How is this role important to our work?

Are you ready to grow your career? We are looking for a seasoned Director of Employee Relations, who will report directly to our CHRO. In this role, you will lead and manage the employee relations team and enterprise Employee Relations (ER) strategy. You will proactively stay abreast of all federal, state, and local employment laws and legislation to incorporate into the company policies, processes, and procedures. This role partners with multiple stakeholders, including HR, legal, compliance, leadership, associates, etc. You will be a thought leader in the ER space with a strong combination of technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. You will oversee and participate in the execution and consultation for all ER issues including positive employee relations, investigations, complaint resolution, performance management, and organizational restructure and reduction. This role plays a crucial part in fostering a harmonious work environment and safeguarding the company's compliance with a proactive approach to applicable employment laws.

Day in the Life

• Oversee the execution and consultation for employee relations including positive employee relations, investigations, complaint resolution, performance management, and organizational restructure and reduction.

• Counsel and advise leaders on sensitive employee situations, such as policy interpretation, conflict resolution, performance management and disciplinary actions, including terminations, and other issues presenting risk to the organization.

• Provides expert discovery, training, and consultation consistent BCBS MN values, business needs, policies and legal requirements to human resources and people leaders' enterprise wide.

• Functions as the liaison with legal counsel on matters of employee relations and employment related litigation.

• Apply employee and labor relations expertise to successfully identify trends and challenges, predict and mitigate risk, and develop and execute solution-focused strategies, programs, and procedures.

• Independently and/or cross-functionally design, own, and lead successful large-scale, company-wide projects that improve employee experience.

• Builds and executes a roadmap of programming, training, and communications targeted at HRBPs, business leaders, and employees regarding current and changing topics to build HR and leader capabilities and employee awareness.

• Serves as an expert resource to Human Resources and business leaders for employee relations issues including performance management, harassment, ADA, or code violation complaints to ensure consistent and fair processes are employed.

• Conducts and provides expert and timely consultation and resources relating to investigations.

• Critically reviews proposed job eliminations, terminations, and layoff decisions and provides consultation, documentation, and leadership to the organization with legal and other functional collaboration.

• Leads the governance and implementation of new and updated employee relations policies and procedures and ensures the currency, accuracy, and accessibility to human resources, people leaders, and associates.

• Supports the company's response to employment related inquiries, charges, and complaints from agencies in partnership with internal and external legal groups.

• Lead investigations and partner with cross-functional resources by providing consultation on topics related to policy development and communications, employment-related investigations, and other related matters.

• Determine appropriate resolution of cases if further investigation is warranted. Work closely with Human Resource Business Partners and business leaders as appropriate to make recommendations.

• Lead and/or participate in broader Human Resources initiatives as assigned, which may include the development, communication and implementation of Human Resource programs, trainings, or initiatives that impact employee relations matters.

• Establish metrics and assess progress and results; identify and communicate trends to senior leaders.

• Provide effective leadership to direct reports, including mentoring, development, and performance management. Coach direct reports on resolving sensitive employee relations cases.

Nice To Have

• Master's degree in industrial relations, HR, etc.

Required Skills & Experiences

• Bachelor's degree

• SHRM-SCP certification

• 7 + years relevant experience leading/supporting employee relations.

• Advanced knowledge of Employee/Labor law, legal compliance requirements, Human Resources trends and newly-surfacing litigation/regulatory areas.

• Outstanding investigative skills, and experience handling complex and sensitive employee relations matters.

• Demonstrated results in planning, developing, and implementing Employee Relations and legislative changes and policy initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience developing and managing executive-ready communications related to management of large-scale/high profile investigations, projects, legislative changes, policies.

• Demonstrated ability to appropriately challenge and influence leaders as necessary to ensure fair and appropriate treatment.

• Consulting skills

• Effective time management skills and ability to balance multiple demands and competing priorities and adapt to changes in the work environment.

• High degree of confidentiality, integrity, sensitivity, and discretion coupled with good judgment and decision-making skills.

• Accepting this director level position at BCBSMN requires signing an Employee Confidentiality, Intellectual Property Assignment and Restrictive Covenants Agreement as a condition of employment.