Manager, Employee Relations

Person-Centered-Services; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Person-Centered-Services in Buffalo, NY seeks a Manager of Employee Relations to lead all employee relations and performance management activities, providing HR leadership and consultation to support effective people management and mitigate risk.

You will directly handle complex investigations, supervise the HR Business Partners, and drive standardized processes and reporting to ensure compliant, consistent practices across the organization.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR policy
• Experience leading investigations and complex employee relations
• Proven ability to coach leaders and manage teams effectively
• Ability to develop standardized HR tools and reporting
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

Responsibilities

• Lead employee relations and manage complex workplace concerns; advise leaders on policies and actions.
• Supervise HR Business Partner; coach team performance.
• Review investigation plans and findings to ensure thorough, objective practices.
• Prepare investigation reports; provide evidence-based recommendations.
• Lead disciplinary meetings and investigations as appropriate.
• Explain employment laws to managers and staff.
• Guide performance management and coaching programs.
• Develop standardized tools and processes for employee relations documentation and tracking.
• Monitor evaluation processes for compliance and reporting.
• Provide policy interpretation and training to leaders.
• Collaborate with leaders to identify training needs and opportunities.
• Partner with senior HR leadership to align employee relations across the organization.

Skills

Employee relations leadership

Investigations

Coaching & mentoring

Policy interpretation

HR compliance

Performance management

Interpersonal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

5+ years HR management experience

Job description

Manager, Employee Relations

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager, Employee Relations leads the organization’s employee relations and performance management functions, providing HR leadership, consultation, and business partnership to support effective people management and mitigate operational risk. The Manager directly manages complex employee relations matters and investigations supporting HR compliance, policy, and risk management while driving continuous improvement within assigned areas of responsibility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead the organization’s employee relations function and directly manage employee relations matters, including complex and sensitive workplace concerns. Provide advice and guidance to leaders and team members regarding HR policies and procedures, performance evaluations, performance and conduct concerns, corrective action, and other employee relations matters. Develop and execute comprehensive investigation plans personally conducting complex and sensitive investigations involving allegations of misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, policy violations and other workplace concerns.
• Supervise HR Business Partner, coaching and managing team member performance.
• Provide oversight, coaching and support to HR Business Partner conducting employee relations matters and investigations, including reviewing investigation plans, documentation, findings, and recommendations to promote thorough, objective, and consistent practices.
• Prepare and review investigation reports, analyze findings and provide evidence-based recommendations for appropriate resolution and corrective action.
• Lead or participate in team member disciplinary meetings, terminations, investigations, and other sensitive team member interaction as appropriate.
• Research and explain laws and legal affairs concerning employment to managers, supervisors, and team members.
• Provides day-to-day performance management guidance to management (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, disciplinary actions).
• Lead the strategic development, implementation, and continuous improvement of standardized tools, processes and systems that support consistent documentation, tracking and management of employee relation matters and ongoing performance evaluations.
• Provide oversight of performance evaluation processes by monitoring compliance and effectiveness; developing accurate, actionable reports to strengthen accountability, and drive continuous improvement.
• Provides guidance and consultation to leaders and HR team members regarding the interpretation and consistent application of HR policies, procedures, and employment practices.
• Provide education, coaching, and training to leaders regarding employee relations, performance management, HR policies, compliance and other areas within the position’s scope.
• Serves as a trusted HR advisor to organizational leaders, providing consultation and HR expertise to support effective leadership, sound people decisions, and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with organizational leaders to identify training needs and opportunities for skill enhancement.
• Collaborate across the HR team and with organizational leaders to ensure coordinated, consistent, and effective delivery of HR practices and solutions.
• Partner closely with the Senior Manager, HR Partnership & Leadership to ensure alignment across employee relations, performance management, leadership effectiveness, and HR business partnership practices and identify opportunities for proactive leader support and consistent HR solutions.

OTHER DUTIES

• Commits to a respectful, just, and supportive environment for all individuals and team members aligning with the company’s commitment to, inclusion and belonging.
• As a leader, sets and promotes a culture focused on, inclusion and belonging in all business practices. This includes actively seeking, hiring, and developing talented candidates and appropriately and fairly addressing issues related to inclusion in all interactions with team members.
• Other duties as necessary or assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations.
• Strong conflict management skills.
• Sound business acumen and the ability to establish credibility, trust, and partnership at all levels of the organization
• Ability to effectively manage multiple, competing, and high priority projects with varying deadlines

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree preferred, preferably in human resource management or related field.
• At least five years of HR experience at a management or senior level with emphasis on employee relations required.
• Experience in conducting or overseeing investigations, as well as development and implementation of performance management processes as a primary job responsibility.
• Strong understanding of best practices related to conducting investigations.

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