Employee Relations Investigator

Shell Mobility and Convenience USA•Houston, TX

About The Position

The HR Investigations Lead promotes a respectful, ethical, and accountable workplace by leading complex employee relations matters and conducting fair, timely, and well-documented workplace investigations. The role serves as a trusted advisor to HR, Operations, and leadership, helping ensure concerns are addressed consistently, objectively, and in alignment with company values, policies, and applicable employment practices. It also provides elevated day-to-day employee relations support, builds HR capability, improves consistency, and supports sound decision-making across the organization. The position may be based in a corporate and/or field environment and may require travel to support investigations, employee relations matters, HR coverage, training, or business needs. It requires flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to respond to sensitive matters with urgency and professionalism.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, Criminal Justice, Organizational Development, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
Progressive experience in Human Resources, Employee Relations, HR Business Partner work, Compliance, or workplace investigations.
Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations, including intake assessment, interviewing, evidence review, documentation, findings, and recommendations.
Strong working knowledge of employment laws, employee relations principles, workplace conduct standards, and HR compliance requirements.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, factual, well-organized investigation summaries and employee relations documentation.
Strong consultation, coaching, and influencing skills, with the ability to advise leaders and HR partners at multiple organizational levels.
Ability to manage multiple cases and priorities while maintaining timeliness, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Ability to remain impartial, objective, and composed in emotionally charged or high-risk situations.
Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to evaluate facts, identify inconsistencies, and reach supportable conclusions.
High degree of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical judgment.
Strong case management, organization, and follow-through skills.
Ability to balance empathy with accountability and practical business judgment.
Strong understanding of documentation standards and risk mitigation practices.
Ability to build trust with employees, HR partners, managers, and senior leaders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, HRIS platforms, and case management or tracking tools.

Nice To Haves

HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
Formal investigation training or experience applying recognized investigation principles and practices.
Experience supporting multi-site, retail, field-based, or geographically dispersed operations.
Experience partnering with Legal, Compliance, Ethics, Security, Safety, Operations, or senior leadership on sensitive workplace matters.
Experience mentoring, training, or coaching HR professionals or people leaders.

Responsibilities

Lead investigations into alleged Code of Conduct violations, workplace misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, ethics concerns, conflicts of interest, and other sensitive employee relations matters.
Assess incoming concerns and determine appropriate next steps, such as a formal investigation, management intervention, coaching, or another resolution pathway.
Develop investigation plans, define scope, identify stakeholders, and determine evidence and interview needs.
Conduct professional, neutral, and respectful interviews with reporting parties, witnesses, subjects, managers, and other relevant individuals.
Gather, review, and analyze documentation, communications, time records, policy materials, and other relevant evidence.
Prepare clear, factual investigation reports, findings, and recommendations to support fair, consistent, and defensible outcomes.
Maintain accurate and confidential case documentation in accordance with company expectations, privacy requirements, and investigation principles.
Identify trends, control gaps, training needs, and recurring concerns, and recommend proactive solutions to reduce risk and strengthen workplace culture.
Serve as an escalation point for complex or sensitive employee relations matters, including performance, conduct, workplace conflict, corrective action, separations, and management concerns.
Provide practical, risk-informed guidance to HR Business Partners and people leaders on employee relations strategy, policy interpretation, documentation, and next steps.
Partner with HR leadership, Compliance, Safety, Operations, and other stakeholders as needed to evaluate risks and align on appropriate actions.
Coach others on handling workplace concerns early, consistently, and respectfully while reinforcing accountability and company expectations.
Support consistent application of company policies, the Code of Conduct, and employment practices across business locations and teams.