Director of Employee Relations (81740)

HomeFirst • San Jose, CA

4d • $150,000 - $150,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Employee Relations provides strategic and operational leadership for employee relations, workplace investigations, HR compliance, and people risk mitigation. This role serves as a trusted advisor to leadership, managers, and the People Services team, ensuring fair, consistent, legally compliant, and value-aligned people practices across the agency.
The ER Director will design and execute a coordinated employee relations approach, leading complex employee matters. This role is highly collaborative, partnering closely with Director of Human Resources, Director of Talent Development, and the CHRO on case strategy, and alignment with broader people operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, a related field, or applicable work experience.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive HR experience, with significant focus on employee relations and investigations.
• Deep knowledge of California employment law and HR compliance.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex workplace investigations.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to manage sensitive situations.

Nice To Haves

• SHRM-CP/SCP, SPHR, or similar certification.
• Experience in nonprofit, human services, healthcare, or public-facing organizations.
• Training in trauma-informed or restorative investigation practices.

Responsibilities

• Employee Relations Leadership
• Lead all employee relations strategy, including consultation on performance management, corrective action, conflict resolution, and workplace conduct.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex, high-risk, or sensitive employee relations matters.
• Work closely with Dir of HR and Dir of Talent Development (TD) on coaching managers and leaders with effective, legally compliant people management practices.
• Ensure consistency and equity in the application of corrective action and disciplinary processes.
• Investigations Oversight
• Oversee all workplace investigations, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, and policy violations.
• Conduct investigations personally when appropriate; otherwise assign, guide, and review investigations led by other assigned HR staff.
• Ensure investigations are timely, neutral, trauma-informed, well-documented, and compliant with California and federal law.
• Review findings, recommend outcomes, and partner with CHRO and leadership on resolution strategies.
• Compliance & Risk Management
• Support and partner with Dir of HR and Dir of TD to proactively identify patterns, training needs and policy improvements that reduce risk exposure.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate people-related risk across the organization.
• Collaborate with internal program compliance and risk assessment colleagues.
• Partner with Legal Counsel, insurance carriers, and external investigators as needed.
• Support responses to agency complaints, claims, audits, and regulatory inquiries.
• Policy Development
• Coordinate closely with the Dir of HR in the development, revision, and interpretation of HR policies and procedures.
• Help ensure policies are legally compliant, practical for frontline operations, and aligned with organizational values.
• Support Dir of TD and Strategic Comms staff with training and communications work related to policy changes
• Leadership & Collaboration
• Collaborate closely with Dir of HR, Dir of TD and broader People Services team to support consistent, aligned people practices.
• Contribute to broader People Services strategy, including culture, training, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• Support the CHRO in Board-level or executive reporting related to workforce risk and compliance trends.

Benefits

• HomeFirst provides comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage and additional wellness options like chiropractic care, mental health support, pet insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• We offer a 401(k)-retirement plan with generous matching, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, and workers’ compensation.
• Employees enjoy 12 holidays, sick leave, and PTO starting at 15 days annually, increasing with tenure, plus 8 hours of civic engagement leave annually to volunteer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees