Senior Specialist, Employee Relations

Levitate; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daily catered lunches

Employee-led groups

Opportunities to volunteer

Flexible PTO

Paid parental leave

Extensive benefit options

Leadership development programs

Job summary

A dynamic growth-focused company in Raleigh, NC is seeking a Senior Specialist for Employee Relations. This role requires 5–7 years of HR experience and involves handling complex employee issues, coaching managers, and ensuring company policies are applied consistently. Responsibilities include conducting investigations, providing guidance to employees, and collaborating with HR partners. The position is 100% on-site, emphasizing the importance of presence and interaction with the team and leadership.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive HR/Employee Relations experience, preferably in a high-growth environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex employee relations investigations from intake through resolution.
• Solid understanding of relevant employment laws and HR best practices.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a point of contact for employee relations matters.
• Conduct investigations into employee complaints and recommend actions.
• Provide coaching to managers on difficult conversations and performance concerns.

Skills

HR best practices

Employee relations investigations

Managing up skills

Coaching managers

Understanding of employment laws

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology or related field

Tools

AI practices

Job description

At Levitate, we’re on a mission to make a real impact - for our customers, our team, and the world around us. We believe the best work comes from people who are curious, driven, and excited to grow. Our five core values guide everything we do, and we look for teammates who embody the traits that make those values come to life:

• Creating Magic ✨ You have the persistence and grit to turn ambitious ideas into remarkable outcomes.
• Showing Customer Empathy ❤️ You bring humble confidence, listening deeply, and putting customers first.
• Making Data-Driven Decisions 📊 You pair creativity with insights to make smarter, faster choices.
• Focusing on Solutions, Not Problems 🔍 You approach challenges with positivity and critical thinking, always looking for the way forward.
• Making Small Improvements Every Day 🌱 You embrace coachability and lean into discomfort to grow, improve, and drive lasting change.

Here, you won’t just do a job, you’ll help create meaningful experiences, solve real problems, and shape the future of our company. Reporting directly to the VP of Talent, the Senior Specialist, Employee Relations will be a trusted partner to employees and leaders across the company. This person will balance empathy with sound judgment, ensuring our people feel heard while our policies and standards are clearly understood and consistently applied.

In this role, you’ll handle complex and sensitive employee issues, coach leaders at all levels, and serve as a key point of contact for employee concerns. You’ll need strong executive presence, outstanding “managing up” skills, and a strong sense of urgency—moving quickly and decisively, without losing sight of nuance and care.

100% on-site in Raleigh, NC. This is not a hybrid or remote role.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee relations matters, ensuring employees feel respected, heard, and supported.
• Conduct fair, thorough, and timely investigations into employee complaints, conflicts, and policy violations; document findings and recommend appropriate actions.
• Interpret and apply company policies, procedures, and guidelines to real-world situations, ensuring consistency and compliance.
• Partner closely with People/HR Business Partners, Legal, and business leaders to address complex ER issues, including performance management, misconduct, workplace conflict, and organizational changes.
• Provide coaching and guidance to managers on handling difficult conversations, performance concerns, feedback, and terminations.
• Proactively identify patterns, trends, and root causes in employee relations issues and recommend improvements to policies, processes, training, and manager enablement.
• Draft and refine employee communications, documentation, and talking points related to ER topics, policy updates, and change initiatives.
• Maintain accurate, organized, and confidential employee relations records and case logs.
• Escalate high-risk issues appropriately, exercising strong judgment and excellent “managing up” with senior and executive leadership, especially the VP of Talent and executive team.
• Support and reinforce a culture that is inclusive, respectful, and aligned with our company values—while holding people accountable to agreed-upon standards.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive HR/Employee Relations experience, preferably including time in a high-growth or startup environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex ER investigations from intake through resolution.
• Solid understanding of HR best practices and relevant employment laws/regulations (e.g., U.S. federal and state frameworks).
• Experience coaching managers and leaders at multiple levels, including executives.
• Proven implementation of AI practices in Employee Relations
• Ability to work 100% on-site at our Raleigh, NC office, Monday through Friday. This is not a hybrid or remote role.
• Professional certifications like PHR/SPHR, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP are a plus but not required.

Our commitment to our staff is showcased not only through our strong company culture, but also through our employee‑centric benefits and programs including:

• Daily catered lunches from locally-owned restaurants and diverse snack offerings
• Employee-led groups (run club, disc golf club, and book club, just to name a few) that bring employees with similar hobbies and interests together to inspire and build relationships
• Plentiful opportunities to volunteer with and contribute to local organizations that align with the passions of our staff
• Flexible PTO to facilitate strong work-life balance
• Paid parental leave that provides employees with support and flexibility as they grow their families
• Extensive benefit options including healthy lifestyle reimbursement, 401(k) matching, HSA/FSA, dental, vision, and mental health coverage, and much more
• Culture Crew and Emerging Leader programs to foster employee leadership development, inclusivity, and connection through year-round trainings and events