Employee Relations Investigator

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

About The Position

Employee Relations, within Vanderbilt University's division of People, Culture, and Belonging, supports a fair, respectful, and productive work environment. The team consults on employee relations matters, supports consistent application of university policies, and conducts impartial investigations into allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace misconduct. It works collaboratively with human resources colleagues, university leadership, the Office of the General Counsel, and other campus partners to address sensitive workplace issues with discretion, objectivity, and care. The Employee Relations Investigator conducts and manages workplace investigations, analyzes findings, and supports fair and effective resolutions. The role also contributes to policy compliance, advises departmental leaders, provides training, researches emerging trends, and supports consistent employee relations practices. This position has no supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Relations and Enterprise Expansion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 5–7 years of experience.

Nice To Haves

Graduate or advanced degree, such as a Master’s, Ph.D., or J.D., in a relevant field.
Professional HR certification, such as SHRM-SCP or SPHR.
8–11 years of work experience conducting and managing fact-finding investigations into allegations of protected-class discrimination and harassment, or in a comparable field.
Experience in a university setting.

Responsibilities

Conduct impartial, fact-finding investigations into workplace complaints, including allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and university policy violations, independently or with appropriate stakeholders.
Develop investigation plans, interview parties and witnesses, gather and preserve documentation and other evidence, and prepare clear, objective investigation reports.
Communicate with parties and witnesses throughout investigations and manage multiple investigations efficiently.
Maintain updated case files in the case management system.
Analyze complex employee issues and investigation findings to identify root causes, and present objective findings and recommendations to appropriate decision-makers.
Provide employee relations leadership with ongoing updates on reports, complaints, and investigations.
Execute employee relations processes that support compliance with institutional policies and applicable regulatory standards.
Collaborate with university offices and community resources to help determine supportive measures and implement university policies.
Advise departmental leadership on resolution strategies that maintain a supportive work environment.
Train university faculty and staff on relevant policies and prevention measures.
Research emerging trends and forecast potential impacts on employee engagement to inform strategic initiatives.
Establish clear policies and procedures and mentor junior staff to support operational excellence and consistency.
Pursue professional reading and relevant professional development courses and training to build subject-area expertise.