Manager, Employee Relations

Sallie Mae; New Castle (DE); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO (paid time off)

401k with employer match

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Life insurance

Hybrid work model

Educational assistance

Job summary

Sallie Mae in Delaware seeks a Manager, Employee Relations to lead the company’s efforts in fostering a healthy work environment, ensuring compliance with employment laws, and driving strategic employee relations initiatives.

You will advise managers, conduct investigations, develop policies, and partner with HR to address systemic issues, ensuring fair treatment and practical solutions across the organization.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of employment laws (EEOC, FMLA, ADA, FLSA).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across levels.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities; handle sensitive information with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement policies on employee relations, harassment, discrimination prevention, and conflict resolution.
• Guide managers and employees on performance management and disciplinary actions.
• Partner with HR to identify systemic issues and recommend improvements.
• Conduct investigations into complaints and provide action recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and deliver trainings for staff and managers.
• Build positive relationships with stakeholders, including employee groups and government agencies.

Skills

Employment law knowledge

Effective communication

Problem solving

Discretion and confidentiality

HR compliance experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / Business

Master's degree preferred

Job description

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You’ll Contribute

The Manager, Employee Relations will lead our company’s efforts in fostering positive employee relations, maintaining a healthy and productive work environment, and ensuring compliance with all employment laws and regulations. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with excellent communication and problem-solving skills, able to handle complex and sensitive employee relations issues with tact and diplomacy.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and implement company policies and procedures related to employee relations, including harassment and discrimination prevention, employee feedback mechanisms, and conflict resolution.
• Provide guidance and support to managers and employees on all employee relations issues, including performance management, and disciplinary actions.
• Partner with HR Business Partners to identify and address any systemic employee relations issues and make recommendations for improvements.
• Conduct investigations into complaints or allegations of harassment, discrimination, or other misconduct and provide recommendations for appropriate action.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant employment laws and regulations and provide training to employees and managers on these topics.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders, including employee groups, and government agencies.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.

What you have

Minimum: Indicate minimum education, skills and experience required.

• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations, including EEOC, FMLA, ADA, and FLSA.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to analyze complex issues and develop effective solutions.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and tact.
• Experience in a HR compliance is a plus.

Preferred: Indicate “nice to haves” regarding education, skills, and experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in employee relations or a related field, including at least 3 years of managerial experience.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing that function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

Feeling your best helps you do your best:

Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed
• Support for financial-well-being and retirement401k with employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more
• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)
• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives
• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs
• Career development and training opportunities

Not the right fit? Let us know you’re interested in a future opportunity by clicking Introduce Yourself in the top-right corner of the page or create an account to set up email alerts as new job postings become available that meet your interest!

Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here for federal job applicant notices, and here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call [phone] and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.