Employee Relations Specialist

Kura Sushi USA is a publicly traded U.S. company established in 2008 as a subsidiary of Kura Sushi, Inc. We are an innovative and tech interactive Japanese restaurant chain serving up the ultimate eater-tainment dining experience with a combination of premium ingredients, advanced technology, and affordable prices to create a one-of-a-kind revolving sushi dining experience.

We have and exciting opportunity for an Employee Relations Specialist to join our growing team. Come join the Kura Krew!

Position Summary

We are seeking a Bilingual (Spanish Speaking Required) experienced and solutions-oriented Employee Relations Specialist to join our team. This role is designed for an HR professional with a strong background specifically in employee relations, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, policy interpretation, and leadership coaching.


The ideal candidate brings specialized experience managing sensitive employee matters, navigating complex workplace situations, and partnering closely with leaders to drive fair, consistent, and compliant people practices across the organization.

The Employee Relations Specialist will serve as a trusted partner to operations and leadership teams, helping foster a positive, accountable, and respectful workplace culture while balancing employee experience with business needs.

**This position may be structured as a remote or hybrid depending on the location and experience of the selected candidate.


Key Responsibilities

- Lead and manage employee relations matters including workplace concerns, complaints, policy violations, and performance-related issues.

- Conduct prompt, thorough, and objective workplace investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, and other sensitive matters.

- Partner with leaders to provide guidance on employee coaching, corrective action, documentation, and conflict resolution.

- Ensure consistency and compliance with company policies, employment laws, and internal practices.

- Identify trends, risks, and recurring themes within employee relations matters and provide proactive recommendations to leadership.

- Support leaders through complex and high-risk employee situations with professionalism and sound judgment.

- Maintain accurate and confidential case documentation and investigation records.

- Collaborate cross-functionally with HR, Operations, Legal, and Leadership teams as needed.

- Help reinforce a culture of accountability, respect, communication, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

- 3+ years of dedicated Employee Relations experience required.

-Fluent in Spanish required; ability to conduct investigations in Spanish and employee conversations


- Experience conducting workplace investigations and handling sensitive employee matters independently.

- Strong working knowledge of employment law, HR compliance, and best practices related to employee relations.

- Proven ability to manage conflict, influence leaders, and navigate difficult conversations professionally.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.

- Ability to exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, and demonstrate sound judgment in high-pressure situations.

- Experience supporting multi-unit, hospitality, restaurant, retail, or operations-driven environments is strongly preferred.

- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred.

- Experience supporting restaurant, retail or multi-unit operations


- Familiarity with state/federal laws and HR Compliance


What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who thrives in the employee relations space and is passionate about creating strong workplace partnerships through fairness, consistency, accountability, and thoughtful leadership support. The right candidate understands the importance of balancing employee advocacy with operational needs and can confidently navigate complex workplace dynamics with professionalism and empathy.

PAY RANGE: $68,000 - $85,000/yr. DOE