Manager of Employee Relations

Texas Children's Hospital; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Children's Hospital is seeking an Employee Relations Manager to provide strategic leadership for the Employee Relations team, partnering with leaders across the organization to foster a respectful, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.

This role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders, driving proactive solutions that strengthen employee engagement, minimize risk, and support a positive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field; master's preferred.
• Progressive experience in Employee Relations, HR, or Labor Relations.
• Extensive knowledge of employment laws (ADA, FMLA, PWFA, FLSA, EEO, NLRA).
• Experience leading complex workplace investigations and advising leaders on sensitive matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Employee Relations Consultants, fostering collaboration, accountability, and customer service.
• Provide strategic guidance on complex employee relations matters including investigations, performance mgmt, accommodations, and leave administration.
• Serve as escalation point for high-risk ER issues and lead investigations involving senior leaders.
• Partner with HRBPs, Legal, Compliance, and leaders to resolve complex employee issues while ensuring compliance with laws and policies.
• Monitor team performance, case metrics, and service levels to ensure timely, high-quality support.
• Analyze ER trends and workforce data to identify opportunities for proactive interventions and organizational improvement.
• Lead development and continuous improvement of ER policies, procedures, training, and resources.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local employment laws to ensure compliant practices.

Skills

Employee relations leadership

Investigations

Coaching & development

Policy development

Communication

Data analysis

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor's in HR/Business

Master's degree preferred

Tools

HRIS (Workday/PeopleSoft)

Job description

At Texas Children's, our people are at the heart of everything we do. The Employee Relations Manager provides strategic leadership for the Employee Relations team, partnering with leaders across the organization to foster a respectful, inclusive, and high-performing workplace. This leader oversees complex employee relations matters, coaches and develops a team of Employee Relations Consultants, and ensures consistent application of employment practices while promoting our HEART values—Humility, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Trust.

This role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders, driving proactive solutions that strengthen employee engagement, minimize organizational risk, and support a positive workplace culture.

Responsibilities

As the Employee Relations Manager, you will:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Employee Relations Consultants, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and exceptional customer service.
• Provide strategic guidance on complex employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, performance management, accommodations, leave administration, and conflict resolution.
• Serve as the escalation point for high-risk employee relations issues and lead investigations involving senior leaders and sensitive workplace concerns.
• Partner with HR Business Partners, Legal, Compliance, and organizational leaders to resolve complex employee issues while ensuring compliance with employment laws and organizational policies.
• Monitor team performance, case management metrics, and service levels to ensure timely, consistent, and high-quality support across the organization.
• Analyze employee relations trends and workforce data to identify opportunities for proactive interventions, leadership coaching, and organizational improvement.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, procedures, training, and educational resources.
• Stay current on federal, state, and local employment laws and ensure organizational practices remain compliant and aligned with best practices.
• Represent Employee Relations on cross-functional committees and strategic initiatives that support organizational culture and workforce effectiveness.
  

Qualifications

We're looking for a collaborative leader who brings:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Progressive experience in Employee Relations, Human Resources, or Labor Relations, including leadership experience managing HR professionals.
• Extensive knowledge of employment laws and regulations, including ADA, FMLA, PWFA, FLSA, EEO, and NLRA.
• Experience leading complex workplace investigations and advising leaders on sensitive employee relations matters.
• Strong coaching, leadership, and team development skills.
• Exceptional communication, conflict resolution, and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends, solve complex problems, and develop practical, legally sound solutions.
• Ability to influence leaders at all levels while balancing employee experience, operational needs, and organizational risk.
• Experience working in a complex healthcare or large matrixed organization is preferred.