Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Tysons (VA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 238,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Job summary

FINRA is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Specialist to advise leaders across the organization, lead investigations, and drive data‑driven risk mitigation. The role emphasizes accountability, fairness, and inclusive culture within a tightly regulated environment.

You will partner with Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit, and HR COEs to deliver timely, pragmatic guidance on employee conduct, performance management, and policy interpretations. Strong communication and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 10 years HR/employee relations experience, including at least 5 years advising management on ER matters.
• Demonstrated expertise managing moderate to complex ER investigations and producing high‑quality written reports.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to deliver difficult messages professionally and navigate conflict.

Responsibilities

• Lead thorough, timely investigations into employee complaints and misconduct.
• Provide strategic advisory to managers and employees on ER matters, including policy interpretation and performance management.
• Draft and review disciplinary actions; deliver pragmatic guidance on employee conduct matters.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, HR, and other internal teams to reach effective resolutions.
• Collaborate with Training to design ER training programs and mentor junior ER staff.

Skills

Investigations

Employee relations

Policy interpretation

Communication

Conflict resolution

Data-driven risk

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

ER case management platform

People analytics

Job description

Are you a seasoned employee relations professional who thrives on solving complex workplace challenges and driving meaningful organizational change? At FINRA, we're looking for a Senior Employee Relations Specialist to bring expertise, integrity, and strategic vision to our Employee Relations team. In this high-impact role, you'll be a trusted advisor to leaders across the organization — helping shape a culture of accountability, fairness, and inclusion.

What You'll Do

Investigations & Case Management

• Lead thorough, timely, and impartial investigations into employee complaints and allegations of misconduct
• Assess the scope and severity of conduct issues and recommend appropriate resolutions
• Utilize our ER case management system to track cases, surface trends, and develop proactive, data-driven risk mitigation strategies

Strategic Advisory & Consultation

• Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and employees on a broad range of employee relations matters, including policy interpretation, federal/state/local employment law, performance management, conflict resolution, reasonable accommodations, progressive discipline, and reductions in force
• Provide pragmatic, timely guidance on employee conduct matters, including drafting and reviewing disciplinary actions
• Partner with Business Partners, Centers of Excellence (COEs), Legal, Compliance, Internal Audit, Security, Data Privacy & Protection, and other internal bodies to reach effective, holistic resolutions

Training & Development

• Collaborate with our Training & Development Team to design and deliver engaging ER training programs with an emphasis on prevention
• Share expertise and mentorship with junior ER staff to build team capability

Policy & Projects

• Lead and contribute to ER initiatives, including monitoring and responding to new employment legislation and refreshing ER policies to keep pace with a dynamic regulatory environment
• Drive delivery and continuous refinement of ER metrics and reporting to key stakeholders

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive HR/employee relations experience, including at least 5 years of focused experience advising all levels of management on employee relations matters

Demonstrated expertise in managing moderate to complex ER investigations and producing high-quality written investigative reports

Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deliver difficult messages and navigate conflict professionally and constructively

Proven ability to build relationships and connect with people from diverse backgrounds at all levels of an organization

Ability to manage multiple competing priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment

High degree of independent judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters effectively

Preferred Qualifications

Juris Doctor (JD) or specialized training/certification in labor and employee relations

Experience working within a regulated industry (e.g., financial services, legal, healthcare)

Familiarity with ER case management platforms and people analytics

Track record of developing and delivering ER training programs

Why FINRA?

FINRA's mission — protecting investors and ensuring market integrity — starts with our people. We offer a collaborative, mission-driven environment where your contributions directly support a fair and transparent financial marketplace. You'll work alongside talented professionals across Legal, Compliance, HR, and beyond, with opportunities to lead, grow, and make a lasting impact.

Salary Range

• CO/FL/TX: Minimum Salary $114,200, Maximum Salary $207,200
• IL/PA: Minimum Salary $125,900, Maximum Salary $228,000
• MA/MD/VA/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $131,200, Maximum Salary $238,300
• NY/NJ: Minimum Salary $131,200, Maximum Salary $248,700

Benefits

• Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay
• Non‑exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law
• As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance
• Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long‑term disability, long‑term care, business travel accident, disability and legal
• FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA‑funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance and wellness programs
• Generous time‑off program starting at 15 days of paid time off (increasing with years of service, up to 25 days), 5 personal days, and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro‑rated in the first year)
• Additional paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment)
• Full‑time employees receive nine paid holidays

Important Information

FINRA's Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees' investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. FINRA employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts that they maintain, and those in which they control trading or have a financial interest (including any trust account of which they are a trustee or beneficiary and all accounts of a spouse, domestic partner or minor child who lives with the employee) and to authorize their broker-dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for all of those accounts. All of those accounts are subject to the Code's investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply with those investment restrictions—including disposing of any security issued by a company on FINRA's Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President—by the date they begin employment with FINRA. Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at one or more securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e-feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other securities firms to a firm that provides an e-feed within three months of beginning employment. These restrictions are outlined on our website for detailed compliance information.

Equal Opportunity Employer

FINRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected category, including race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex, or any other status or classification protected by state or local law.

Disability Accommodations

If you need a disability-related accommodation for completing the application process, please contact FINRA’s Employee Relations team at 240-386-4865 or by email at [e-mail]. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding accommodations in the application process. FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.

Washington State Applicants

Washington state applicants: click here for required notice(s).