Employee Relations Specialist

Role summary

This position focuses on advising and supporting a strong employee relations approach for the client. The role centers on handling employee concerns, helping leaders resolve issues quickly and fairly, explaining company policies, guiding performance management, and strengthening compliance with relevant employment rules. In union stores, the specialist will also interpret and apply contract terms where needed.

Key responsibilities

• Use strong listening skills to identify the real issue and ask targeted follow-up questions.
• Take the lead on investigations involving moderate-risk situations, as well as corrective actions and terminations.
• Gather facts, speak with key witnesses, compare similar past cases, and apply judgment to recommend next steps to leadership.
• Manage sensitive or emotionally charged matters with professionalism, neutrality, and composure.
• Provide written guidance to managers and coach them in ways that help employees improve, while also ensuring documentation supports terminations when required.
• Make sure company policies and practices are applied consistently and fairly.
• Apply U.S. federal and state labor and employment laws, along with relevant laws in Canada and Puerto Rico.
• Support managers by asking the right questions, assessing risk, and helping them work through workplace problems.
• Advise leaders on policy, procedure, and legal considerations to help reduce company risk.
• Prioritize, resolve, or escalate matters within required timelines, collaborating with HR Business Partners and the Employee Relations Center of Excellence when needed.
• Work closely with Asset Protection to understand store compliance issues and support corrective actions and terminations.
• Carry out additional related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent HR experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in employee relations, labor relations, or a similar field.
• At least 3 years of related human resources experience or demonstrated business management experience.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively with highly difficult, volatile, or emotional situations and individuals.
• Ability to conduct neutral, unbiased investigations.
• Strong judgment, sound decision-making, and confidentiality handling.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment law.
• Preferred: PHR or SPHR certification.
• Preferred: Bilingual in French and/or Spanish.

Additional information

This is a contract, onsite role based in the United States. The posting does not specify salary, number of openings, start date, or duration.

Work setting

The job is listed as onsite and requires the ability to support employee relations issues in a hands-on environment.