Employee Relations Specialist and Sr. Employee Relations Specialist

Mortenson Construction; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 69,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and prescription plans

Dental plan

401k retirement plan

Paid time off

Life/AD&D insurance

Mental health resources

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Gym membership discount

Job summary

Mortenson Construction is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to support ER programs by conducting workplace investigations, advising leaders, and ensuring consistent policy application. This role partners with HR partners, Centers of Excellence, and Legal to resolve issues and mitigate risk. The position offers two levels and compensation varies by experience and location, with travel up to ~10%.

Qualifications

• Experience investigating employee relations issues and managing cases.
• Knowledge of employment laws and HR compliance.
• Experience in multi-location or decentralized organizations.
• Strong interviewing, fact-finding, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance objectivity, confidentiality, and sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine and moderately complex investigations, gather facts, interview witnesses, document findings, and recommend actions.
• Guide leaders and HR partners on performance management, policy interpretation, and conflict resolution.
• Manage cases from intake to resolution with timely documentation and consistent policy application.
• Support accommodations, hotline reports, and other ER processes with internal stakeholders.
• Identify ER risks and elevate complex matters appropriately.
• Maintain confidential records compliant with legal requirements.
• Analyze case data to identify trends and opportunities for proactive intervention.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Security, and HR as needed.
• Support tool and process improvements for ER resources and training.

Skills

Investigations

Employee relations

Policy interpretation

Interviews

Documentation

Communication

Data analysis

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Job description

SUMMARY

Mortenson is hiring an Employee Relations Specialist who will support the execution of Employee Relations programs and processes by conducting workplace investigations, advising leaders on employee relations matters, and ensuring consistent application of company policies and employment practices. This role partners with leaders, HR Business Partners, and Centers of Excellence to resolve workplace issues, mitigate risk, and promote a positive employee experience.

NOTE:

This position offers opportunities at both levels - Employee Relations Specialist OR a Senior Employee Relations Specialist, allowing candidates to apply based on their experience and qualifications. Compensation for this role is determined on factors such as experience and location.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct routine and moderately complex employee relations investigations, including gathering facts, conducting interviews, documenting findings, and recommending appropriate actions
• Provide guidance to leaders and HR Business Partners on employee relations issues, including performance management, corrective action, policy interpretation, workplace conduct, and conflict resolution
• Manage employee relations cases from intake through resolution, ensuring timely documentation and consistent application of policies and procedures
• Support accommodations, workplace conduct concerns, hotline reports, and other employee relations processes in partnership with internal stakeholders
• Identify potential employee relations risks and elevate complex matters appropriately
• Maintain accurate case documentation and records while ensuring confidentiality and compliance with legal requirements
• Analyze employee relations case data and trends to identify recurring issues and opportunities for proactive intervention
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Security, and HR teams on employee relations matters as needed
• Support continuous improvement efforts for employee relations tools, resources, processes, and training materials

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience conducting investigations and managing employee relations cases preferred
• Working knowledge of employment laws and HR compliance requirements
• Experience supporting leaders in a multi-location or decentralized organization preferred
• Knowledge of employee relations practices, including investigations, performance management, corrective action, and conflict resolution
• Understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
• Knowledge of HR policies, procedures, and compliance requirements
• Strong interviewing, fact-finding, documentation, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple cases and priorities simultaneously
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills with leaders and team members at various levels
• Ability to balance objectivity, sound judgment, and confidentiality when handling sensitive matters
• Working knowledge of data analysis and reporting
• Active listening skills and openness to diverse perspectives and feedback
• Ability to travel up to ~10%

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SPECIALIST

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum 3 years of HR experience, with experience in employee relations, investigations, performance management, or workplace compliance
• The base pay range for this role is $68,700 - $103,100. (Actual range is higher for the following office locations: Denver, CO and Chicago, IL - 5%, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR - 10%, Washington, D.C. - 12.5%).
• Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual's knowledge, skills, and experience, with consideration given to internal equity. This position is eligible for Mortenson's incentive plan.

SENIOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SPECIALIST

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum 5 years of HR experience with significant focus on employee relations, investigations, and workplace compliance
• The base pay range for this role is $85,300 - $128,000. (Actual range is higher for the following office locations: Denver, CO and Chicago, IL - 5%, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR - 10%, Washington, D.C. - 12.5%).
• Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual's knowledge, skills, and experience, with consideration given to internal equity. This position is eligible for Mortenson's incentive plan.

A few benefits offered include:

(for Non-Craft & Non-Union Craft working 25+ hours / week)

• Medical and prescription drug plans that includes no additional cost vision coverage
• Dental plan
• 401k retirement plan with a generous Mortenson match
• Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
• Employer paid Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• No-Cost mental health tool and concierge with extensive work-life resources
• Tuition reimbursement
• Adoption Assistance
• Gym Membership Discount Program

PLEASE MAKE NOTE:

• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position.
• Our postings are typically open a minimum of 5 days and an average of 44 days.

ABOUT MORTENSON

As a top builder, developer, and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), our expertise spans markets like sports, renewable energy, data centers, healthcare, and more. We are builders at heart, working to ensure the built environment has a lasting positive impact.

Let's Redefine Possible

Equal Employment Opportunity

Your uniqueness brings new and creative perspectives to the team. Mortenson is committed to providing equal opportunities of employment (EOE) to all individuals, regardless of your race, religion, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status or any other legally protected category.

Other Items to Note

• Mortenson reserves the right to hire any individual without legal or financial obligation on unwanted solicitations. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations are accepted without a valid agreement.
• Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TN, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.