Employee Relations Specialist

SMBC•Charlotte, NC

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

SMBC Americas is expanding its Employee Relations team to support the organization and its employees with fairness, consistency, and discretion. Employee Relations partners with HR Business Partners and the Legal Department. The Employee Relations Investigator will apply expertise in investigations, U.S. employment law, HR policies and procedures, reporting, and trend analysis to resolve serious and high-risk employment concerns in a timely, efficient, and value-added manner. The position has principal responsibility for a portfolio of workplace investigations and opportunities to contribute to Americas Division and global Employee Relations initiatives. The role conducts complex, sensitive, and time-critical investigations; interviews employees across organizational levels; gathers and analyzes evidence; and prepares clear, legally defensible documentation and investigative summaries. It also manages a dynamic caseload, advises stakeholders objectively, recommends remedial measures, and collaborates with HR, business stakeholders, and control functions. The specialist may contribute to policies and programs, HR tools, benchmarking, employee handbook reviews, training, and other projects. The role analyzes Employee Relations data for trends and emerging risks, supports preventative or remedial action, and maintains knowledge of applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The position follows SMBC’s hybrid workforce model, with employees expected to live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office. The specific hybrid schedule is discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Ideal candidates have 5–8 years of experience in investigations, employee relations, and/or employment law.
Excellent strategic and tactical investigation skills.
Strong influencing, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
Ability to work effectively in a complex, matrixed environment.
Experience working with multiple partner groups, including Legal and Compliance professionals.
Advanced writing, analytical, and relationship management skills.
Solutions-driven and customer-service-oriented approach.
High standards of ethics, integrity, honesty, and discretion.
High emotional intelligence and ability to adapt across cultures, communication styles, and organizational levels.

Nice To Haves

A Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Experience with the financial services business model.
Experience in highly regulated environments.
Ability to use systems and data insights to support proactive, data-driven Employee Relations work.

Responsibilities

Conduct and facilitate complex, sensitive, and time-critical workplace investigations, consulting with Legal and HR Business Partners as needed.
Independently interview employees at all levels and identify, collect, and analyze relevant documents and other evidence.
Document the investigative process, findings, recommendations, and resolution.
Prepare thorough investigative summaries that are clear, concise, and legally defensible.
Manage an investigative caseload, balance competing priorities, and adapt to changing business needs, risk considerations, and case developments.
Serve as an objective third party, engage relevant stakeholders, provide trusted advice, and recommend remedial measures based on investigative findings.
Partner with HR colleagues, business stakeholders, and control functions, including IT Security, Risk, Compliance, Audit, and Legal, as needed.
Contribute to Employee Relations projects and initiatives, potentially including policies and programs, HR tools, benchmarking, employee handbook reviews, and training creation, delivery, or vendor management.
Analyze investigation and Employee Relations data to identify trends, emerging risks, and opportunities for preventative or remedial action.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant legal and regulatory requirements and contribute to related policy and process updates.