Senior Employee Relations Partner

Nautilus Management Services•Long Beach, CA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Nautilus International Holding Corporation provides business administration and management services to its subsidiary marine transportation companies that have been serving the maritime community for over a century. Our mission is to consistently deliver safe, efficient, innovative and environmentally responsible maritime operational solutions for our customers. Position Summary We are seeking a Senior Employee Relations Partner to join our HR team and serve as a trusted advisor on complex employee relations matters across our operations. The Senior Employee Relations Specialist/Partner leads and manages employee relations strategy across Nautilus International and its subsidiary companies. This role conducts workplace investigations, advises leadership on performance management and corrective action, ensures compliance with federal and state employment laws, and partners with HR and operations leaders to foster a fair, consistent, and legally sound work environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or related field
7+ years of progressive employee relations experience, with at least 3 years handling complex investigations and advisory work
Deep working knowledge of federal and California employment law (Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FEHA, CFRA, wage/hour, WARN)
Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive situations with discretion, sound judgment, and neutrality
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including investigation reports and position statements
Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
Strong written and verbal communication.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Maintains composure and professionalism in high-conflict situations
Relationship-building across all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience with labor relations in unionized environments, including grievance processes and CBA administration
Experience in maritime, transportation, logistics, or other operationally intensive industries
Multi-state employment law experience
PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for managers and HR business partners on complex employee relations issues, including performance concerns, workplace conflicts, policy violations, and separations.
Lead and conduct thorough objective, and timely investigations into complaints of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, and other workplace misconduct. Document findings into summary investigation reports and recommend corrective action.
Partner with leadership on matters involving unionized and non-unionized workforces, including grievance handling, CBA interpretation, and NLRB-related proceedings as needed.
Draft, review, and update employee relations policies and procedures to align with federal, California, and applicable multi-state employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, Title VII, FEHA, and wage/hour regulations.
Coach managers through progressive discipline, performance improvement plans, and termination decisions. Review and approve corrective action documentation for legal sufficiency.
Identify trends in employee relations data, flag emerging risks, and recommend proactive strategies to reduce exposure to claims and litigation.
Assist in responding to EEOC, DOL, and NLRB charges, position statements, and information requests.
Develop and deliver training for managers and supervisors on topics such as anti-harassment and documentation best practices.
Manage high-risk terminations, reductions in force, and severance processes. Conduct exit interviews and analyze trends.
Partner with Legal, Operations, and Safety on matters intersecting employee relations with maritime-specific regulatory requirements. Provide support across other HR functional areas as business needs require, including benefits and leave administration, compensation, policy development, HR compliance reporting, and cross-functional HR projects.
Additional responsibilities may be assigned.