Director - Employee Relations

Position Overview

Pay range: $120,445 - $195,725 / year. Benefits and perks available for eligible positions include: robust educational assistance programs, generous paid time off, employee assistance and wellness programs, paid parental leave, qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, plus more.

Job Description

Under the leadership of the Senior Director of Employee Relations, the Director of Employee Relations will directly manage Employee Relations Managers and oversee Employee Relations operations for assigned employers within UAB Medicine. In collaboration with Human Resource Centers of Excellence, the Office of Counsel, Employee Relations Managers, and other key partners, the Director will lead workplace investigations, support leadership development, and oversee the grievance process. The Director is responsible for providing guidance and making timely, well-informed decisions on complex and escalated employee relations matters, ensuring organizational risk is appropriately mitigated while continuing to support leaders and employees. This role requires sound judgment, including the ability to determine when to engage internal partners such as the Vice President of Human Resources and/or the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. Ensures Employee Relations Excellence: Responsible for ensuring employee relations practices inspire trust and confidence in Human Resources' partnership with employees and leaders.

2. Drives Continuous Improvement and Best Practices: Identifies opportunities and implements enhancements in collaboration with senior HR leadership to ensure best practices in employee relations. Promotes a continuous quality improvement approach and reports both positive and concerning trends to senior HR leadership.

3. Leads and Develops the Team: Directly supervises Employee Relations Managers and provides oversight of the Workforce Investigations Team. Responsible for hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, and team development. Completes annual evaluations, manages time off to ensure appropriate coverage, and fosters a positive, collaborative team environment. Partners with managers to develop and maintain training materials, work aids, and team resources.

4. Oversees Workplace Investigations: In collaboration with Employee Relations Managers, the Office of Counsel, and other partners, oversees workplace investigations, including allegations of policy violations, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, Ethics Hotline concerns, Threat Management, and EEOC charges. Ensures investigations involving discrimination, retaliation, Title IX, and Title VII are appropriately assigned to the Workforce Investigations Team.

5. Ensures Case Documentation and System Integrity: In conjunction with Employee Relations Managers, ensures Employee Relations Partners and Coordinators maintain accurate and complete case documentation within HR Acuity and centralized investigative file systems.

6. Maintains Compliance and Consistency: Ensures all employee relations matters are documented thoroughly, accurately, and in compliance with organizational policies, ensuring consistent and fair application of practices.

7. Analyzes Trends and Mitigates Risk: Tracks and analyzes employee relations trends, proactively reporting insights and potential risks to senior leadership and legal counsel as appropriate.

8. Supports Title IX Coordination: May assist with coordinating Title IX investigations and related processes as needed.

9. Delivers Training and Quality Assurance: Conducts employee relations orientation and ongoing training for new and existing team members. Performs regular quality assurance audits and provides feedback to support continuous improvement. Assists in developing internal resources and guidance materials.

10. Promotes Positive Employee Relations: Encourages open communication and strong working relationships between employees and leadership. Provides guidance on policies and ensures concerns are addressed in a timely, thorough, and consistent manner to mitigate organizational risk.

11. Supports Team and Departmental Collaboration: Collaborates with Employee Relations Managers to plan and facilitate monthly departmental meetings.

12. Provides Leadership Training: Develops and delivers training and in-service education for UAB Medicine leadership on employee relations topics, as needed.

13. Additional Duties: Completes special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or above in a related field required. Minimum of 8–12 years of progressive Human Resources experience required, including at least five years focused specifically on employee relations and five years leading teams. Demonstrated extensive knowledge of federal and state employment laws is essential, with a proven ability to apply this knowledge to effectively manage organizational risk and ensure compliance. Must possess significant experience and comfort handling complex HR investigations and sensitive employee relations matters, along with strong conflict resolution skills. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to synthesize large volumes of detailed information to make sound, timely decisions. Success in this role also requires the ability to build and sustain strong working relationships through trust, teamwork, and effective communication, as well as the ability to lead, influence, and educate leaders and team members across the organization. The individual must also be comfortable presenting to large groups and developing and delivering training to support organizational awareness and capability in employee relations practices.

PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification preferred. Approximately four (4) to ten (10) direct reports. Management of funds WITHOUT signatory authority and/or WITHOUT authority to give budget approval.

Why Work at UAB Medicine

We are UAB Medicine, Alabama's largest and most comprehensive health system, recognized nationally for delivering world-class patient care, pioneering research, and cutting-edge medical education. We proudly serve more than 1.2 million patients each year – from every county in Alabama, all 50 states, and many countries around the world. Our network spans numerous hospitals, emergency departments, more than 67 other sites of care, and a team of over 3,100 physicians. Our key facilities include UAB Hospital – ranked the No. 1 hospital in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report and home to the state's first ACS-verified Level I adult trauma center and only Magnet-designated hospital – along with UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye and five UAB St. Vincent's hospitals serving central Alabama.

UAB Medicine offers careers across a wide range of practice environments, from our internationally renowned academic medical center and award-winning community hospitals to our primary and specialty care clinics across the state. Whether you're seeking the fast-paced learning environment of a tertiary care setting or the close-knit environment of a community facility, there's a place for you on our team where you can become part of a mission-driven organization committed to delivering life-changing care. With nearly every medical specialty represented and unlimited opportunities for growth, you'll find the right fit for your skills and career goals. We care for you by offering comprehensive, industry-leading benefit packages to support the individual preferences and circumstances of our diverse staff.