Senior Colleague Relations Partner

Trinity Health • Grand Rapids, MI

1d

About The Position

Trinity Health is seeking a Senior Colleague Relations Partner to join the Colleague & Labor Relations Center of Expertise (COE). In this influential role, you will be a trusted advisor to leaders, managers, and colleagues across our Regional Health Ministries—advancing a culture rooted in collaboration, Just Culture principles, and person‑centered care. As a Senior Colleague Relations Partner, you will:

Provide expert guidance on complex and high‑risk colleague relations matters
Lead sensitive investigations and deliver objective, well‑supported recommendations
Partner with HRBPs, Legal, Integrity & Compliance, and leadership to mitigate organizational risk
Analyze colleague relations trends and develop actionable remediation plans
Support fitness‑for‑duty, diversion, and accommodation processes
Contribute to large‑scale organizational work, including MD&A activity
Deliver training (e.g., Just Culture, employment law topics)
Promote fair, consistent, values‑aligned workplace practices
This role has a meaningful impact on colleague experience and organizational culture—advancing Trinity Health’s strategic aims and mission.

Requirements

• Must possess knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations and requirements related to HR, colleague and labor relations, collective bargaining, colleague dispute resolution, and fostering positive colleague and labor environment as normally acquired through completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration or a related field, with five (5) or more years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of colleague relations or complex HR experience
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws
• Demonstrated experience conducting investigations and advising leaders
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and propose solutions
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship‑building skills
• High discretion, integrity, and commitment to confidentiality
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, multi‑stakeholder environment
• Advanced knowledge of labor and employment laws and their application in operating environments is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of negotiating union contracts and managing grievances, arbitrations, and NLRB proceedings preferred.
• Ability to respond to variable situations requiring analytical, interpretive, evaluative and constructive thinking abilities.
• Strong logical and deductive reasoning abilities.
• Ability to effectively collect and synthesize data and information from disparate sources to make investigative findings and recommendations for remediation of issues.
• Ability to support a change management and process improvement work environment.
• Ability to identify and implement innovative ways to deliver higher value programs and services more efficiently and effectively.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and communication both written and verbal with proven ability to interact effectively with multiple levels of the organization.
• Proven customer-service orientation.
• Ability to know, understand, and anticipate customer requirements and exercise judgment in meeting reasonable expectations.
• Ability to continuously learn and seek personal and professional growth opportunities to build credibility with customers, peers and team members.
• Ability to model behavior that enables and encourages an environment filled with teaming and knowledge sharing to support colleague engagement, professional development and personal growth within the team.
• Ability to handle, prioritize, and appropriately delegate competing and multiple tasks/projects in a timely and organized manner.
• Must be discrete and maintain the highest degree of confidentiality with extremely sensitive information and data.
• Must possess a personal presence that is characterized by a sense of honesty, integrity, and caring with the ability to inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and values of Trinity Health.
• Must be able to set and organize own work priorities, and adapt to them as they change frequently.
• Must be able to work concurrently on a variety of tasks/projects in an environment that may be stressful with individuals having diverse personalities and work styles.
• Must be able to travel to the various Trinity Health sites as needed (up to 10% of the time).
• Must possess the ability to comply with Trinity Health policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree and healthcare experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on complex and high‑risk colleague relations matters
• Lead sensitive investigations and deliver objective, well‑supported recommendations
• Partner with HRBPs, Legal, Integrity & Compliance, and leadership to mitigate organizational risk
• Analyze colleague relations trends and develop actionable remediation plans
• Support fitness‑for‑duty, diversion, and accommodation processes
• Contribute to large‑scale organizational work, including MD&A activity
• Deliver training (e.g., Just Culture, employment law topics)
• Promote fair, consistent, values‑aligned workplace practices

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level