Employee Relations Manager

Aurora, CO; Aurora (CO); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance (Kaiser)

Dental & Vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Aurora Mental Health & Recovery is seeking an Employee Relations Manager to oversee a team of HR Generalists and handle complex employee relations matters. You will guide investigations, performance management, and policy interpretation while partnering with leaders to maintain a fair, compliant workplace culture.

This hands-on leadership role requires strong judgment, collaboration, and the ability to mitigate workplace risks while empowering employees to perform their best.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5 to 8+ years of progressive HR experience, with emphasis on employee relations.
• 1 to 3+ years of people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead employee relations matters and guide investigations to resolution.
• Coach leaders and HR partners on performance, conduct, and policy application.
• Ensure timely, legally compliant resolution of complaints and concerns.
• Interpret policies and employment laws to support consistent decisions.
• Partner with Legal and HR leadership on high-risk or complex matters.
• Develop action plans to address recurring ER issues and mitigate risk.

Skills

Employee relations

Policy interpretation

Investigations

Performance management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / related field

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Stith Center: 791 Chambers Road, Aurora, CO 80011 - Aurora, CO 80011Position Type: 1 FTE (40hrs/wk, benefited)Education Level: Bachelor's DegreeSalary Range: $108,895.20 - $163,342.80 SalaryJob Shift: 3 Day Hybrid - 3 days RemoteJob Category: Human ResourcesJoin Aurora Mental Health & Recovery as our Employee Relations Manager and play a pivotal role in fostering a positive, equitable, and high-performing workplace culture. In this hands-on leadership role, you will oversee complex employee relations matters while leading a team of HR Generalists dedicated to supporting employees and leaders through workplace challenges. Serving as a trusted advisor across the organization, you will guide investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, and policy interpretation, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional who thrives on building strong partnerships, mitigating workplace risks, and creating an environment where employees feel respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

Schedule.

This position will work Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, and is eligible for a hybrid model, which allows for a mix of remote and in-office work, with an expectation of being in the office two days per week and working from home three days. This schedule may be adjusted based on training and department needs.

Salary for this role.

Salary for this role. Starting wage is based on experience and company equity. Paid bi-weekly.

$111,073 to $166,610

Essential Functions:

• Managerial Accountabilities: Lead employees, maintaining team focus and direction. Hire, provide performance feedback and coaching, and fire employees in accord with organization guidance. Communicate with external stakeholders related to team accountability. Cascade information from sr. leadership to lower levels in alignment with organization strategy and goals. Design and implement effective group and intergroup work and communication expectations. Define and monitor group-level performance indicators. Diagnose and resolve problems within and among work groups.
• Personally manage a portfolio of complex, high-risk, and sensitive employee relations cases, including investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and decision support to leaders and HR partners on employee performance, conduct, and policy application.
• Ensure timely, consistent, and legally compliant resolution of employee complaints and concerns.
• Conduct thorough investigations, including interviews, documentation review, and findings summaries with clear recommendations.
• Interpret company policies, employment laws, and regulations to guide fair and consistent decision-making.
• Partner with Legal and HR leadership on high-risk or complex matters.
• Ensure documentation meets legal and organizational standards.
• Identify trends and recommend policy updates or new practices to mitigate risk.
• Analyze ER data and case trends to identify systemic issues and organizational risk areas.
• Develop recommendations and action plans to address recurring challenges.
• Partner with HR Leadership and leaders to implement preventative strategies and improve employee experience.
• Coach managers at all levels on handling employee issues, performance conversations, and conflict resolution.
• Support the development of leadership capability in managing employee relations effectively.
• Provide guidance to employees on workplace concerns while maintaining neutrality and professionalism.
• Design and deliver training on employee relations topics such as workplace conduct, investigations, performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Promote awareness of policies and best practices across the organization.
• Provide oversight, coaching, and support to HR Generalists assigned to employee relations work, including case intake, documentation, investigation planning, and appropriate follow-through.
• Review HR Generalist case recommendations to ensure consistent application of policy, sound judgment, legal compliance, and alignment with organizational expectations.
• Support AMHR leaders in responding to manager and employee questions regarding workplace concerns, performance issues, corrective action, policy interpretation, leaves, accommodations, and other HR-related matters.
• Monitor HR Generalist workload, case status, and documentation practices to promote timely resolution, accurate records, and appropriate escalation of complex or high-risk matters.

QualificationsRequirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 5 to 8+ years of progressive HR experience, with a strong focus on employee relations
• 1 to 3+ years of people management experience
• Preferred: HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR)
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations and managing complex ER cases
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices
• Excellent judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage sensitive situations with professionalism and discretion
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills
• High emotional intelligence and conflict resolution ability
• Ability to balance empathy with business and legal considerations
• Detail-oriented with strong documentation skills
• Skilled at navigating ambiguity and making sound decisions under pressure
• Team leadership and coaching mindset

Benefits:

• Health insurance: Kaiser
• Dental, vision, and flexible spending accounts (dependent care & health care)
• Company paid basic life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability coverage*
• 403(b) retirement plan, which provides 100% vesting immediately, and matching contributions up to 4% after one year of employment
• Accrued Vacation pay up to 12 days and accrued Sick Pay up to 12 days per year, and 2 floating holidays (hours calculated pro-rata basis based on full-time equivalency)
• The company observes 11 designated holidays each year. Exception: Employees working in 24/7 programs or facilities are scheduled to work their regular shifts if the holiday falls on their scheduled workday. In these cases, employees will receive their regular pay for hours worked plus holiday pay.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary term life insurance
• Short-term disability*

*Eligible for benefit if working 30 hours per week or more

Our Mission, Vision and Core Values.

Mission: Deeply rooted in our diverse community, we deliver state-of-the-art care and meaningful outcomes that impact emotional well-being and addiction recovery.

Vision: To foster hope and healing through compassionate, quality care.

Core Values: Passionate caring; Rising to the challenge; Honoring and respecting all persons; Believing in resilience; Putting clients and community first; Commitment to collaboration and teamwork.

Required Vaccination and TB Test.

At AMHR, the health and safety of our clients and staff are our top priorities. As part of this commitment, all employees are required to receive an annual influenza (flu) shot and present a negative TB test result before their first day of work. Proof of both the flu shot and negative TB test must be provided on your first day of employment. Medical and religious exemptions can be requested if necessary.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Aurora Mental Health & Recovery and subsidiaries (AMHR) are dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and length, protective hairstyles), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, religion, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form or context, including harassment or exclusion.