Senior Employee Relations Partner

Kestra Holdings; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kestra Holdings is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Partner to advise leaders and employees across the organization on employee relations, investigations, performance management, and policy interpretation. This role partners with HRBPs, Compliance, and Legal to promote a fair, compliant employee experience.

The ideal candidate will bring strong judgment, business acumen, and the ability to influence outcomes through consultation and collaboration rather than authority.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• 5–8 years of progressive HR experience with strong employee-relations expertise.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and HRIS systems, Dayforce preferred.
• Experience conducting complex workplace investigations and handling sensitive matters.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, risk mitigation, and policy interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex employee relations matters with HRBPs and stakeholders.
• Conduct thorough, objective workplace investigations and present findings.
• Assess risk and balance employee experience with business objectives.
• Identify trends and propose proactive solutions for culture improvement.
• Manage unemployment claims with HR, Legal, and third-party admins.
• Provide consultation to leaders on employee relations issues and concerns.
• Coach managers on performance management, difficult conversations, and accountability.
• Guide policy application and compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
• Support organizational effectiveness through trainings and project participation.

Skills

Communication

Conflict Resolution

Relationship Building

Judgment

Confidentiality

Influence Leaders

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Admin, Psych, or related

Tools

Dayforce

MS Office / HRIS

Job description

Lead with Purpose. Partner with Impact.

The Senior Employee Relations Partner serves as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees across the organization, providing expert guidance on employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, policy interpretation, and employment-related risk. This individual contributor partners closely with managers, Human Resources, Compliance, and Legal to promote a positive employee experience while ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant people practices.

The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in employee relations, business acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to influence outcomes through consultation, coaching, and collaboration rather than direct authority.

What You'll Do:

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Employee Relations & Workplace Investigations

• Manages complex employee relations matters in partnership with HRBPs and key stakeholders.
• Conduct thorough, objective, and well-documented workplace investigations and present findings and recommendations.
• Assess organizational and legal risk while balancing employee experience and business objectives.
• Identify trends and recommend proactive solutions to improve workplace culture and reduce recurring issues.
• Manage unemployment claims, including timely responses to requests for information, coordination of supporting documentation, and partnership with HR, Legal, and third-party administrators to ensure accurate, consistent, and compliant claim handling.

Manager Coaching & Consultation

• Provide consultation and guidance to leaders on employee relations issues and workplace concerns.
• Coach managers on performance management, difficult conversations, conflict resolution, corrective actions, coaching strategies, documentation, and accountability.
• Guide leaders in consistent application of company policies and employment practices.

Policy Interpretation & Compliance

• Interpret and apply company policies, procedures, and employment practices in a fair and consistent manner.
• Provide guidance on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Manage complex employee relations cases in partnership with HRBPs, who retain strategic ownership of business context, stakeholder alignment, and overall case direction.
• Partner with HRBPs and Legal on complex or high-risk matters, with HRBPs leading strategic alignment and the Employee Relations role supporting legal strategy, risk assessment, recommended actions, and execution.
• Support policy development, updates, and manager education efforts.

Organizational Effectiveness

• Support the development and delivery of training related to employee relations, and performance management
• Analyze employee relations trends and identify recommendations for escalation to HR leadership.
• Maintain confidentiality while handling sensitive employee and business information.
• Participate in enterprise-wide HR projects and strategic initiatives, as needed.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Industrial Relations, or a related field.
• 5-8 years of progressive Human Resources experience with significant expertise in employee relations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems. Experience working in Dayforce preferred.
• Demonstrated experience conducting complex workplace investigations and managing sensitive employee matters.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR best practices, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Experience influencing leaders and navigating complex organizational situations.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in highly sensitive situations.
• Experience supporting a multi-state workforce preferred.
• Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries preferred.