Principal, Employee Relations

Cotality•Dallas, TX

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Principal, Employee Relations , you aren’t just resolving conflicts—you are a strategic architect of Cotality’s workplace culture. You’ll serve as a lead expert within our Employee Relations Center of Excellence (COE), providing high-level consultation to leaders and HR Business Partners. Your goal is to move beyond reactive fixes to build proactive, data-driven strategies that foster an environment where our people thrive.

Requirements

Experience: A minimum of 10 years in HR/Employee Relations, including at least 3+ years of dedicated experience leading complex investigations.
Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent industry experience
Subject Matter Expertise: Deep, nuanced knowledge of employment law, HR policies, and the regulatory landscape governing workplace matters.
Strategic Architect: You are a systems thinker. You can link a single ER case back to core policy and predict how a program rollout will impact different levels of the organization.
Analytical Rigor: You don’t just gather data; you synthesize it. You have a proven ability to identify gaps, spot trends, and recommend systemic changes that prevent issues before they arise.
Risk Mitigation: You possess a "legal radar"—the ability to spot potential risk early, elevate it appropriately, and partner with counsel to mitigate exposure.
Executive Presence: Exceptional communication skills with the credibility to influence senior stakeholders and drive behavioral change across the organization.
High-Stakes Resolution: Demonstrated success in managing litigation inquiries, internal dispute resolutions, and high-pressure investigations with absolute neutrality.
Operational Autonomy: You thrive in the "grey area." You can prioritize conflicting demands and drive work to completion with minimal oversight while keeping leadership informed.
Discretion & Integrity: Unwavering judgment and a proven track record of handling highly sensitive, confidential information with the utmost professionalism.

Nice To Haves

HR Certification (e.g., PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP/SCP) is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Strategic Advisory: Act as the lead consultant for people leaders and HRBPs on high-stakes cases, ranging from complex investigations to workforce planning and performance architecture.
Case Leadership: Own the end-to-end investigation lifecycle for sensitive or escalated complaints. You’ll develop the plan, conduct the interviews, and partner with Legal/HR leadership to implement fair, sustainable resolutions.
Data-Driven Insights: Don’t just report numbers; tell the story. You will analyze HR metrics (ER case data, exit surveys, etc.) to identify underlying trends and design proactive training or interventions.
Operational Excellence: Modernize our people processes. You’ll refine and scale our workflows for ADA accommodations, leaves of absence, and corrective action to ensure they are world-class.
Mitigation & Influence: Identify enterprise-level risks early. You will partner closely with In-House Employment Counsel to ensure our practices stay ahead of industry standards and employment law.
Drive Resolution: Manage complex ER issues autonomously, ensuring every case is handled with empathy, consistency, and legal rigor.
Proactive Strategy: Foresee potential workplace friction and develop innovative methods to address challenges before they escalate.
Coaching & Growth: Educate and mentor people leaders to enhance their management capabilities and emotional intelligence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Align ER initiatives with broader business imperatives, ensuring our team’s work contributes directly to Cotality’s strategic goals.
Knowledge Leadership: Maintain an expert-level pulse on industry trends, labor laws, and ER best practices.
Employee Experience: As an empathetic problem solver, you will navigate complex workplace dynamics to ensure that every resolution reinforces a culture of fairness, respect, and a world-class employee experience - even in the most challenging situations

Benefits

The Hybrid Advantage: Enjoy the best of both worlds. We believe in "moments that matter" in-office (2 days a week) while offering the flexibility to work remotely the rest of the time.
Innovation-First Culture: Be part of a passionate team bringing ground-breaking predictive products to market in a casual, high-energy environment.
Investment in You: Access our world-class self-development portal and a clear career path designed for your continued professional ascent.
Total Rewards: Competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that recognizes you as our most valuable asset.
Time off: Generous PTO and 11 paid holidays, plus well-being and volunteer time off.
Family Support: Up to 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave and a baby stipend.
Health: Multiple medical plan options with mental health and wellness support offerings.
Retirement: 401(k) with company match and vesting after one year.
Financial Perks: $400 annual well-being stipend and tuition assistance up to $5,250.
Extras: Recognition Rewards, Referral bonuses, exclusive discounts and more!