Sr. Business Services Manager - Employee Relations

Salary : $91,308.00 - $146,109.18 Annually
Location : 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC
Job Type: Full time with benefits
Job Number: 26-05979
Department: Human Resources
Opening Date: 06/05/2026
Closing Date: 6/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Position Description

Hiring Range: $91,308 - $130,655

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Posting: Open five (5) days, external

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

The Employee Relations Senior Manager directs the City's employee relations function, serving as the senior authority on workplace investigations, progressive discipline, grievances, and compliance across all departments. The position establishes and maintains employee relations policy, process, and case management infrastructure; supervises employee relations professional staff; and advises department directors and executive leadership on complex, high-exposure personnel matters, exercising independent interpretive judgment on behalf of the organization.

This role supports approximately 2,800 employees across 26 departments and is responsible for building consistent, defensible employee relations practices citywide.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Directs the citywide employee relations function; sets direction, priorities, and service standards; and oversees daily operations and workflow across all departments.
• Conducts and oversees complex and sensitive workplace investigations; reviews findings; and determines and recommends disciplinary and corrective action, including matters carrying legal and financial exposure to the City.
• Develops, implements, interprets, and maintains employee relations policies, procedures, escalation standards, and case management systems, ensuring consistent and defensible application organization-wide.
• Advises and counsels department directors and executive leadership on employee relations, performance management, grievances, and compliance; resolves escalated and highly visible matters on behalf of Human Resources.
• Supervises employee relations professional staff, including planning, assigning, and evaluating work, training, coaching, hiring, and performance management.
• Designs and delivers management training on investigations, progressive discipline, performance management, and difficult conversations.
• Partners with the City Attorney's Office on high-exposure matters, administrative charges, hearings, and settlements, and represents the department in related proceedings.
• Analyzes employee relations data and trends; prepares and presents reports to Human Resources leadership; and recommends programs and policy changes.
• Participates in the design and implementation of the City's Human Resources enterprise system, including the employee relations case management module.
• Administers assigned programs, which may include reasonable accommodation/ADA, secondary employment, and flexible work.
• Represents Human Resources and the employee relations function on citywide committees, initiatives, and projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of employee and labor relations principles and progressive discipline.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and equal employment opportunity requirements.
• Skill in conducting investigations and fact-finding and in preparing clear, defensible documentation.
• Skill in grievance administration, conflict resolution, and mediation.
• Demonstrated management, supervisory, and performance management ability.
• Ability to develop, interpret, and administer policy and standard operating procedures.
• Proficiency with case management systems, human resources information systems, and data analysis and reporting.
• Strong consultation, facilitation, and consensus-building skills.
• Political acumen, tact, diplomacy, and a consistent commitment to confidentiality and ethical judgment.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Psychology or a related field.
• Six years of progressively responsible employee relations or human resources experience.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience.

Additional Preferred Skills

• A Masters degree and relevant certifications in HR, employee relations or conflict resolution are a plus.
• Two years of experience investigating employee relations cases.

Benefits - General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

01


Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

• City of Durham Website
• Walk in
• Job fair
• Employee referral
• Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***
• Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***
• Craig's List
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• GlassDoor
• governmentjobs.com
• Monster.com
• Indeed.com
• Employment Security Commission
• Magazine/Newspaper
• Other

02


If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.
03


Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

• Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
• High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree (PhD, Juris Doctorate)

04


How many years of related experience do you have in of employee relations or human resources experience?

• No related experience
• Less than 1 year of related experience
• 1 year but less than 2 years of related experience
• 2 years but less than 6 years of related experience
• 6 or more years of related experience

05


Do you have experience conducting investigations, mediations, and conferences with managers and employees?

• Yes
• No

06


How many years of HR management/supervisory experience do you have?

• No supervisory experience
• Some supervisory experience but less than 1 year
• 1 year experience but less than 3 years
• 3 years experience but less than 6 years
• 6 or more years supervisory experience

Required Question