Associate Relations Partner

Zelis • St. Petersburg, FL

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Relations Partner is a highly skilled individual contributor who serves as a trusted advisor to People Leaders and works closely with Zelis People Leaders, People & Culture Business Partners, Legal, and other key stakeholders to lead associate relations matters. This role is responsible for managing associate relations cases, supporting performance management, conducting workplace investigations, and providing risk-informed guidance with sound judgment and consistency. This role also owns reporting and analytics for the associate relations function, using data to identify trends, inform proactive recommendations, and strengthen coaching with People Leaders. In addition, the Associate Relations Partner will bring an AI-forward mindset to identify opportunities to improve the function through responsible use of AI, automation, and process enhancements.

Requirements

• Typically has Bachelors’ degree or equivalent experience + 8 years of experience or Masters’ degree +6 yrs of experience.
• Significant experience in associate relations, HR business partnership, performance management, investigations, or a related Human Resources discipline.
• Attends company training and regional training in area of expertise.
• Presents own work to members of department and external consultants and external professional conferences.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex associate relations cases and advising leaders on sensitive workplace matters.
• Strong investigation skills, including interviewing, documentation, fact assessment, and sound judgment.
• Demonstrated experience coaching managers through performance issues and accountability actions.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret case data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to manage confidential information.
• Works under some supervision with high level of autonomy
• Resiliency and adaptability in a changing organization.
• Comfort operating independently in ambiguous or sensitive situations.
• Interest in and capability for using AI and technology to improve the associate relations function.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of associate relations matters, including performance concerns, misconduct, workplace conflict, policy interpretation, and other escalated associate issues.
• Conduct prompt, fair, and well-documented investigations, including intake, interviews, fact gathering, findings, and recommendations.
• Partner with People Leaders on performance management matters, including coaching, documentation, corrective action, and performance improvement planning.
• Advise People Leaders on associate relations issues with a focus on consistency, fairness, policy alignment, and risk mitigation.
• Exchanges information and communicates effectively to reach agreement in ambiguous situations
• Identify recurring themes across cases and recommend practical process, leadership, or organizational interventions.
• Proactively investigates and develops improvements for existing process or develops new process; identifies new areas of opportunity consistent with strategy
• Prepare and analyze associate relations reports and dashboards, including trends in case volume, issue type, outcomes, and organizational hotspots.
• Partner with the business on People Leader enablement and training in associate relations areas of focus.
• Use data and case insights to provide proactive recommendations in coaching sessions and strengthen leader effectiveness.
• Provide regular reporting to key stakeholders on trends, metrics, and insights.
• Develop and enhance tools, templates, playbooks, workflows, and standard operating procedures to continue maturing the Associate Relations function.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI and technology to improve intake, case documentation, reporting, trend analysis, and team efficiency.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, People & Culture Business Partners, and other stakeholders on sensitive or higher-risk matters.
• Support key Enterprise initiatives concerning compliance and information security.
• Independently hypothesizes, designs and executes on deliverables, programs or objectives and executes with hands on involvement.

Benefits

• 401k plan with employer match
• flexible paid time off
• holidays
• parental leaves
• life and disability insurance
• health benefits including medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior