Employee Relations Partner: Investigations & Coaching

Baker Group; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Baker Group is seeking an Employee Relations Business Partner to lead investigations, advise on workplace concerns, and promote a respectful, compliant, and high-performing workplace. This role emphasizes union and non-union employee relations, data-driven guidance, and collaboration with Legal and CHRO.

Ideal candidates will have 5+ years in employee relations, experience in a unionized setting, and HR certification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years progressive experience in employee relations, human resources, investigations, or a related field.
• Professional HR certification, such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR, preferred.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations in areas such as harassment, discrimination, wage/hour, etc. and advising on remedial action.
• Experience working in a unionized environment, including familiarity with collective bargaining agreements, grievance processes and labor-management relations.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and practices, performance management, conflict resolution, and HR policies and procedures.
• Experience preparing reports and presenting findings or recommendations to leadership.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Responsibilities

• Conduct timely, thorough, objective, and well-documented employee relations investigations.
• Coach managers and leaders through difficult, sensitive, or high-impact conversations.
• Advise leaders on performance management, workplace conduct, conflict resolution, and employee concerns.
• Provide corrective action advice, including recommendations, documentation, and tracking.
• Collaborate with Operations leadership and other key stakeholders to navigate and coordinate relevant union policies, agreements and communications, as well other industry relationships as it relates to active investigations or related matters.
• Manage inquiries to the compliance hotline and email, processing and responding to matters as deemed appropriate in partnership with other compliance hotline managers.
• Works with General Counsel and CHRO on complex cases, employee relations strategies, and to raise appropriate matters to senior leadership, outside legal counsel, etc.
• Partner with HR Manager and/or Safety Director to assist with reasonable accommodation investigations, interactive processes and other relevant matters, as well HIPAA training as needed.
• Maintain confidential and accurate case documentation and summaries, metrics, reports, records, and follow-up actions.
• Partner with others as appropriate to address union grievances, manage active agency complaints, assist with litigation discovery and processes, as well other claims.
• Provide input on HR policies, procedures, and practices to improve clarity, consistency, compliance, and employee experience.
• Assist with the development and delivery of employee relations-related training and other annual required trainings (i.e. respectful workplace, anti-harassment expectations, drug policy, etc.).
• Analyze available data, trends and best practices to identify, recommend and help implement useful communications, training, coaching, process improvement, projects and other organizational initiatives and proactive solutions to facilitate a compliant and respectful workplace.
• Partner with the HR Compliance Analyst to assist with unemployment filings, responses and hearings, and coordinate and/or provide supporting documentation and testimony as appropriate.
• Support compliance with applicable employment laws and Company policy in consultation with the CHRO and General Counsel.
• Protect sensitive information and individual privacy to the greatest extent practicable, without promising absolute confidentiality.
• Contribute to special related projects and initiatives that support employee relations, HR priorities, process improvements and organizational goals.

Skills

Investigations

Coaching

Policy guidance

Data analysis

Communication

HR collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

HR certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP/PHR/SPHR)

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Baker Group is seeking an Employee Relations Business Partner to lead investigations, advise on workplace concerns, and promote a respectful, compliant, and high-performing workplace. This role emphasizes union and non-union employee relations, data-driven guidance, and collaboration with Legal and CHRO.

Ideal candidates will have 5+ years in employee relations, experience in a unionized setting, and HR certification.