Senior Employee Relations Manager

KARL STORZ • El Segundo, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Employee Relations Manager is the strategic leader and subject matter expert for employee relations across KARL STORZ North America (KSNA). The role develops and executes the organization's employee relations strategy in alignment with business objectives, company values, and legal and regulatory requirements. It serves as a trusted advisor to executive leaders, HR Business Partners, managers, Legal, and employees on complex employee relations matters, organizational risk, workplace culture, performance management, conflict resolution, employment law compliance, and employee experience initiatives.

The position drives a proactive employee relations approach through trend analysis, risk mitigation, investigations oversight, leadership coaching, policy development, and enterprise-wide manager capability building. It partners with HR leadership and Legal to foster a respectful, inclusive, and high-performing workplace while minimizing organizational risk and enhancing employee engagement across KSNA. The role has a hybrid work schedule, ideally based in the El Segundo, California or Auburn, Massachusetts office.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including significant responsibility in Employee Relations.
• At least 2 years of enterprise-wide, large-scale project/program management or people management experience.
• At least 5 years leading complex employee relations programs, investigations, and workplace risk management initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and executive stakeholders on employee relations strategy and risk mitigation.
• Experience leading large-scale employee relations initiatives, policy development, and organizational change efforts.
• Strong experience analyzing workforce and employee relations data to identify trends and drive business decisions.
• Experience overseeing employee relations case management systems and reporting frameworks.
• Experience partnering closely with Legal, Compliance, and senior business leaders on sensitive employment matters.
• Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word.
• Advanced experience with employee relations case management systems and HR technologies.
• Experience using AI-enabled technologies, including Microsoft Copilot, to improve operational efficiency, analytics, documentation, and process effectiveness.
• Strong analytical capabilities and experience developing executive-level dashboards, metrics, and reporting.
• Exceptional judgment, business acumen, and integrity when managing highly sensitive and confidential matters.
• Deep expertise in federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including ADA, FMLA, CFRA, EEO, wage and hour, and workplace accommodation requirements.
• Advanced investigative expertise, including complex fact-finding methodologies, risk assessment, interview techniques, and documentation practices.
• Ability to influence executive leaders and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, balancing business goals, employee experience, and legal risk.
• Excellent leadership, consulting, coaching, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project and change management capabilities.
• Ability to identify organizational trends and develop proactive solutions addressing root causes.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High degree of resilience, emotional intelligence, and executive presence.
• Ability to build credibility and trust across all levels of the organization.
• Open availability and flexibility to support business needs.
• Ability to travel as necessary.
• Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and fostering a positive team culture.

Nice To Haves

• 10 or more years of progressive Human Resources experience, including significant responsibility in Employee Relations.
• Master's degree, MBA, JD, or related advanced degree.
• SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the enterprise employee relations strategy for KSNA, aligned with organizational priorities and workforce objectives.
• Establish frameworks, standards, and best practices that promote consistency, fairness, legal compliance, and a positive employee experience.
• Advise executive leaders, HR leadership, and HR Business Partners on high-risk and complex employee matters.
• Monitor employment law developments, workplace trends, and regulatory changes, and assess their organizational impact.
• Recommend and drive policy, practice, and program changes to address evolving business and legal requirements.
• Promote accountability, respect, inclusion, and ethical decision-making consistent with company values and the Code of Conduct.
• Consult and coach senior leaders on complex employee relations, performance, organizational effectiveness, and workplace culture matters.
• Partner with HR Business Partners to develop leader capability and management accountability for employee experience and engagement outcomes.
• Design and deliver enterprise-wide training on manager effectiveness, performance management, conflict resolution, employee engagement, and workplace conduct.
• Influence leadership decisions through data-driven recommendations and employee relations expertise.
• Oversee sensitive, complex, and high-risk investigations into discrimination, harassment, retaliation, misconduct, ethics concerns, and other workplace issues.
• Establish and maintain investigative standards, methodologies, and documentation practices that support consistency, objectivity, and compliance.
• Lead executive-level investigations and sensitive matters involving significant organizational, legal, or reputational risk.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and HR leadership to assess risk and recommend appropriate resolutions.
• Ensure timely corrective actions and sustainable solutions that address root causes and mitigate future risk.
• Analyze employee relations trends, workforce data, investigation outcomes, and organizational indicators to identify risks and opportunities.
• Develop proactive strategies addressing systemic issues affecting engagement, retention, culture, and business performance.
• Partner with HR and business leaders on action plans to improve workplace effectiveness and reduce employee relations concerns.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen trust, transparency, inclusion, and accountability.
• Contribute employee relations expertise to organizational change, restructuring, and workforce planning initiatives.
• Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of employee relations programs, policies, and procedures across KSNA.
• Establish governance practices and operational standards that improve consistency and scalability.
• Drive process transformation, including technology enhancements, automation, AI-enabled solutions, and case management optimization.
• Oversee employee relations systems, reporting tools, and processes for effective case tracking, documentation, and analytics.
• Partner with HRIS and other stakeholders to optimize workforce and employee relations data structures and reporting.
• Develop and maintain executive dashboards, metrics, and reporting that provide actionable insights into employee relations trends and organizational risk.
• Use employee relations data to identify hotspots, root causes, and intervention opportunities.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and HR leadership teams.
• Measure program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement through data-informed decision-making.
• Perform other related responsibilities as needed.

What This Job Offers

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