Employee Relations Partner

Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona•Peoria, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Employee Relations Partner serves as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert on employee relations matters for Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona and its affiliated entities. The role minimizes risk and negative exposure while supporting productivity and retention through timely resolution of employee relations complaints, investigations, and team member conflicts. The position works with leaders, HR partners, the Legal Department, and other Employee Relations Partners to investigate and resolve complex concerns, interpret employment policies and laws, and recommend appropriate actions. It also supports compliance, unemployment claims and appeals, policy updates, training, and analysis of employee relations trends. The role requires regular, consistent in-person attendance and frequent travel to company locations as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or equivalent experience.
At least two years of employee relations experience.
Customer-focused orientation, strong communication skills, and ability to act as an effective and respected partner to internal clients.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to drive communication across a broader group.
Ability to speak and read English proficiently.
Analytical ability and demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive data effectively.
Attention to detail and strong organization; ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment and under pressure.
Strong MS Office skills.
Valid driver’s license and clean motor vehicle record.
Ability to pass a background check and drug screen, where applicable.
Ability to travel frequently to company locations as needed.
Regular and consistent in-person attendance.

Nice To Haves

Employee relations experience in a services or retail environment is preferred.
Project management skills are a plus.

Responsibilities

Reduce risk and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, and EEOC requirements.
Manage unemployment claims and represent the company during appeal hearings.
Review employee relations analytics, recommend interventions or corrective actions, and develop and deliver proactive training and tools.
Collaborate with other Employee Relations Partners and the Director of Talent Management on annual policy and employee handbook updates.
Partner with the Legal Department on agency requests, investigations, and employment litigation matters.
Conduct timely, objective employee relations investigations by gathering and analyzing facts and applying relevant policies and past practice.
Provide investigation recommendations to HR Business Partners and leadership.
Interpret and apply corporate policies, employment law, and other regulations when advising on employee relations inquiries.
Collaborate with leadership to solve problems and support organizational and team goals.
Build relationships across the organization that foster trust, confidence, and credibility.
Research, manage, and resolve complex employee relations situations.
Maintain intake and investigative notes, supporting documents, and final investigation reports.
Use case management software to capture and retain case metrics and documentation, analyze trends, and make recommendations where applicable.
Manage HR initiatives that support a positive, productive, fast-paced work environment.
Conduct training related to policies, procedures, and employment law; stay current on employment law updates.
Travel frequently to company locations as needed to complete investigations effectively.
Model Goodwill’s core values of Trust, Collaboration, Engagement, Ownership, and Innovation.
Maintain regular and consistent in-person attendance.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Three medical plans.
Employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
Three dental plans.
Vision plan.
Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans.
Employer-paid life insurance.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Paid time off, including sick and vacation time.
Paid holidays.
Total Rewards package eligibility begins on the first day of the month following 60 days of employment.
No-cost career development, training, and education services are available through Goodwill.