Sr. ER Specialist

Essential Functions:

This role is responsible for supporting the working relations of employees in 200+ footwear retail stores. This role will be managed by a regional HR Business Partner and will oversee day-to-day employee questions, concerns, and support needs. The Sr. Employee Relations Specialist will lead investigations, ensure compliance with employment and labor laws, be a problem solver, go to adviser, and cultural epicenter for the Region.

Specifically, the Sr. Employee Relations Specialist will:

• Work to resolve employee and manager questions, concerns, conflicts.
• Provide coaching and corrective action guidance to managers.
• Support all types of employee concerns, including high risk claims alleging unlawful employment practices.
• Conduct investigations for high risk matters from start to finish, including completing  investigation reports and summaries.
• Help build and report on ER analytics in order to translate metrics and/or trends to business leaders to achieve business unit and organizational objectives.
• Develop strategies to leverage technology to enhance method in which employees leverage HR guidance and seek support.
• Monitor and analyze employee relations trends and recommend proactive measures to address issues.
• Develop processes and culture to provide positive employee experience for manager and employees when seeking HR support.
• Support compliance programs in partnership with in-house legal counsel to ensure wage and hour, pay transparency, employment authorization, background check, fair scheduling, and other employment laws are continuing to be upheld.
• Advise and trains managers and supervisors in best employee relations practices and strategies for managing supervisor problems and employee grievances. Develops further training as needed.
• Support HRBPs to develop and conduct employee relations training programs, employee discipline and performance improvement processes.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with other leaders including Payroll, Store Operations, Legal, Finance and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities to enhance existing policies and procedures, while maintaining best practices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent judgment and business maturity to achieve organizational focus on key priorities.
• Strong coaching, leadership development and team building skills.
• Must have cultural sensitivity and strong situational awareness.
• Thorough working knowledge of HR practices and legal requirements impacting employment, performance management, compensation, labor relations and other related specialist areas.
• Thorough understanding of dispute resolution.
• Ability to remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial and/or confrontational situations.
• Must have high integrity and ability to maintain the requisite confidentiality.

Minimum Requirements:

• Requires 7+ years employee relations experience; .
• Must have 3+ years of employee relations on claims alleging unlawful employment practices or other high risk/profile matters;
• Experience developing reporting and analytics;
• Solid understanding of current federal and state employment laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Ability to gain and maintain current knowledge of state and local employment laws, regulations, and compliance requirements for the states in which the Company operates.
• In-depth understanding of Retail Company policies, procedures, and operations, and of the Human Resources function.
• Experience in retail industry preferred but not required.
• High integrity, strong ethics, sound judgment, and the ability to maintain confidentiality
• Interpersonal and communication skills to deal effectively with all levels of employees and external contacts
• Advanced organizational skills
• Demonstrated problem solving skills
• Familiarity with Oracle HRIS applications is a plus

Physical Demands:

This position is primarily sedentary. Applicants, with or without accommodations, must be able to sit for extended periods, as well as occasionally stand and walk. The role requires reaching, grasping, and possessing fine motor skills for typing. Additionally, candidates should be able to lift light objects, such as files, bend or stoop to access lower drawers, and have good near vision for computer work.

Work Environment:

Office environment, Hybrid in office 4 days a week.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills requires of the position. All employees may have other duties assigned at any time.