SENIOR ASSOCIATE RELATIONS ADVISOR

Kohl's; Menomonee Falls (WI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Kohl's in Menomonee Falls, WI, seeks a Senior Associate Relations Advisor to oversee key areas within Associate Relations. You will lead investigations, partner with HRBPs, and mentor team members.

The role emphasizes confidential handling, cross-functional training, and developing solutions based on trends. Onsite Monday-Thursday with Friday remote option, you’ll work closely with leadership to drive process improvements and employee relations outcomes.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in HR or a similar function.
• Strong experience and knowledge of associate relations.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritize workload.
• Able to maintain high level of confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Lead critical associate relations decisions and execute confidential investigations across all organizational levels for claims involving harassment, leadership behavior, and attendance.
• Serve as the strategic liaison for HR Business Partners (HRBPs), cross-functional business partners and Associate Relations team, including presenting key findings and investigation resolutions.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for all associate relations related inquiries and concerns.
• Provide coaching to cross-functional leadership.
• Lead performance conversations and give direction on the communication plan for their associate(s).
• Conduct follow up conversations with impacted associates.
• Draft and participate in counseling sessions that are occurring across the organization.
• Build strategic cross-functional partnerships, evaluate processes and data to drive operational efficiency, and provide ongoing guidance and support to team members and leadership.
• Leverage case management data and cross-functional partnerships with Legal and HRBPs to identify organizational trends and deliver targeted associate relations solutions for key business units.
• Partner with Associate Relations leaders to identify best practices for mitigating case reoccurrences.
• Serve as a primary resource and mentor for the Associate Relations team, leading new member training by managing structured onboarding calendars and providing ongoing guidance to team members and leaders.
• Identify, develop and implement professional development training and educational activities for the Associate Relations team.
• Identify and implement solution(s) for Associate Relations/AskHR team cohesion
• Partner closely with Associate Relations Subject Matter Experts (SME) groups to design and/or facilitate custom training for individual business units
• Additional tasks may be assigned

Skills

HR experience

Associate relations

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

ServiceNow

Workday

Job description

This role is based at our Corporate Office in Menomonee Falls, WI. You’ll work onsite from Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays.

About the Role

As Senior Associate Relations Advisor, you will oversee a critical area of work within Associate Relations in addition to the Associate Relations advisor responsibilities. You will serve as a lead resource for new and current Associate Relations team members, identify opportunities and oversee the implementation of solutions based on key themes or trends.

What You’ll Do

• Lead critical associate relations decisions and execute confidential investigations across all organizational levels for claims involving harassment, leadership behavior, and attendance
• Serve as the strategic liaison for HR Business Partners (HRBPs), cross-functional business partners and Associate Relations team, including presenting key findings and investigation resolutions
• Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for all associate relations related inquiries and concerns
• Provide coaching to cross-functional leadership
• Lead performance conversations and give direction on the communication plan for their associate(s)
• Conduct follow up conversations with impacted associates
• Draft and participate in counseling sessions that are occurring across the organization
• Serve as a subject matter expert within a specific area or body of work
• Build strategic cross-functional partnerships, evaluate processes and data to drive operational efficiency, and provide ongoing guidance and support to team members and leadership
• Leverage case management data and cross-functional partnerships with Legal and HRBPs to identify organizational trends and deliver targeted associate relations solutions for key business units
• Partner with Associate Relations leaders to identify best practices for mitigating case reoccurrences
• Serve as a primary resource and mentor for the Associate Relations team, leading new member training by managing structured onboarding calendars and providing ongoing guidance to team members and leaders
• Identify, develop and implement professional development training and educational activities for the Associate Relations team
• Identify and implement solution(s) for Associate Relations/AskHR team cohesion
• Partner closely with Associate Relations Subject Matter Experts (SME) groups to design and/or facilitate custom training for individual business units

Additional tasks may be assigned

What Skills You Have

Required

• 3+ years of experience in HR or similar function
• Strong experience and knowledge of associate relations
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• High attention to detail
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritize workload
• Able to maintain high level of confidentiality

Preferred

• Experience with ServiceNow, Workday, and other human capital management systems