Employee Relations Lead

Metrea LLC•Washington, DC

42d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Metrea, our People Team is a strategic partner who shapes the employee experience and unlocks business potential. In this newly created role, you'll drive initiatives that fuel organizational effectiveness, support employee growth, and strengthen our high-performance culture. You'll be a trusted consultant to our leaders across all of our Core and Support Groups, guiding them through people-related opportunities and challenges with insight, empathy, and business acumen. The Employee Relations Lead is responsible for leading complex workplace investigations and providing expert guidance on employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with U.S. (federal, state, and local) and international employment laws as well as company policies. This role will act as a trusted advisor to leadership, People Business Partners, and employees, handling sensitive cases involving misconduct, policy violations, workplace conflicts, and regulatory issues. The position will mitigate risks by protecting our teammates and the Company, resolving challenges, and serving as a trusted advisor and coach to the company on sensitive matters. We're looking for a senior specialist who is as comfortable influencing strategy at the senior level as well as getting into the weeds on an employee relations matter. We are an all-hands-on-deck team. Success means balancing strategy and action: designing scalable people practices, advising on complex employee matters, and leaning into the tough problems with curiosity and pragmatism. As both a thought partner and problem-solver, you'll directly influence how our teams thrive and how our mission is achieved.

Requirements

Investigative rigor and objectivity
Risk assessment and mitigation
Conflict resolution and mediation
Policy interpretation and application
Ethical judgment and confidentiality
Stakeholder influence and executive presence
Ability to excel and thrive in a fast-paced, sometimes ambiguous environment
Diligent in attention to details and pursue quality in accomplishing tasks
Promotes cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals
Must possess a strong commitment to company values
Education: Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master's or JD preferred).
Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive HR/Employee Relations experience, including significant experience conducting complex workplace investigations.
Strong knowledge of U.S. employment law and regulations (EEOC, Title VII, ADA, FMLA, NLRA, etc.); international employment laws and regulations a plus but not required.
Experience in a highly regulated industry (aerospace, defence, aviation, or federal contracting) strongly preferred.
Computer Skills: Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite Programs and HRIS.

Nice To Haves

Professional in Human Resources, SHRM-CP, or AWI-CH (Association of Workplace Investigators) a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage complex employee relations investigations, including allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace violence, and other misconduct.
Conduct interviews, gather and evaluate evidence, maintain detailed documentation, and prepare comprehensive investigation reports.
Ensure investigations are conducted in a fair, consistent, and timely manner, aligned with legal and regulatory requirements(EEOC, OFCCP, ITAR/DFARS, ACAS compliance as applicable).
Provide subject matter expertise to People Business Partners, managers, and leadership on handling employee relations cases and workplace conflicts.
Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Security teams to mitigate risk in sensitive cases.
Recommend corrective actions, disciplinary measures, or policy updates based on findings.
Support the development, review, and enforcement of HR policies and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance with relevant country-specific employment laws.
Monitor labor and regulatory trends to anticipate risk areas and propose policy adjustments.
Serve as a liaison during external audits, investigations, or regulatory reviews (e.g., OFCCP, EEOC, DOL, ACAS).
Develop and deliver training for managers and People Group teammates on employee relations best practices, investigations, and compliance obligations.
Promote awareness of respectful workplace standards and reporting channels.
Track and analyze employee relations cases to identify trends, root causes, and systemic issues.
Provide regular updates and metrics to the People Leadership Team and executive leadership.