Executive Director, Employee Relations

The Executive Director, Employee Relations Specialist, will lead complex and sensitive employee relations investigations involving workplace conduct concerns, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other potential violations of HR policies or the Firm’s Code of Conduct.

This senior role requires strong investigative judgment, sound risk assessment, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously while partnering effectively with Employee Relations colleagues, HR partners, Employment Law, business stakeholders, and other control functions.

What you'll do in the role:

• Lead timely, thorough, and objective investigations of employee relations concerns, including allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, inappropriate workplace conduct, and other HR-related policy or Code of Conduct issues.
• Develop investigation plans, identify relevant witnesses and documents, conduct effective interviews, assess information gathered, and determine appropriate next steps based on the facts and applicable policies.
• Prepare clear, accurate, and well-reasoned case documentation, including interview notes, summaries of findings, resolution recommendations, and other materials required to support the investigation lifecycle.
• Exercise sound judgment in assessing risk, identifying escalation needs, and recommending appropriate resolutions in consultation with HR, Employment Law, business management, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Manage a high-volume caseload and competing priorities while maintaining attention to detail, confidentiality, timeliness, and consistency of process.
• Partner collaboratively with HR Business Partners, Employment Law, business leaders, and other control functions to address employee relations issues and support consistent outcomes.
• Analyze employee relations data and case trends to identify themes, potential areas of risk, and opportunities for targeted intervention, training, or process improvement.

What you'll bring to the role:

• Significant experience conducting complex workplace investigations, including matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, workplace conduct, and other sensitive employee relations issues.
• Strong ability to evaluate facts, identify relevant issues, assess risk, and make balanced recommendations grounded in policy, precedent, and sound judgment.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, concise, and well-supported investigation summaries, findings, and recommendations.
• Strong verbal communication and interviewing skills, including the ability to ask thoughtful follow-up questions, manage difficult conversations, and communicate with credibility and discretion.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple investigations, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, patience, tact, and respect when handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Collaborative and consultative approach, with the ability to build trusted relationships across HR, Legal, business management, and other internal partners.
• Knowledge of applicable employment laws, HR policies, investigation practices, and employee relations risk considerations.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; J.D. or employment law experience strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in employee relations, workplace investigations, employment law, human resources, or a related field; experience handling complex investigations in a large, matrixed organization strongly preferred.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

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Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $165,000 and $275,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

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