Director, Employee Relations & Compliance

Peraton•Reston, VA

2d•$135,000 - $216,000•Onsite

About The Position

Peraton is seeking an experienced Director, Employee Relations & Compliance to lead the company's enterprise-wide employee relations function and serve as the HR organization's primary resource on employment law compliance. Reporting to the CHRO, this Director will be responsible for the design and execution of Peraton’ ER program; including workplace investigations, case management, policy compliance, and manager education — while serving as a key liaison to Legal regarding employment law matters and government agency inquiries. This position demands deep expertise in workplace investigations, a command of federal contractor employment law obligations, and the judgment to navigate sensitive, high-stakes people matters with discretion and legal defensibility. Experience in a federal government contracting environment is required.

Requirements

16+ years of progressive HR experience, with a minimum of 6+ years specifically in employee relations, workplace investigations, and/or employment law compliance
Deep expertise in workplace investigations, including hands-on experience conducting and overseeing complex, sensitive investigations from intake through resolution and documentation
Proven experience in a federal government contracting environment, and federal contractor HR obligations
Strong command of federal and multi-state employment law, including FLSA, Title VII, ADA/ADAAA, FMLA, ADEA, USERRA, and NLRA
Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders and HR Business Partners on employee relations matters with sound judgment, risk awareness, and clear communication
Experience developing and delivering ER-related training to managers and HR professionals
Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to draft legally sound investigation reports, policies, and executive-level summaries
US Citizenship
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Industrial/Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field required

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor (J.D.) or paralegal background; candidates with legal training and significant HR/ER experience are highly competitive
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, PHR or AWI-CH (Association of Workplace Investigators Certified Investigator) certification
Experience managing ER through mergers, acquisitions, and organizational restructuring
Familiarity with case management tools (e.g., Navex, ServiceNow HR) and HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday HCM)
Active security clearance or ability to obtain one
J.D., Master's degree (M.S. in HR, MBA, or related field), or paralegal certification preferred

Responsibilities

Lead the enterprise-wide employee relations function, including the design and continuous improvement of ER frameworks, case management protocols, escalation procedures, and trend analysis
Personally conduct and oversee complex, sensitive, and high-stakes workplace investigations, including allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics violations, and policy violations
Manage a team of Employee Relations specialists and investigators, ensuring consistent, high-quality, and legally defensible investigation practices across the enterprise
Develop and maintain investigation documentation standards, templates, and case management protocols that ensure consistency, confidentiality, and legal defensibility
Serve as a trusted advisor to HR Business Partners and senior leaders on employee relations matters, providing risk-informed guidance and recommended courses of action
Analyze ER case trends, root causes, and patterns; develop and present insights and recommendations to HR leadership to proactively address systemic issues
Serve as the HR function's primary liaison to Legal on employment law matters, including FLSA, Title VII, ADA/ADAAA, FMLA, ADEA, USERRA, NLRA, and applicable state and local employment laws
Lead HR policy monitoring, editing, and drafting to ensure our policies provide compliance with company and regulatory requirements. Continuously evaluate the need and merits of policies to avoid bureaucracy
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the workforce; advise HR leadership on emerging compliance risks and recommended responses
Manage the team supporting the company's response to audits, Affirmative Action Plans and other government agency inquiries in coordination with Legal
Advise on RIF and restructuring activities, ensuring legal compliance and risk mitigation throughout the process
Develop and deliver training to HR Business Partners and people managers on ER best practices, investigation procedures, documentation standards, and employment law compliance
Build and maintain a library of ER resources, manager toolkits, and training materials that equip leaders to handle people matters effectively and consistently
Partner with Legal and Ethics & Compliance on enterprise-wide training initiatives related to workplace conduct, anti-harassment, and federal contractor obligations
Partner closely with Legal, Ethics & Compliance, and Security on matters involving litigation risk, government agency inquiries, and conduct issues with security implications
Collaborate with HR Business Partners to ensure consistent application of ER practices and policies across all business sectors and geographies
Support HR leadership on organizational restructuring, workforce reductions, and other sensitive people actions requiring ER expertise