Senior Colleague Relations Specialist

Guardian Life Insurance•New York, NY

1d•$103,450 - $169,960•Hybrid

About The Position

This is an individual contributor role that serves as a trusted advisor to People Leaders, Talent & Culture partners, and business stakeholders on complex colleague relations matters. This role leads high-impact casework, conducts sensitive and objective investigations, provides guidance on performance and conduct matters, interprets policy and employment-related requirements, and helps mitigate organizational risk while supporting a fair and respectful colleague experience. Operating with significant autonomy, this position also identifies trends, recommends proactive solutions, and helps strengthen colleague relations practices, manager capability, and organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
5+ years of progressive experience in colleague relations, employee relations, HR, employment practices, or a related field, including experience managing complex and sensitive matters independently.
Specialized depth of expertise in colleague relations, including investigations, performance management, policy interpretation, corrective action, and workplace risk mitigation.
Strong working knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and HR best practices, including EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, retaliation, and related workplace requirements.
Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough, objective, and well-reasoned investigations, assess credibility, synthesize facts, and prepare clear written findings and recommendations.
Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, analyze risk, and recommend practical solutions in complex situations.
Excellent interpersonal, consulting, and communication skills, with the ability to influence, coach, and adapt style effectively when working with colleagues and leaders at all levels.
Ability to build trust and credibility while managing highly sensitive information with discretion, sound judgment, and a high degree of confidentiality.
Experience identifying themes and trends in colleague relations data and translating insights into recommendations for policy, process, training, or leader capability improvements.
Proficiency with HR systems and Microsoft Office tools; comfort using AI-enabled tools and digital technologies to improve workflow efficiency, reporting, and knowledge management in a responsible and compliant manner.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor to People Leaders, Talent & Culture partners, and business stakeholders on complex colleague relations matters, balancing colleague experience, business needs, and risk mitigation.
Lead end-to-end, objective, and well-documented investigations involving allegations of misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, and other sensitive workplace concerns.
Provide consultative guidance and coaching to managers on performance management, corrective action, workplace behavior, terminations, and other colleague-related decisions to promote fairness, consistency, and compliance.
Interpret and apply company policy, employment-related requirements, and internal practices to complex situations, recommending practical and defensible solutions.
Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Talent & Culture, and business leadership to assess risk, align on approach, and resolve colleague relations issues effectively and timely.
Identify patterns and trends across colleague relations cases, leader inquiries, and workplace concerns; use insights to recommend proactive actions, manager education, and process or policy enhancements.
Support the development, review, and continuous improvement of colleague relations policies, processes, practices, and guidance to drive consistency and a contemporary colleague experience.
Develop and deliver training, tools, and practical guidance for managers and Talent & Culture partners on topics such as workplace conduct, policy application, documentation, and performance management.
Act as a mentor and resource to peers and partners by sharing subject matter expertise, elevating case management practices, and helping build organizational capability in colleague relations.
Leverage HR technology and AI-enabled tools responsibly to support case intake, documentation, trend analysis, and process efficiency, while maintaining human judgment, data privacy, confidentiality, and appropriate governance.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records, investigation materials, and case documentation, and prepare clear summaries and recommendations suitable for leadership and legal review.