Director, Employee Relations

Public Partnerships | PPL•Latham, NY

1d•$148,000 - $166,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Public Partnerships LLC supports individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses and aging adults, to remain in their homes and communities and “self” direct their own long-term home care. Our role as the nation’s largest and most experienced Financial Management Service provider is to assist those eligible Medicaid recipients to choose and pay for their own support workers and services within their state-approved personalized budget. We are appointed by states and managed healthcare organizations to better serve more of their residents and members requiring long-term care and ensure the efficient use of taxpayer funded services. Our culture attracts and rewards people who are results-oriented and strive to exceed customer expectations. We desire motivated candidates who are excited to join our fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, and who want to make a difference in helping transform the lives of the consumers we serve. (learn more at www.pplfirst.com). Job Summary The Director of Employee Relations (ER) is responsible for leading the organization’s employee relations strategy, with a primary focus on overseeing and conducting complex workplace investigations. This role also leads the organization’s reasonable accommodation program, ensuring a consistent, compliant, and employee-centered approach to accommodations. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and partners closely with HR, Legal, Compliance, and business leaders to ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant handling of employee concerns while fostering a positive workplace culture and mitigating organizational risk. The Director collaborates cross-functionally across Human Resources and business functions to deliver proactive ER strategies, effective investigations, and compliant accommodation practices that enhance both business outcomes and employee experience.

Requirements

Expert investigative skills and sound judgment
Deep knowledge of employee relations practices and the interactive accommodation process
Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulatory requirements
High emotional intelligence, discretion, and confidentiality
Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills
Excellent interpersonal and executive communication skills with ability to influence at all levels
Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Ability to manage multiple high-risk, sensitive, and complex situations simultaneously
Proficiency in HR systems (Workday preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (Master’s degree or JD preferred).
8–12+ years of progressive HR/Employee Relations experience
Significant experience conducting and managing workplace investigations
Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing accommodation programs
Strong knowledge of employment law, compliance, and regulatory frameworks
Proven leadership and team management experience
Experience in multi-state or complex organizational environments preferred

Nice To Haves

SHRM-CP, PHR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR preferred

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee all internal workplace investigations (e.g., harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics violations, policy breaches)
Conduct complex, high-risk, or executive-level investigations
Ensure investigations are timely, thorough, impartial, and well-documented
Provide findings, risk assessments, and recommendations to senior leadership
Maintain investigation protocols and standards aligned with legal and regulatory requirements
Develop and implement ER strategies, policies, and practices that foster a respectful and inclusive workplace
Identify trends and root causes of employee concerns and recommend proactive solutions
Partner with HR Business Partners and leaders on complex employee issues and conflict resolution
Drive consistency in disciplinary actions and corrective measures across the organization
Lead and oversee the organization’s reasonable accommodation process (e.g., ADA, PWFA, religious accommodations, and related state/local requirements)
Ensure a consistent, compliant, and timely interactive process across all functions and locations
Provide guidance on complex or sensitive accommodation requests, including those involving medical restrictions, leave intersections, and return-to-work scenarios
Partner with Legal, HR, and business leaders to assess undue hardship and organizational risk
Oversee documentation, tracking, and reporting of accommodation requests and outcomes
Develop policies, procedures, and training to ensure effective and equitable accommodation practices
Monitor trends and recommend proactive solutions to improve accessibility and reduce risk
Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations (e.g., EEO, ADA, FMLA, PWFA, and state/local laws)
Partner with Legal on litigation risk and external agency matters (EEOC, DOL, etc.)
Maintain documentation and reporting for audits and compliance requirements
Mitigate legal and reputational risks through sound employee relations and accommodation practices
Lead and develop a team of employee relations professionals and/or investigators (and accommodation specialists, if applicable)
Establish performance goals, provide coaching, and build investigative and case management capabilities
Create scalable processes, tools, and training for ER and accommodation case management
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and executives
Collaborate with HR, Legal, Ethics/Compliance, and Security teams
Support leadership in navigating sensitive employee relations and accommodation situations
Design and deliver training on workplace conduct, investigations, accommodations, and conflict management
Promote a speak-up culture and awareness of reporting channels and accommodation processes
Implement preventative initiatives based on trends and organizational data
Track and analyze ER and accommodation metrics (case volume, types, timeliness, outcomes, trends)
Provide insights and reporting to leadership
Use data to guide strategic improvements, risk mitigation, and organizational effectiveness