Employee Relations Manager (Human Resources)

Axiom Law; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom is seeking a Manager, Employee Relations to join our People Team as a senior individual contributor, focusing on employee relations for our legal talent population and supporting policy development and compensation initiatives.

The role partners with Legal Talent, Talent Success Partners, and other stakeholders to resolve complex workplace matters, lead investigations, coach managers, and maintain confidential documentation while advocating fair and consistent practices.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations involving performance, conduct, harassment, discrimination, or other sensitive concerns
• Experience supporting a distributed, multi-state workforce is preferred; international employee relations exposure is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Ability to assess complex employee relations matters, develop balanced recommendations, and influence leaders who hold final decision-making authority
• 5+ years of progressive HR, employee relations, employment law, or HR business partner experience, including direct ownership of complex employee relations matters
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. employment practices and the judgment to recognize when Legal or senior People leadership involvement is required
• Professional certification in HR or employee relations (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) preferred but not required
• Excellent listening skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trust with employees, managers, and senior stakeholders
• Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to handle highly confidential information with care
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, move matters forward efficiently, and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage difficult conversations calmly, clearly, and empathetically
• Ability to remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial or confrontational situations
• Curiosity, adaptability, and a genuine interest in learning and growing across the broader People function

Responsibilities

• Manage employee relations matters for legal talent and support People policies and programs
• Partner with Legal Talent, Talent Success Partners, Sales, People Team, Legal and Compliance, and other stakeholders to resolve workplace matters
• Lead prompt, fair, and thorough workplace investigations; gather facts, document findings, and provide recommendations
• Prepare documentation, coordinate stakeholder communications, and lead outcome discussions with employees and managers
• Coach managers on performance management, feedback, and difficult conversations
• Handle sensitive wellness and mental health related workplace concerns with confidentiality
• Maintain thorough, timely, and confidential case documentation
• Identify recurring themes and recommend improvements to policies and training
• Contribute to global People initiatives, including compensation review processes
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Skills

Workplace investigations

Communications

Stakeholder management

Emotional intelligence

Confidentiality

Judgment

Interpersonal skills

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

SHRM-CP or PHR (certifications)

Job description

Responsibilities

• Axiom is seeking a Manager, Employee Relations to join our People Team as a senior individual contributor
• This role will have primary responsibility for managing employee relations matters for our legal talent population (consisting of lawyers and allied legal professionals) and contribute to the development and implementation of People policies, practices, compensation initiatives and other programs that support Axiom’s employees and business
• The Manager, Employee Relations will partner closely with Legal Talent, Talent Success Partners, Sales, People Team, Legal and Compliance, and other business stakeholders to resolve complex workplace matters and ensure people practices are fair, transparent, practical and consistently applied
• This role will support predominantly US based employees, with opportunities to extend across Canada, UK, Asia and Australia
• Independently manage complex employee relations matters involving Legal Talent, including performance concerns, conduct issues, workplace conflict, harassment and discrimination complaints, and concerns arising at client sites or during engagements
• Lead prompt, fair, and thorough workplace investigations; gather and assess facts, document findings, identify risks, and make clear, well-supported recommendations for resolution, corrective action, or other next steps
• Partner with People leadership and Legal counsel on final decisions for material employee relations matters and implement approved recommendations, including preparing documentation, coordinating stakeholder communications, and leading outcome discussions with employees and managers
• Coach managers and internal business teams on performance management, effective feedback, difficult conversations, and sound employee relations practices
• Handle sensitive wellness and mental health related workplace concerns with empathy, appropriate confidentiality, and sound judgment; connect employees and managers to the appropriate internal resources
• Maintain thorough, timely, and confidential case documentation, including investigation materials, performance records, recommendations, approved actions, and outcome communications
• Identify recurring employee relations themes and recommend improvements to policies, manager guidance, training, and operational practices
• Contribute to global People initiatives, including annual compensation review processes, policy updates, and other projects that strengthen the employee experience and support business growth
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations involving performance, conduct, harassment, discrimination, or other sensitive concernsExperience supporting a distributed, multi-state workforce is preferred; international employee relations exposure is a plusBachelor’s degree or equivalentAbility to assess complex employee relations matters, develop balanced recommendations, and influence leaders who hold final decision-making authority5+ years of progressive HR, employee relations, employment law, or HR business partner experience, including direct ownership of complex employee relations mattersStrong working knowledge of U.S. employment practices and the judgment to recognize when Legal or senior People leadership involvement is requiredProfessional certification in HR or employee relations ("e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR") preferred but not requiredExcellent listening skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trust with employees, managers, and senior stakeholdersStrong judgment, discretion, and ability to handle highly confidential information with careStrong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, move matters forward efficiently, and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environmentExceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage difficult conversations calmly, clearly, and empatheticallyAbility to remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial or confrontational situationsCuriosity, adaptability, and a genuine interest in learning and growing across the broader People function