Senior Employee Relations & Investigations Consultant

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 96,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k and pension

Health and welfare benefits

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Northern Trust in Chicago seeks a Senior Employee Relations Consultant to advise managers and HR partners on employee relations, misconduct, performance, policy interpretation, investigations and terminations.

You will lead complex investigations, partner with Legal, develop policies, and help improve processes. This role focuses on risk mitigation, employee experience, and compliance within a global financial services firm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field.
• 7+ years HR experience including employee relations.
• Experience conducting complex workplace investigations.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor on employee relations matters.
• Lead and manage complex workplace investigations.
• Partner with Legal as appropriate, including matters requiring attorney-client privilege.
• Conduct thorough fact-finding, documentation, risk assessments, and investigations while maintaining confidentiality.
• Provide coaching and guidance to managers and HR partners regarding employee performance concerns.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and HR stakeholders to ensure consistent application of policies and compliance with employment laws and regulations.
• Analyze employee relations data, case trends, and organizational risks to identify opportunities for proactive intervention and continuous improvement.
• Recommend enhancements to policies, procedures, and employee relations practices based on investigation findings, and industry best practices.
• Support organizational change initiatives by advising leaders on employee relations implications and risk mitigation strategies.
• Participate in cross-functional HR projects and initiatives focused on employee experience, risk management, compliance, and process improvement.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior Employee Relations team members and contribute to the development of ER best practices across the function.
• Lead or participate in strategic projects and process improvements that enhance the effectiveness and scalability of employee relations programs.

Skills

Employee relations

Investigations

Policy interpretation

Coaching

Data analysis

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Northern Trust in Chicago seeks a Senior Employee Relations Consultant to advise managers and HR partners on employee relations, misconduct, performance, policy interpretation, investigations and terminations.

You will lead complex investigations, partner with Legal, develop policies, and help improve processes. This role focuses on risk mitigation, employee experience, and compliance within a global financial services firm.