Head of Employee Relations

Description

About the Role

ACA is seeking a Head of Employee Relations to lead our employee relations, HR operations, total rewards, and associate engagement functions. This role will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on complex people matters while leading and developing a high performing team that supports our associates and business leaders across the company.

The Head of Employee Relations will be responsible for setting strategy, strengthening processes, managing risk, and ensuring consistent, balanced, and practical guidance across a broad range of people related matters. This leader will also bring a continuous improvement mindset, identifying ways to improve the associate and leader experience through people, processes, technology, and AI.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team responsible for employee relations, HR operations, HR business partner support, total rewards, leave management, immigration, company events, communications, community involvement, and related people processes.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on sensitive and complex people matters, including associate relations concerns, performance issues, progressive discipline, organizational changes, and policy interpretation.
• Oversee employee relations strategy and ensure matters are handled consistently, thoughtfully, and in alignment with company values, policies, and applicable employment laws.
• Manage HR operations processes, systems, workflows, and service delivery to ensure efficient and reliable support for associates and leaders.
• Provide leadership over total rewards, including compensation and benefits strategy, governance, communication, and administration.
• Oversee leave management, accommodations, immigration related processes, and other associate support programs.
• Lead and support company events, internal communications, and community involvement initiatives that strengthen associate engagement, connection, and ACA's culture.
• Bring a continuous improvement mindset to HR practices by identifying opportunities to improve outcomes through people, processes, technology, automation, and AI.
• Partner with legal, compliance, senior leadership, and HR team members to manage risk and support effective decision making.
• Develop, coach, and support HR leaders and team members to build capability, accountability, and strong business partnership.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, leader tools, associate experience, and operational effectiveness.
• Use data, insights, and trends to inform recommendations, identify risks, and support proactive people strategies.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in employee relations, HR operations, HR business partnership, total rewards, or a related HR leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders on complex and sensitive people issues with sound judgment, discretion, and balance.
• Experience leading and developing HR teams.
• Strong knowledge of employment practices, progressive discipline, leave management, accommodations, immigration processes, compensation, benefits, and HR operations.
• Continuous improvement mindset with experience identifying and implementing improvements through people, processes, technology, automation, and AI.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and provide practical guidance in a fast paced environment.
• Strong communication, problem solving, coaching, and relationship building skills.
• Proven ability to improve processes, drive consistency, and influence across functions and levels.
• Experience supporting associate engagement, company events, internal communications, or community involvement initiatives.
• Experience using technology, automation, AI, or data driven tools to improve HR operations and associate experience.
• Experience supporting multi-site or large scale operations is preferred.

Why Join ACA

This is a unique opportunity to shape the next chapter of ACA’s people strategy while leading functions that directly impact our associates, leaders, and business. The Head of Employee Relations will play a critical role in strengthening how we support our teams, manage complex people matters, build associate connection, and continue developing scalable, forward looking HR practices for the future.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

ACA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. ACA complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

California Privacy Notice

As an employer of California residents, we are dedicated to protecting your privacy rights. Any personal information you provide during the application process will be used solely for permitted internal purposes and will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws. By applying to this position, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in our Employee Privacy Notice .