Lead Employee Relations Partner

At Accendra Health, we understand that healthcare is complex, and we’re here to make it easier. We help deliver care beyond traditional settings, making essential products and services more accessible through every stage of life. As part of the care team, our teammates play a critical role in delivering personalized, long-term care for the patients we serve. With deep expertise promoting health outside the hospital and a presence in communities nationwide through our Apria and Byram Healthcare brands, Accendra Health does more than just deliver the essentials. If you’re interested in meaningful work with impact, explore our career opportunities and join us in our purpose of Bringing Care To Life™. The compensation range for this role is $90,000-$115,000/year based on experience. Position Summary The Lead Employee Relations Partner is responsible for delivering expert guidance and support on high-risk employee relations matters across the organization. This role serves as a subject matter expert (SME) for complex employee relations issues, ensuring alignment with organizational values, compliance with employment laws, and consistent application of policies and procedures. The Lead Employee Relations Partner will collaborate with HR Business Partners, Legal, Operations, and other stakeholders to foster a positive and productive work environment. This position also plays a key role in developing and enhancing employee relations strategies, tools, and training programs. Essential Job Functions Lead complex employee relations efforts, including investigations, conflict resolution, and performance management; partnering with Legal where necessary. Drive cross-functional collaboration with Legal to co-develop risk mitigation protocols, ensure consistent interpretation of policies, and manage high-risk cases with legal implications. Provide coaching and guidance to managers and HRBPs on employee relations best practices and policy interpretation. Design and pilot new approaches to performance management and corrective action that are equitable, scalable, and legally sound. Champion continuous improvement through feedback loops and benchmarking. Own the development of ER reporting initiatives and analytics tools to identify trends in performance management and discipline. Analyze trends and use insights to inform policy changes and training needs. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations. Provide guidance and escalation support to ER Partners. Ensure consistency in case handling and documentation across the team. Contribute to the development of a positive employee experience through fair and consistent practices. Lead the ongoing review, update, and maintenance of the employee handbook, ensuring alignment with current employment laws, organizational policies, and HR best practices; collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and HR stakeholders to ensure clarity, consistency, and accessibility. Manage day-to-day execution of involuntary separation cases, ensuring timely and compliant handling of all steps in the process. Partner with HRBPs to support the selection process for impacted employees, providing ER perspective on risk and fairness. Review and validate termination packets for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with internal policies and external regulations. Coach and support managers in preparing for and conducting termination conversations, including scripting and delivery best practices. Identify and elevate complex or sensitive cases to the Sr. Manager of ER for further review and guidance. Maintain detailed documentation of all separation cases, ensuring audit readiness and data integrity. Contribute to the development of ER team resources, including training materials and process guides. Supplemental Job Functions Perform additional duties as assigned. Qualifications Education & Experience Required Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field. PHR or SPHR certification preferred. 5+ years of progressive HR experience with a focus on employee relations. Experience conducting investigations and managing complex employee relations cases. Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices. Experience working in a matrixed or agile environment is a plus. Preferred Experience Knowledge and experience with employment laws in the state of California. Knowledge and experience with employment laws in Mexico. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Detail-oriented with strong organizational and documentation skills. High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Pushes for transparency and cultural integrity Advocates for equity, inclusion, and fairness Communicates neutrally and coaches with credibility Navigates ambiguity and evolving org structures with clarity Brings cultural fluency across global and distributed teams Familiarity with tiered ER COE models and scalable service delivery Connects ER work to broader business and leadership priorities Leads adoption of new models and ways of working Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and HRIS systems (e.g., Workday). Comfortable with AI and emerging ER technologies Teammate Benefits As an Accendra Health employee, you have choices to fit your life. Our comprehensive benefits program is designed to meet you where you are — through all of life’s stages. We’ve got you and your family covered with benefits that support your health, finances, and overall wellness. Our benefits program includes: Medical, dental, and vision care coverage Paid time off plan 401(k) Plan Flexible Spending Accounts Basic life insurance Short-and long-term disability coverage Accident insurance Teammate Assistance Program Paid parental leave Domestic partner benefits Mental, physical, and financial well-being programs If you feel this opportunity could be the next step in your career, we encourage you to apply. Accendra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, disability, age, status as a veteran, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law. Note: Accendra is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our Company via email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our Company. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by our Company as a result of the referral or through other means. Owens & Minor and Accendra Health are now two separate companies. For a limited time, this career site will provide job opportunities for both organizations. Each job description includes the respective company designation, or you can use the company filter tool at the top of the page to sort the listings. Please ensure you confirm which company you are applying to. We are excited to have you here, and thank you for your interest in Owens & Minor and Accendra Health. Owens & Minor ( Accendra Health #J-18808-Ljbffr