Employee Relations Business Partner

Front Porch Communities & Services; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Front Porch Communities & Services in Walnut Creek seeks an Employee Relations Business Partner to serve as a subject matter expert, guiding leaders and community HR teams on employee relations matters, investigations, and compliant employment practices.

This role manages a caseload, delivers risk-based recommendations, partners with legal counsel, and helps design scalable processes and trainings to support consistent, fair service delivery.

Qualifications

• Specialized employee relations experience required.
• Previous multi-site experience highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and manage a caseload of employee relations matters, including complex and sensitive investigations, ensuring timely, thorough, and well-documented outcomes.
• Serve as a consultant to leaders and community HR teams on employee relations matters, providing thoughtful, risk-based analysis, guidance, and recommendations, aligned with organizational policies and applicable legal requirements.
• Design and execute investigation plans, conduct interviews, analyze findings within the context of organizational policies and applicable employment laws, and prepare clear, concise, and well-supported investigation reports.
• Partner with the Corporate HR Director, Senior HRBP, and legal counsel on high-risk or complex matters, including litigation support and regulatory inquiries.
• Facilitate resolution of workplace concerns through coaching, mediation, and problem-solving, with a focus on achieving appropriate and sustainable outcomes.
• Provide training, coaching, and guidance to leaders and community HR teams to promote consistent application of HR processes, policies, legal compliance, and best practices in performance management, corrective action, and employee relations.
• Identify trends and patterns in employee relations activity, providing insights and recommendations to mitigate risk, address root causes, and support proactive improvements to workplace practices and processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, staying current on legal developments and advising stakeholders accordingly.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation, case tracking, and reporting to support data integrity and organizational insights.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of employee relations processes, tools, and frameworks to support consistency, scalability, and proactive risk management across the organization.
• Support initiatives to enhance the structure and delivery of employee relations services, including process standardization, documentation, and best practice development.

Skills

Employee relations

Investigation management

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / Psychology / related field

Equivalent experience

Job description

Front Porch Communities & Services (Walnut Creek Office)

Employee Relations Business Partner

Full Time Salaried: Monday - Friday

Pay Range: $140,000 - $150,000 Annually

Summary

The Employee Relations Business Partner serves as a key consultant and subject matter expert, providing guidance and support on employee relations matters across the organization. This role partners with leaders and community HR teams to address workplace concerns, conduct and support investigations, and promote consistent, fair, and compliant employment practices. The Employee Relations Business Partner manages a caseload of employee relations matters and provides risk-based recommendations aligned with organizational policies and applicable laws. This role also contributes to the development and continuous improvement of employee relations processes, tools, and practices to support a consistent and scalable approach to service delivery.

Essential Functions

The duties listed below are considered essential to the successful performance of this position, as defined by Front Porch. Additional responsibilities may be assigned in the future and may also be considered essential to the role:

• Conduct and manage a caseload of employee relations matters, including complex and sensitive investigations, ensuring timely, thorough, and well-documented outcomes.
• Serve as a consultant to leaders and community HR teams on employee relations matters, providing thoughtful, risk-based analysis, guidance, and recommendations, aligned with organizational policies and applicable legal requirements.
• Design and execute investigation plans, conduct interviews, analyze findings within the context of organizational policies and applicable employment laws, and prepare clear, concise, and well-supported investigation reports.
• Partner with the Corporate HR Director, Senior HRBP, and legal counsel on high-risk or complex matters, including litigation support and regulatory inquiries.
• Facilitate resolution of workplace concerns through coaching, mediation, and problem-solving, with a focus on achieving appropriate and sustainable outcomes.
• Provide training, coaching, and guidance to leaders and community HR teams to promote consistent application of HR processes, policies, legal compliance, and best practices in performance management, corrective action, and employee relations.
• Identify trends and patterns in employee relations activity, providing insights and recommendations to mitigate risk, address root causes, and support proactive improvements to workplace practices and processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, staying current on legal developments and advising stakeholders accordingly.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation, case tracking, and reporting to support data integrity and organizational insights.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of employee relations processes, tools, and frameworks to support consistency, scalability, and proactive risk management across the organization.
• Support initiatives to enhance the structure and delivery of employee relations services, including process standardization, documentation, and best practice development.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Leadership

• Foster and participate in an open, inclusive and welcoming work environment by modeling FP’s behaviors and values, which are consistent with the organization's vision and mission. Acts as a role model for the behavior needed that is consistent with the FP Culture.

Communication / Interpersonal

• Effective oral and written communication skills appropriate to the audience's needs.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations live via online or virtual mediums.
• Excellent collaboration and team-building skills.
• Effective conflict management skills.
• Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and executive management.

Decision Making / Organizational Skills

• Demonstrate a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to perform work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate complex and conflicting information, identify relevant facts and patterns, assess risk, and reach objective, well-supported decisions.

Productivity

• Demonstrated time management and priority-setting skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated ability to define, develop, and analyze performance measures and metrics; exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analysis.

Education With Equivalent Qualifications

Essential: Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Psychology, or related field.

Equivalent Experience Instead Of Education

Associates Degree, plus 2 years of work experience, or 4 years of related work experience.

Experience With Equivalent Qualifications

Specialized Employee Relations experience required. Previous multi-site experience highly desired.

Credentials Or Equivalent Qualifications (Preferred)

Certification in workplace investigations or human resources (e.g. SHRM Workplace Investigations, PHR, SHRM-CP or similar)

Compensation Disclaimer: The actual compensation offered will depend on a wide range of factors including, but not limited to, the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, training, education, and licensure/certifications (as applicable).

Front Porch is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support all aspects of diversity and provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran in accordance with the applicable nondiscrimination laws. Final candidates must successfully complete a pre-employment physical, physical abilities test, drug screen and criminal background clearance.