Employee Relations Program Manager

QTS Realty Trust; Overland Park (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

PTO and holidays

Volunteer days

Stock Purchase Plan

Parental Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

QTS Realty Trust in Overland Park, KS seeks an Employee Relations Program Manager to build and lead a comprehensive employee relations function. You will partner with People Services, Legal and business leadership to drive compliant, value-aligned outcomes across complex employment matters.

You will advise on sensitive performance and disciplinary cases, manage investigations, and promote a high-performing, inclusive culture. Strong ER expertise and collaboration with Legal are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration or related field.
• Five+ years of experience in employee relations or HR with significant investigation experience.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. employment laws and regulations.
• Awareness of government agency/EEOC response and defense.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations with professionalism and judgment.
• Experience handling complex terminations and structured exit discussions.
• Experience partnering with Legal on employment matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including detailed investigation reports.
• Ability to influence and build trust with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement employee relations strategy with Legal and People Services.
• Build frameworks for managing performance concerns, conduct, investigations, terminations.
• Conduct prompt, thorough investigations into complaints or misconduct, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations.
• Partner with Business Partners and leadership to resolve issues balancing legal risk and business needs.
• Provide guidance on performance management, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution.
• Ensure consistent application of company policies and applicable employment laws.
• Draft investigation reports and other employee relations documents.
• Support development and delivery of employee relations training for managers and employees.
• Analyze trends and propose solutions to improve culture and reduce risk.
• Collaborate with Legal to ensure regulatory alignment.
• Maintain and update policies reflecting current laws and best practices.
• Support audits, regulatory inspections, and internal reviews.

Skills

Employee relations

Investigations

Policy interpretation

Disciplinary actions

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Legal risk awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business

Job description

Who we are: As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be. The Employee Relations Program Manager will build and lead an employee relations function. This role will evolve our employee relations practices, partnering closely with the People Services organization, Legal and business leadership to ensure consistent, compliant, and value-aligned outcomes across complex employment matters. This role is responsible for advising on sensitive performance and disciplinary cases, managing workplace investigations, advising on policy interpretation, mitigating risk, and fostering a compliant, inclusive, and high-performing culture. This role requires extensive employee relations expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement employee relations strategy in partnership with Legal and the People Services Organization.
• Build on frameworks and standards for managing performance concerns, conduct issues, investigations, and terminations.
• Conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into employee complaints and/or employee misconduct, including allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and policy violations.
• Function as a trusted partner to Business Partners and leadership to resolve employee relations issues while balancing legal risk and business needs.
• Provide guidance to Business Partners and management on performance management, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution.
• Ensure consistent application and interpretation of company policies, procedures, and applicable employment laws.
• Draft investigation reports, and other employee relations documents.
• Support the development and delivery of employee relations training programs for managers and employees.
• Analyze employee relations trends and recommend initiative-taking solutions to improve workplace culture and reduce risk.
• Collaborate with Legal as appropriate to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Assist in maintaining and updating employee policies and procedures to reflect current laws and best practices.
• Support audits, regulatory inspections, and internal reviews as needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field
• Five or more years of experience in employee relations or HR, with significant investigation experience
• Strong knowledge of U.S. employment laws and regulations
• Awareness of government agency/EEOC response and defense
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential situations with professionalism and sound judgment.
• Experience managing complex terminations and structured employee exit discussions.
• Experience partnering closely with Legal teams on employment matters.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting detailed investigation reports.
• Ability to influence and build trust with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills

Preferred Qualifications

• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR)

Benefits

• Roth and Traditional 401(k) matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Every employee is bonus or commission eligible
• Generous PTO, Paid Volunteer Days Plus Floating Holidays
• Stock Purchase Plan (SPP)
• 11 paid Holidays Annually/Holiday compensation when worked
• Pet and Legal Insurance
• Q-Rest Sabbatical Program
• Q-Anniversary Service Award Program
• Parental Leave
• Military Benefits Package
• QTS Charitable Matching Gift Program
• QTS Scholarship for Employee Dependents
• QTS Crisis Fund Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

QTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Learn more: Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or discrimination claim.

The "Know Your Rights" Poster is included here: Know Your Rights (English) Know Your Rights (Spanish) The pay transparency policy is available here: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster-Formatted QTS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.