Description

Position Summary

The Employee Relations Manager provides leadership and hands-on support for the effective management, investigation, and resolution of complex and sensitive workplace matters. This role carries its own caseload and personally conducts investigations into complex and higher-risk matters, while also influencing the work of the investigative team through expertise, guidance, and collaboration.

This position is a functional leadership role and may not have direct reports.  As a functional leader, the Manager is accountable for influencing consistency, objectivity, and thoroughness in how matters are addressed, in accordance with company policies, established investigation standards, and applicable employment laws.   The Manager supports investigator development, quality assurance, workload and case management practices, and continuous improvement of investigative processes and standards.   

In addition to handling their own investigative caseload, the Manager provides consultation and guidance on matters involving employee misconduct, policy violations, retaliation, discrimination, harassment, leadership conduct, workplace conflicts, and other significant Employee Relations concerns.  The Manager serves as a Subject Matter Expert for HR policy, influencing policy improvements, providing guidance to HR and stakeholders, and supporting the broader Employee Relations team with policy interpretation and application.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage an individual caseload and conduct workplace investigations and from intake through resolution, including particularly sensitive, complex, or significant matters, with responsibility for interviewing, evidence analysis, credibility and corroboration assessment, findings, documentation, and recommendations.
• Provide guidance and consultation on prioritization, workload balancing, aging, timeliness, and appropriate escalation, without direct assignment or supervisory authority. Reinforce expectations for investigation quality, documentation, confidentiality and objectivity.  
• Monitor key case-management indicators and use data to identify opportunities to improve effectiveness, quality, consistency, and timeliness, as well as investigation processes, templates, protocols, documentation standards, and case-management practices.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert to HR professionals and business leaders regarding complex Employee Relations matters, workplace investigations, policy interpretation, and employee concerns, supporting consistent application and interpretation of company policies and Employee Relations practices.
• Provide coaching and guidance to the team to strengthen investigative judgment, interviewing skills, evidence analysis, credibility assessment, documentation, and written communication, building their capability to independently manage increasingly complex and sensitive matters.
• Analyze case activity to identify emerging themes, recurring allegations, workplace trends, systemic issues, potential control gaps, and areas of increased Employee Relations risk, and translate case data and investigative observations into meaningful insights for Employee Relations leadership and appropriate organizational stakeholders.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR policies by identifying gaps, ambiguities, and inconsistencies revealed through case work, recommending policy updates and clarifications, and partnering with Employee Relations leadership to develop, review, and implement policy changes and related guidance.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Human Resources, Business, Employee Relations, Labor Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive Employee Relations, Human Resources, Compliance, Ethics, Legal, or workplace-investigation experience, including significant experience independently leading complex workplace investigations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing consultation and guidance on complex or sensitive Employee Relations matters.
• Strong working knowledge of employment laws, workplace investigation principles, Employee Relations practices, and appropriate investigation documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex and conflicting evidence, credibility considerations, risk factors, and sensitive workplace circumstances.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex or sensitive matters clearly and professionally.
• Experience managing high-volume case portfolios while balancing risk, quality, timeliness, and employee experience.
• Ability to influence and provide effective consultation to HR professionals and leaders at multiple organizational levels.

• Experience leading, coaching, or developing others through influence, including informal, functional, or matrixed leadership without formal supervisory authority.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, calendar, intranet, and other business technology.
• Current PHR or SPHR certification preferred.
• Employee Relations experience in a financial services and/or retail environment preferred.

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Exempt Status: (Yes = not eligible for overtime pay) (No = eligible for overtime pay)

Workplace Type:

Our Approach to Office Workplace Type

Certain positions outside our branch network may be eligible for a flexible work arrangement. We’re combining the best of both worlds:  in-office and work from home. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. Remote roles will also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for moments that matter. Specific work arrangements will be provided by the hiring team.

Compensation Range:

The compensation range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base compensation range for this position. Actual compensation will vary based on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, and education.  Colleagues in this position are also eligible to participate in an applicable incentive compensation plan.  In addition, Huntington provides a variety of benefits to colleagues, including health insurance coverage, wellness program, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plan, paid leave programs, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO). 

Huntington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Note to Agency Recruiters:  Huntington will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.  All unsolicited resumes sent to any Huntington colleagues, directly or indirectly, will be considered Huntington property. Recruiting agencies must have a valid, written and fully executed Master Service Agreement and Statement of Work for consideration.