Employee Relations Partner

Job Description

Job Description

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania and North Central West Virginia is a nonprofit organization that funds job training, education, and other community programs by selling donated clothing and household items in Goodwill stores and online. We offer life-changing work on a mission-minded team. We are 1,000 working as one and each of us is essential to helping our community thrive. For three years running, Goodwill has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s “Most Inspiring Companies”.

We offer a wide range of career opportunities ranging from entry-level to management in retail, human services, and administrative fields. Learn more about working at Goodwill. You can help. We can show you how.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

At Goodwill SWPA, we have transformed our Human Resources Department into People Services , reflecting our mission to help others through a People-First culture lens. People Services supports the actualization of Goodwill SWPA's mission by ensuring agency wide compliance with regulations our work is beholden to, at Federal, State, Local, and specific contractual levels. People Services serves as a vital resource for all agency supervisors and employees in the areas of benefits, training, recruiting, performance management, employee relations, and concerns and questions staff may have during the course of their employment.

POSITION SUMMARY:

With oversight from the Chief People Officer and General Counsel, the Employee Relations Partner serves as the organization's subject matter expert in employee relations, workplace investigations, policy administration, and corrective actions. This role partners with leaders to foster a respectful, equitable, and high-performing workplace by balancing organizational accountability with a People First approach.

The Employee Relations Partner initiates the development, review, and continuous improvement of Human Resources policies, including the Employee Handbook, ensuring policies remain legally compliant, operationally effective, and aligned with the organization's mission, values, and culture.

This position is responsible for conducting complex workplace investigations, managing ethics and compliance concerns submitted through the organization's EthicsPoint reporting system, advising other People Services staff and organization leaders through the corrective action process, through promoting fair, consistent, and compassionate employment practices that strengthen employee trust and organizational effectiveness.

Status: Regular, Exempt, Full-time.

Location: Workforce Development Center - 118 52nd St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.

External Hiring Range: $68,000 - $72,000.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM or 9 AM to 5 PM.

Travel: Travel within Goodwill SWPA territories may be required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Included but not limited to:

Employee Relations:

• Serve as the organization's primary resource for employee relations matters, providing guidance to leaders and employees on workplace concerns, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation.
• Promote a People First culture by balancing accountability, fairness, employee dignity, and organizational needs in all employee relations decisions.
• Partner with leaders to resolve workplace issues through coaching, problem-solving, and proactive intervention whenever appropriate.
• Develop and maintain employee relations dashboards and reports, analyzing complaint trends, investigation outcomes, corrective actions, and organizational risk indicators.
• Identify trends in employee relations and recommend strategies that improve employee engagement, retention, and workplace culture.
• Identify and maintain workplace service level agreements for team and divisional leaders.

Governance:

• Lead the development, revision, implementation, and communication of Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Maintain ownership of the Employee Handbook, ensuring content remains current, legally compliant, and reflective of organizational values and operational practices.
• Collaborate with leadership and subject matter experts to develop policies that support operational excellence while enhancing the employee experience.

Performance Support:

• Guide leaders through performance management and corrective action processes using a coaching-focused, People First philosophy.
• Review disciplinary recommendations to ensure consistency, fairness, documentation quality, and compliance with organizational policies and employment laws.
• Partner with managers to identify opportunities for coaching, development, and performance improvement after formal discipline when appropriate.
• Support leaders through difficult employee conversations while promoting respectful and productive workplace relationships.

Ethics and Compliance:

• Serve as an administrator for the organization's EthicsPoint reporting system.
• Receive, monitor, triage, investigate, and coordinate responses to EthicsPoint complaints and other compliance concerns submitted through the 24/7 EthicsPoint hotline and reporting channels.
• Track case outcomes, identify trends, and recommend corrective or preventive actions that strengthen organizational integrity and reduce organizational risk.
• Partner with People Services leadership and legal counsel on complex employee relations matters as appropriate.

Workplace Investigations:

• Conduct prompt, thorough, objective, and confidential investigations involving allegations of misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics concerns, policy violations, workplace conflict, and other employee relations matters.
• Interview employees, supervisors, and witnesses; gather and analyze evidence; prepare investigative summaries; and make recommendations based on findings.

Leadership Partnership:

• Coach leaders on effective employee relations practices, documentation, conflict management, and employment law compliance.
• Provide recommendations on employee relations strategies that align with organizational goals while maintaining a positive employee experience.
• Develop and deliver training related to respectful workplaces, performance management, investigations, workplace expectations, and HR policies.

Policies and Standards:

• Maintain a current and up-to-date understanding of and comply with all company policies and procedures, including but not limited to human resources policies and procedure such as hiring and disciplinary processes and timelines, benefits administration, FMLA, and confidentiality of employee information

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Years of Experience:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent AND 7+ years of relevant experience. OR
• Associates Degree in Human Resources, Business Management or other related field AND 5+ years of relevant experience. OR
• Bachelors Degree in Human Resources, Business Management, or related field AND 3+ years of relevant experience.

Required:

• Progressive experience resolving complex employee relations issues.
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations and writing formal reports.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines,
  regulations, ordinances, and policies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to understand and advise on multiple human resource disciplines, including compensation practices, organizational diagnosis, employee relations, diversity, performance management, and federal and state respective employment laws.
• Experience with writing/editing workplace handbooks and policies.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Preferred:

• Experience providing training to staff and leadership.
• PHR/SPHR certification (or desire to obtain upon employment).

REQUIRED CLEARANCES, LICENSES, AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Qualified candidates must have a valid driver's license, active insurance policy, and reliable transportation for local travel.
• Candidates are expected to complete background checks assigned by Goodwill SWPA, including a National Criminal Background check, prior to their first day of employment.
• Candidates are expected to provide current, valid clearances (Child Abuse Clearance, FBI Fingerprints Clearance, and PATCH) prior to their first day of employment.