Employee Relations Partner

Harlem Children's Zone

Employee Relations Specialist at Harlem Children's Zone managing employee relations and performance management issues. Leading investigations, advising management, and promoting a positive workplace culture.

Posted 6/27/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $90,000 - $100,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and employees, providing expert counsel on employee relations issues, workplace conflict, and resolution strategies.
Lead workplace investigations involving employee complaints, misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation and policy violations.
Assess investigation findings, identify organizational risk, and provide recommendations for resolution.
Maintain complete and accurate case documentation in accordance with organizational standards.
Facilitate conflict resolution and mediation sessions between employees and managers, fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment.
Partner with leadership to design and implement performance management strategies that align with organizational goals and drive employee engagement.
Coach managers on performance management, corrective actions, and employee relations best practices to promote consistency and reduce organizational risk.
Advise managers on setting clear performance expectations, delivering constructive feedback, and managing underperformance through formal processes such as performance improvement plans (PIPs).
Analyze performance data and provide actionable insights to senior leadership on trends, improvement areas, and opportunities for development.
Develop and implement employee engagement initiatives to promote a positive workplace culture and improve retention.
Regularly conduct stay interviews and pulse surveys to gauge employee satisfaction, identify areas of concern, and proactively address issues before they escalate.
Collaborate with HR and department heads to design retention strategies tailored to various employee segments, ensuring a supportive and motivating work environment.
Assist in the development, communication, and enforcement of HR policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and alignment with best practices.
Support accommodation and leave-related interactive processes in partnership with ER, benefits and leadership.
Stay up to date on labor laws and employment regulations, ensuring the organization remains compliant with all relevant legislation.
Support management in interpreting and applying HR policies, advising on complex employee relations matters and mitigating risks.
Analyze the employee relations trends, investigation outcomes, and organizational risk indicators to identify opportunities for proactive intervention.
Prepare reports and recommendations for HR leadership regarding employee relations activity and trends.
Utilize case data to identify patterns related to employee relations concerns, performance issues and workplace cultures.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related field; advanced certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP.SHRM-CP, PHR, SPHR certification preferred).
7 - 10 years of progressive experience in employee relations, performance management, or HR-related roles with a demonstrated track record or resolving complex employee relations issues.
Experience conducting complex workplace investigations
Experience supporting multi-site organizations.
Experience in healthcare, education, nonprofit or other mission-driven environments.
Experience conducting workplace investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, policy violations, and employee complaints.
Proficiency in HR information systems (HRIS) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
In depth knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, PWFA, NY Paid Sick Leave, FLSA, Title VII, and related employment regulations.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and foster strong working relationships across all levels of the organization.
Experience managing employee relations cases through case management systems and maintaining accurate documentation.
Demonstrated ability to conduct workplace investigations, assess facts, evaluate credibility, and make sound recommendations.
Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and coach leaders at all levels of the organization.
Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills, with experience conducting investigations and managing difficult conversations with fairness and consistency.
Analytical mindset with advanced skills in data interpretation; ability to generate insights from employee relations data and make informed recommendations.
Proven project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Experience developing and facilitating training programs for managers on topics such as performance management, conflict resolution, and employee engagement.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a proactive approach to identifying issues and implementing effective solutions.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Highly competitive base salaries
Paid time off
Employee referral bonus
Career advancement
No-cost health insurance
Life Insurance
Short-and long-term disability
Additional voluntary benefits
Wellness discounts
Commuter benefits
Financial wellness perks
Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

employee relationsperformance managementworkplace investigationsconflict resolutiondata interpretationcase managementHR information systemsdocumentation managementtraining program developmentorganizational risk assessment

Soft Skills

interpersonal skillscommunication skillscoachingtrust buildinginfluenceproblem-solvingdecision-makinganalytical mindsetproject managementcollaboration

Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Human ResourcesSHRM-SCPSHRM-CPPHRSPHR