Sr. Employee Relations Partner

Medica is a nonprofit health plan with more than a million members that serves communities in Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri, and beyond. We deliver personalized health care experiences and partner closely with providers to ensure members are genuinely cared for.


We're a team that owns our work with accountability, makes data-driven decisions, embraces continuous learning, and celebrates collaboration — because success is a team sport. It's our mission to be there in the moments that matter most for our members and employees. Join us in creating a community of connected care, where coordinated, quality service is the norm and every member feels valued.

The Employee Relations Partner III is a key member of a centralized Employee Relations team that collaborates closely with Human Resources Business Partners (HRPBs), other Centers of Excellence (COEs) within HR, Legal and Compliance, and additional strategic stakeholders. Operating with limited supervision, the Employee Relations Partner serves as a trusted advisor and business partner, offering expert guidance on a wide range of employee relations matters—including performance management, corrective actions, position eliminations, complex leave and accommodation cases, health and safety concerns, and policy interpretation. The ER Partner also conducts investigations ranging from basic to moderately complex and may conduct complex investigations with oversight from the Employee Relations Director as needed. Additionally, this role may provide coaching and feedback to less experienced team members, fostering development and consistency across the ER function.

Key Accountabilities

• Demonstrate strong working knowledge of employment laws by applying that knowledge independently to assess facts, identify risk, and develop well-reasoned recommendations that balance consistency, business needs, and the employee experience (e.g., Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA)
• Independently manage and provide advice and counsel for assigned ER cases including performance management, corrective actions, position eliminations complex leave and accommodation cases, health & safety matters and general policy interpretation
• Independently conduct thorough investigations into employee complaints or concerns ensuring compliance with company policies as well as federal/state laws.
• Identify appropriate remedial actions based on investigation findings and work with appropriate partners on getting them implemented
• Under limited supervision, partner with leaders and HRBPs in planning and implementing restructuring and reorganization initiatives, including potential position eliminations, in a way that ensures compliance with the various employment laws, but also focuses on employee experience
• Complete work related to various compliance programs such as EEO filings, affirmative action plans, continuous monitoring of sanctions/exclusions, employment notices and posters, etc
• Use effective communication and influencing skills to educate leaders, employees, HRBPs and other key stakeholders on the context behind our recommendations so that they can make informed decisions
• Recognize and understand workplace dynamics and adapt consulting style to each unique situation or task accordingly
• Demonstrate an ability to independently identify potentially visible/impactful cases and takes timely and appropriate action to brief appropriate key stakeholders (e.g. Director of ER, HRBPs, Legal, senior leadership) in advance
• Demonstrate a basic to intermediate understanding of the goals and objectives, key functions and roles across Medica
• Assist with the identification of training and education needs for various business across Medica to assist with increasing understanding of company policies and practices related to performance management, corrective action, accommodations and other ER topics
• Facilitate the implementation of corresponding resources and materials as needed
• Assist in the identification of improvements or enhancement to ER-owned processes
• Assist in proactively brainstorming and analyzing recommendations and implementing solutions while ensuring all potential downstream impacts are considered
• Use data for trend identification and to help inform decisions related to policies, processes and case recommendations

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business or equivalent experience in related field
• 5+ years of work experience in Employee Relations or Human Resources beyond degree

Preferred Qualifications

• Career progression in Human Resources in roles with 50%+ focus specifically in Employee Relations including investigations
• Knowledge of employment law (e.g., Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA)
• Excellent consultative, interpersonal/influencing skills, including the ability to build trusted relationships at all levels across the organization
• Ability to lead and engage in constructive dialogue, willingness to offer or to hear new and potentially challenging ideas to foster conversation and critical thinking, ability to deliver difficult/complex messages and help others understand multiples points of view to drive outcomes
• Strong analytical and data skills and the proven ability to translate the data into information to facilitate business decisions
• Demonstrated ability to independently adjust to competing priorities, operate through risk and uncertainty in a high-volume work environment
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodations
• Ability to engage in prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

This position is an Office role, which requires an employee to work onsite at our Minnetonka, MN office, on average, 3 days per week.


The full salary grade for this position is $70,200 - $120,400. While the full salary grade is provided, the typical hiring salary range for this role is expected to be between $70,200 - $105,315. Annual salary range placement will depend on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, education, work experience, applicable certifications and/or licensure, the position's scope and responsibility, internal pay equity and external market salary data. In addition to compensation, Medica offers a generous total rewards package that includes competitive medical, dental, vision, PTO, Holidays, paid volunteer time off, 401K contributions, caregiver services and many other benefits to support our employees.


The compensation and benefits information is provided as of the date of this posting. Medica’s compensation and benefits are subject to change at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.


Eligibility to work in the US: Medica does not offer work visa sponsorship for this role. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. Employment is contingent on verification of identity and eligibility to work in the United States.


We are an Equal Opportunity employer, where all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment indiscriminate of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities


This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.