4,305 stores primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company also served 809 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Compensation Range

The good faith estimate for this role is between 147,500.00 USD and 197,000.00 USD salary for a new team member. The rate offered depends on a number of factors, including geographic location, experience in retail, automotive knowledge, education, leadership roles, and other skillsets ideal for this position and shift differential (if applicable).

Benefits:

Advance Auto Parts offers a comprehensive health and wellness benefits program to improve the way of life for our Team Members and those who mean the most to them: their families. Find out more by visiting: Advance Auto Parts-Home California Residents click below for Privacy Notice: https://jobs.advanceautoparts.com/us/en/disclosures Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. As of October 5, 2024, Advance operated 4,781 stores primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also served 1,125 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.