Employee Relations Partner

Northwest Bank; Williamsport (Lycoming County); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwest Bank seeks an Employee Relations Partner to foster a compliant and positive workplace culture. The role advises leaders and staff, handles investigations, and ensures policy adherence across the bank.

Onsite Monday-Thursday with an optional remote Friday, the position emphasizes risk mitigation and regulatory compliance in employment matters. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in HR or related field, 5+ years in employee relations, strong communication skills, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Admin or related field.
• 5+ years HR experience with emphasis on employee relations.
• Knowledge of employment law and banking regulations.
• Excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills.
• Experience conducting investigations and reporting.
• Proficiency in HRIS and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance to managers and employees on employee relations issues, including performance management, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution.
• Conduct 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 ER 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.

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.

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