Sr. HR Partner Colleague Relations

Trinity Health; Livonia (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Trinity Health, based in Livonia, Michigan, seeks a Senior Colleague Relations Partner to advise leadership on complex investigations and policy enforcement. The role collaborates across HRBPs, COE, and risk management to foster a fair, compliant work environment.

Responsibilities include coaching managers, resolving high-risk disputes, and driving Just Culture initiatives while maintaining confidentiality and legal compliance across the system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, or related field with five+ years’ experience; Master’s preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of employment laws and their application in health care settings.
• Strong communication, investigative, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert colleague relations guidance and solutions to manage high-risk investigations.
• Coach managers on performance, discipline, and conflict resolution within Just Culture framework.
• Collaborate with HRBPs, COE, and leadership to monitor programs and mitigate risk.
• Investigate and respond to complex colleague complaints with objective recommendations.

Skills

HR policies

Investigations

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Employment Type: Full time Shift: Description: POSITION PURPOSE The Senior Colleague Relations Partner is an experienced and trusted partner who provides guidance and colleague relations subject matter expertise to Regional Health Ministry (RHM) leadership, managers, and colleagues in promoting and fostering of a fair, positive, and collaborative working environment. In collaboration with Regional Health Ministry (RHM) management, HR Business Partners (HRBPs), and regional Colleague and Labor Relations Center of Expertise (COE) leadership, contributes to the development, implementation, and management of colleague relations strategies, philosophies, processes, and programs. Regularly interacts and consults with RHM management and regional Colleague and Labor Relations COE leadership to collectively manage, resolve, and trend colleague relations matters, including planning and conducting high risk and complex investigations and responding to complex and sensitive internal and external party complaints. Adds value to the organization by providing expert colleague relations guidance and solutions with a focus on enabling the achievement of Trinity Health's Strategic Aims to realize a person-centered, mission-focused colleague culture.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Knows, understands, incorporates, and demonstrates the Trinity Health Mission, Vision, and Values in behaviors, practices, and decisions. In conjunction with the Regional Director/Manager, Colleague Relations, HR Business Partners (HRBPs), and the regional Colleague and Labor Relations COE leadership, provides specialized expertise and consultation in the planning, defining, and application of colleague relations policies, processes, programs and initiatives within their Regional Health Ministry (RHM)/organization to monitor the impact and effectiveness of the Colleague and Labor Relations COE to promote and foster a fair, positive, and collaborative working environment. Provides colleague relations specific expertise to coach and counsel RHM management through the resolution of complex and high risk colleague relations matters, including but not limited to counseling and coaching colleagues on performance and/or disciplinary issues, investigating and responding to formal internal and/or external sourced colleague complaints, handling and responding to formal colleague complaints through the problem resolution process, and managing and resolving other fitness for duty, diversion and/or reasonable accommodation matters. Works collaboratively with regional directors, HRBPs, RHM management, and HR leadership to effectively identify, manage, and mitigate organizational risk, by ensuring HR compliance and consistency in the administration and delivery of colleague relations services; readily partners with key internal and external customers such as Risk Management, Legal Services, Integrity and Compliance, and other state and local regulatory bodies and organizations. Measures and monitors the impact of broad and over-arching colleague relations programs and initiatives within the RHM/organization by collecting actionable data and conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis; is able to effectively develop and communicate any necessary remediation plans to RHM/organization management, HRBPs, and regional Colleague and Labor Relations COE leadership. Manages, and facilitates the problem resolution process for colleagues involving complex and sensitive colleague relations matters, conducting investigations as needed, documenting findings and outcomes, and making appropriate and objective recommendations to management for resolution; leads other colleague relations projects and assignments as needed. Objectively and expertly resolves high-risk and sensitive colleague relations matters within the Just Culture framework, developing and supporting strategy development and completion of large, complex investigations, data collection and corroboration of facts, and recommendations for resolution within their RHM/organization; ensures consistent application o policies and procedures. In partnership with key internal customers, co-develops and manages protocols for monitoring, reporting, and addressing diversion and fitness for duty for colleagues, physicians and contract staff (including impairment for cause testing and physical capacity evaluation), while ensuring compliance and developing remediation plans as needed. Under the direction of the Regional Director/Manager, Colleague Relations and in collaboration with RHM management and HR Business Partners, assists in implementing specific response strategies and tactics to address organizational wide colleague relations matters, when necessary. Supports system and RHM management during times of Mergers, Divestitures, and Acquisitions (MD&A) activities, as needed, including determining the impact of MD&A transactions and documented deal objectives and strategy with regard to colleague relations policies, programs, and initiatives. When required and necessary, conducts specific colleague relations training, such as Just Culture and other employment law focused trainings. Advocates for fair and consistent workplace practices in accordance with Trinity Health's mission, Core Values, and other applicable legal parameters. Maintains advanced knowledge of applicable Federal, State and local laws/regulations; the Trinity Health Integrity and Compliance Program and Code of Conduct; as well as other policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical and professional behavior.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Must possess knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations and requirements related to HR and colleague relations, colleague dispute resolution, and fostering a positive colleague working environment as normally acquired through completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration or a related field, with five (5) or more years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's degree and prior health-care experience preferred. Advanced knowledge of employment laws and their application in operating environments is required. Ability to respond to variable situations requiring analytical, interpretive, evaluative and constructive thinking abilities. Strong logical and deductive reasoning abilities. Ability to effectively collect and synthesize data and information from disparate sources to make investigative findings and recommendations for remediation of issues. Ability to support a change management and process improvement work environment. Ability to identify and implement innovative ways to deliver higher value programs and services more efficiently and effectively. Demonstrated interpersonal skills and communication both written and verbal with proven ability to interact effectively with multiple levels of the organization. Proven customer-service orientation. Ability to know, understand, and anticipate customer requirements and exercise judgment in meeting reasonable expectations. Ability to continuously learn and seek personal and professional growth opportunities to build credibility with customers, peers and team members. Ability to model behavior that enables and encourages an environment filled with teaming and knowledge sharing to support colleague engagement, professional development and personal growth within the team. Ability to handle, prioritize, and appropriately delegate competing and multiple tasks/projects in a timely and organized manner. Must be discrete and maintain the highest degree of confidentiality with extremely sensitive information and data. Must possess a personal presence that is characterized by a sense of honesty, integrity, and caring with the ability to inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and values of Trinity Health.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Must be able to set and organize own work priorities, and adapt to them as they change frequently. Must be able to work concurrently on a variety of tasks/projects in an environment that may be stressful with individuals having diverse personalities and work styles. Must be able to travel to the various Trinity Health sites as needed (up to 10% of the time). Must possess the ability to comply with Trinity Health policies and procedures. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties so assigned. Our Commitment Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. Together, we’re 121,000 colleagues and nearly 36,500 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 27 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, our system includes 101 hospitals, 126 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations, and many other health and well-being services. Based in Livonia, Michigan, in fiscal year 2023, we invested $1.5 billion in our communities through charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit http://www.trinity-health.org. You can also follow Trinity Health on LinkedIn.