Employee Relations Partner

Northwest Bank; State College (Centre County); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwest Bank is seeking an Employee Relations Partner to foster a compliant workplace culture and advise leaders on relations matters. The role focuses on investigations, policy adherence, and risk mitigation within a banking environment.

Responsibilities include guiding managers on performance and discipline, partnering with Legal and Compliance, and maintaining thorough case documentation. Onsite collaboration is expected with some optional remote days.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations.
• In-depth knowledge of employment law, regulatory compliance, and HR best practices.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive and complex situations with discretion.
• Experience conducting investigations and preparing detailed reports.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance to managers and employees on employee relations issues, including performance management and disciplinary actions.
• Conduct confidential investigations into employee complaints, ensuring compliance with internal policies and regulations.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and HR leadership to ensure legally sound handling of employee relations matters.
• Monitor employee relations trends, identify risk areas, and recommend proactive solutions.
• Support development and delivery of training programs on workplace conduct and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners and senior leaders on organizational changes and workforce planning.
• Maintain accurate documentation of employee relations cases and ensure confidentiality.
• Review and enhance employee relations policies to align with industry standards and employment law.
• Serve as a resource for interpreting employment laws and banking regulations.

Skills

HR expertise

Communication skills

Discretion

Investigations

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

IN0534 Fishers, OH0523 Independence Bus Office, OH0713 NW Bancshares HQ, PA0258 Bellevue, PA0445 Williamsport, PA0725 State College Business Office

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Employee Relations Partner plays a critical role in fostering a positive and compliant workplace culture within the bank. This role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, ensuring fair and consistent treatment across the organization while mitigating risk and supporting the bank's mission of integrity, customer service, and operational excellence. The Employee Relations Partner is responsible for managing employee relations matters, conducting investigations, and supporting policy adherence in alignment with banking regulations and employment law.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert guidance to managers and employees on employee relations issues, including performance management, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution.
• Conduct thorough, confidential investigations into employee complaints, including harassment, discrimination, and ethical concerns, ensuring compliance with internal policies and banking regulations.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and HR leadership to ensure consistent and legally sound handling of employee relations matters.
• Monitor and analyze employee relations trends, identifying risk areas and recommending proactive solutions to improve workplace culture and reduce liability.
• Support the development and delivery of training programs on workplace conduct, ethics, respectful communication, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners and senior leaders to support organizational changes, restructures, and workforce planning initiatives.
• Maintain detailed documentation of employee relations cases, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance with recordkeeping standards.
• Assist in the review and enhancement of employee relations policies and procedures to align with banking industry standards and employment law.
• Serve as a resource for interpreting federal and state employment laws, banking regulations, and internal policies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations, preferably in the banking or financial services industry.
• In-depth knowledge of employment law, regulatory compliance, and HR best practices.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive and complex situations with discretion and professionalism.
• Experience conducting investigations and preparing detailed reports.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Attributes:

• Master's degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR)
• Experience working in a regulated industry such as banking or financial services.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret data to inform decisions.
• Commitment to ethical practices, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to build trust and influence across all levels of the organization.

This position will be performed onsite M-Th. Fridays are an optional work from home day.

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Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.