Employee Relations Manager

Description

The Employee Relations Manager leads employee relations and performance management for ECS, serving as the primary HR partner for employees and leaders. This role supports a positive, compliant, and high-performing workplace by addressing employee concerns, managing investigations, coaching leaders, and ensuring consistent application of policies. The Manager works closely with the HR Director and HR team to support the full employee lifecycle, strengthen engagement, and proactively identify organizational risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the main point of contact for employee relations issues, including workplace concerns, grievances, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation.
• Conduct fair and timely investigations into complaints, policy violations, misconduct, and discrimination.
• Provide recommendations for corrective action and maintain accurate, confidential documentation.
• Coach supervisors on performance management, documentation, corrective action, and risk mitigation.
• Manage performance processes, including feedback, improvement plans, and disciplinary actions.
• Support employee development through coaching, training coordination, and performance evaluation assistance.
• Monitor trends and metrics to identify risks and recommend improvements to policies and organizational culture.
• Collaborate with HR, leadership, and legal partners on complex employee relations matters and policy development.
• Support HR initiatives such as onboarding, job descriptions, training, compensation analysis, and engagement efforts.
• Uphold the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.

Requirements

What We'll Love About You!

We're excited to meet someone who brings both passion and professionalism to this role-and who's ready to help us make a meaningful impact in Early Childhood programs across our communities.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field required, Master's degree or Juris Doctor (JD) preferred.
• 2-5 years of progressive HR or employee relations experience, including conflict resolution, confidential investigations, performance management, and corrective action.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws (Title VII, ADA, FMLA, EEO).
• Proven experience conducting confidential investigations and managing disciplinary processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HRIS systems.

What You'll Need

• Reliable transportation and a valid driver's license-you'll occasionally travel to events, community partners, or program sites.
• Strong communication skills: the ability to read and interpret reports, write clearly, and present information confidently.
• Solid comfort with numbers-you can handle percentages, basic calculations, and interpret data to guide your work.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, especially in situations where you need to adapt quickly or interpret information from different sources.

Professional Expectations

This role requires access to confidential information. You'll be trusted to maintain strict privacy and confidentiality, following all NEMCSA policies and guidelines.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

To succeed in this position, you'll need the ability to:

• Regularly sit, stand, walk, use your hands, drive, and work at a computer.
• Frequently talk and hear, and multitask in a busy environment.
• Occasionally stoop, kneel, climb, reach, or twist as needed for events or office tasks.
• Work both standard and sometimes irregular hours, meet deadlines, and interact professionally with the public and staff.
• You'll work in a typical office setting with moderate noise levels and will often be engaged in community-based activities. Throughout employment, team members must remain free of alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substances in the workplace.