Director, Employee Relations

GeneDx•Gaithersburg, MD

9h•$140,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

GeneDx is hiring its first Director of Employee Relations. This foundational role will build the Employee Relations (ER) function from the ground up, protect the organization, enable leaders, and ensure every employee experience decision reflects the company's core values. Reporting to the VP, People Experience, this role will own the entire employee relations lifecycle from intake to resolution while building the playbooks, tools, and manager capability that make the function scalable. The Director will manage approximately 130 annual ER touch points across workplace investigations, performance-based terminations, complex coaching situations, and policy interpretation. This role will serve as the primary ER interface with Legal and drive the cultural shift from “HR handles it” to “leaders own performance.” This is an opportunity for someone who wants to write the ER playbook, not just inherit one.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
8+ years of progressive HR experience with 5+ years focused on employee relations
Demonstrated experience building or significantly maturing an ER function — not just operating within one
Proven track record of personally owning and conducting workplace investigations (not supporting or advising)
Experience supporting both production/operations and commercial/sales populations
Track record of operating as a solo or near-solo ER resource, managing a full caseload independently
Strong working partnership with employment law counsel; fluency in translating legal risk into business action
Evidence of measurable ER outcomes: reduced claims, improved resolution time, increased manager capability

Nice To Haves

Experience in life sciences, biotech, diagnostics, or healthcare industries
Experience in a high-growth, mid-size company (500–3,000 employees) undergoing operational transformation
Familiarity with ER in regulated environments (CLIA, CAP, FDA, or similar)
PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or AWI certification
Experience with ER case management systems and HR analytics/reporting tools

Responsibilities

Design and stand up GeneDx’s first dedicated Employee Relations function, including investigation protocols, case management infrastructure, documentation standards, and escalation frameworks.
Establish the ER operating model that enables PBPs to focus on strategic business partnership while ER owns the employee relations lifecycle.
Create and deliver quarterly ER reporting — case trends, risk indicators, hotspot analysis, and recommendations — to VP, People Experience and senior leadership.
Manage the full ER caseload (~130 annual touch points): workplace investigations, performance-based terminations, complex performance coaching situations, and policy interpretation.
Personally lead all workplace investigations, ensuring thorough, timely, and legally defensible processes and documentation.
Own termination recommendations and legal outcome discussions; escalate VP+ cases and precedent-setting situations to VP, People Experience.
Serve as the primary ER interface with Legal, partnering on high-risk matters (approximately 25% of caseload) and translating legal guidance into operational action.
Build manager-facing playbooks, toolkits, and training for performance management, progressive discipline, and difficult conversations.
Drive the cultural shift from “HR handles it” to “leaders own performance” — coaching and equipping managers to operate independently while knowing when to escalate.
Provide real-time guidance to managers and PBPs on employee relations matters, balancing speed with risk management.
Reduce legal exposure through consistent, high-quality case management and documentation practices.
Monitor and address ER hotspots — particularly in commercial production labs and sales teams — with targeted interventions.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws; stay ahead of regulatory changes that affect ER practices.