Lead Employee Relations Advisor

Job Description:

The Lead Employee Relations (ER) Advisor serves as the subject matter expert for employee relations matters, addressing employee concerns, workplace issues, and policy questions. This role focuses on resolving routine cases and providing support to managers and employees, ensuring fair and timely outcomes while adhering to company policies and local labor laws. This role delivers consistent, high-quality service and supports the overall success of the Employee Relations function.

• Serve as the primary contact for employees and managers seeking guidance on workplace issues, policy questions, or performance management concerns.

• Conduct thorough investigations to include intake, initial assessment and recommend corrective action of employee relations cases, ensuring accurate documentation and escalation of complex or high-risk cases to Sr. Management or People and Culture (P+C) Business Partner team, as applicable.

• Resolves employee relations issues through a systematic approach.

• Provide guidance to managers and employees on the interpretation and application of company policies, escalating nuanced or legally sensitive issues to Legal, as applicable.

• Develop, implement, and update ER policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and alignment with company values.

• Partners with P+C Business Partners to ensure consistent employee relations policies throughout the organization.

• Facilitate mediation sessions to resolve conflicts between employees or between employees and management.

• Provide expert advice to managers and employees on employee relations issues, including performance management, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution.

• Partner with leaders to create and administer Performance Improvement Plans.

• Coordinates responses with P+C Leadership, General Counsel and outside legal representatives on employment related complaints filed with state and federal agencies.

• Develop and deliver training programs on ER topics, including confliction resolution, performance management, and compliance.

• Monitor changes in employment laws and regulations, and working with in-house counsel, ensure relevant company policies are updated accordingly.

• Analyze ER data to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement.

• Present findings and strategic recommendations to leadership to inform decision-making.

• Guide and support junior P+C team members by sharing knowledge and best practices to enhance their skills and professional growth.

• Facilitate and manage delicate performance and job elimination discussions with affected employees, ensuring the seamless coordination and execution of severance agreements.

• Occasional travel required.

• Participate in other projects or duties.

Key Skills:

1. Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: Ability to mediate disputes and resolve conflicts effectively.

2. Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to interact with employees and management at all levels.

3. Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with employees at all levels.

4. Problem-Solving: Analytical skills to identify issues and develop effective solutions and decisions.

5. Knowledge of Labor Laws: Understanding of employment laws and regulations to ensure compliance.

6. Policy Development: Ability to create and implement employee relations policies and procedures.

7. Training and Development: Skills to design and deliver training programs on employee relations topics.

8. Confidentiality: Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.

9. Investigation and Reporting: Skills to conduct thorough investigations and prepare detailed reports.

10. Adaptability: Flexibility to handle a variety of employee relations issues and changing workplace dynamics.

Knowledge & Abilities:

• Sound business acumen and demonstrated ability to establish credibility, trust and partnership at all levels within an organization.

• In-depth knowledge of global employee relations processes and procedures desired, with a focus on country-specific nuances.

• Ability to ask insightful questions and apply critical thinking to address complex ER issues across different regions.

• Demonstrated knowledge of federal/state employment laws and an excellent understanding of general HR practices, laws and regulations required.

• Expert ability to work effectively with all levels of leaders and employees.

• Expert ability to exercise independent judgment.

• Expert ability to liaison with legal counsel.

• Expert ability to exercise good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining results.

• Excellent communication (oral, written, listening, presentation and facilitation) skills.

• Work without supervision with extensive latitude for independent judgment.

• Strong decision making and EQ skills required.

• High level of independence and initiative while working effectively as part of a team required.

• Proficiency in English required. Proficiency in local language(s) may be required.

• Expert ability to listen and understand information and communicate the same.

• Must possess good organizational skills.

• Must be results oriented, customer focused, and exhibit good interpersonal skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft office packages.

Education & Training:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Human Resources, Business Administration or Psychology, or equivalent work experience, is required.

• SHRM/HRCI Certification preferred.

• Ten (10) or more years of experience as a human resources generalist with employee relations responsibilities is required.

• Or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

• Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) certification a plus.

Other Qualifications
The Winning Way behaviors that all Vertex employees need in order to meet the expectations of each other, our customers, and our partners.

• Communicate with Clarity - Be clear, concise and actionable. Be relentlessly constructive. Seek and provide meaningful feedback.

• Act with Urgency - Adopt an agile mentality - frequent iterations, improved speed, resilience. 80/20 rule – better is the enemy of done. Don’t spend hours when minutes are enough.

• Work with Purpose - Exhibit a “We Can” mindset. Results outweigh effort. Everyone understands how their role contributes. Set aside personal objectives for team results.

• Drive to Decision - Cut the swirl with defined deadlines and decision points. Be clear on individual accountability and decision authority. Guided by a commitment to and accountability for customer outcomes.

• Own the Outcome - Defined milestones, commitments and intended results. Assess your work in context, if you’re unsure, ask. Demonstrate unwavering support for decisions.

COMMENTS:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals in this position. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.