Employee Relations Partner

Thomas-Jefferson-University-; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and Vision

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Thomas Jefferson University is seeking an Employee Relations Partner to manage complex workplace investigations, provide expert guidance on discipline and performance, and ensure compliance with employment laws across business units. The role collaborates with HRBPs, Legal, and Compliance to mitigate risk and improve the employee experience.

The position emphasizes data-driven insights, proactive risk management, and comprehensive case documentation, with strong emphasis on Just Culture

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or related field.
• 5+ years of relative HR experience.
• Experience conducting complex investigations.
• Knowledge of employment laws and compliance.
• Strong writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to assess risk and potential legal exposure.
• Root cause analysis capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex workplace investigations end-to-end with defensible documentation.
• Provide strategic guidance on progressive discipline and performance management.
• Manage EEOC charges, state agency complaints, and litigation support.
• Conduct adverse impact analyses for RIFs and restructures.
• Lead workplace threat assessment and violence response processes.
• Interpret HR policies and regulatory requirements for leadership.
• Identify systemic risks and escalate enterprise-wide interventions.
• Develop and deliver training on investigations and compliance.

Skills

Investigation methodology

Credibility assessment

Employment law

Compliance expertise

Business writing

Documentation excellence

Objectivity under pressure

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Job description

Job DetailsThe Employee Relations Partner provides specialized expertise in managing complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes. This role partners closely with Strategic HRBPs, leadership, Labor Relations Partners, Legal, and Compliance to mitigate risk and support a positive workplace environment. This role also drives enterprise insights through trend analysis, identifying systemic risks and informing proactive strategies to strengthen culture, reduce liability, and improve employee experience.Job DescriptionSummaryThe Employee Relations Partner provides specialized expertise in managing complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes. This role partners closely with Strategic HRBPs, leadership, Labor Relations Partners, Legal, and Compliance to mitigate risk and support a positive workplace environment. This role also drives enterprise insights through trend analysis, identifying systemic risks and informing proactive strategies to strengthen culture, reduce liability, and improve employee experience.Job DutiesLead complex workplace investigations end-to-end, including intake, investigation planning, witness interviews, evidence review, credibility assessments, and final determination with defensible documentation in accordance with Jefferson policy, tools and process.Ensures employee respect and care during investigation process for the accuser and the accusedServe as the enterprise subject matter expert on investigations and employee relations practices, ensuring consistency and standardization across business units and geographies.Provide strategic guidance and execution of progressive discipline, corrective action, and performance management, ensuring alignment with Just Culture principles and organizational standards.Manage EEOC charges, state agency complaints, and litigation support, including position statements, documentation, and coordination with legal counsel.Conduct adverse impact analyses for reductions in force (RIFs), restructures, and other employment actions to ensure equitable outcomes and minimize legal exposure.Lead threat assessment processes and workplace violence response, partnering with security, Legal, and leadership to mitigate risk and ensure safe outcomes.Interpret and apply HR policies, employment laws, and regulatory requirements, providing consistent, risk-informed recommendations to leadership and HRBPs.Proactively identify and escalate systemic employee relations risks, leveraging data, trends, and case analysis to recommend enterprise-wide interventions in partnership with HRBP’s and leadership.Develop and deliver training and guidance for leaders on investigations, documentation, discipline, and compliance standards.Maintain comprehensive and audit-ready case documentation, reporting, and tracking, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance.Provides support as part of HR team assignments in relation to specific projects and initiatives to support the organization.Interacts with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson.(Do not delete, move or over-write this statement)Minimum QualificationsBachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or related field5 years of relative HR experienceInvestigation Methodology & Credibility AssessmentEmployment Law & Compliance ExpertiseBusiness Writing & Documentation ExcellenceObjectivity & Sound Judgment Under PressureRisk Assessment & Legal Exposure AnalysisRoot cause analysis skillsAdditional QualificationsPhysical DemandsLift and carry 25 lbs. frequent sitting/standing, frequent keyboard use, *patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.Work ShiftWorkday Day (United States of America)Worker Sub TypeRegularEmployee EntityPrimary Location Address1101 Market, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of AmericaNationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University , home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health , nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.Jefferson is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.BenefitsJefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps ), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.