Senior Employee Relations Specialist

MBK Real Estate•Irvine, CA

14d•$120,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

MBK Real Estate is hiring a Senior Employee Relations Specialist to join our team at our Home Office in Irvine, CA! This role will be hybrid with 3 days in office and 2 days remote. Job Summary: The Senior Employee Relations Specialist is a neutral and impartial partner responsible for managing and resolving complex employee relations (ER) matters within the corporate office and providing critical support for field operations, particularly in cases of conflict of interest or absence of the Regional People & Culture Manager (PCM). The Senior Employee Relations Specialist advises leaders and employees on performance management (e.g., corrective actions, PIPs), conflict resolution, and conducts internal investigations, including those stemming from the hotline. This role is integral to the People & Culture (P&C) team, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and company policies, while upholding MBK's core values.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required.
4+ years of prior work experience functioning in a similar role managing investigations and corrective actions, with a combination of corporate and multi-site or field experience.
Experience with California and multi-state compliance.
Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and proven ability to exercise discretion when overseeing sensitive employee information and ER matters.
Demonstrated ability in planning, conducting, and documenting impartial and thorough internal investigations of varying levels of complexity, from initial intake to final resolution.
Adept at conflict resolution and mediation, with proven ability to view situations from all perspectives and work creatively to resolve employment concerns fairly.
Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.), with HRIS, preferably Workday, and standard office equipment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to speak, write and read English, articulate complex HR concepts clearly and professionally to diverse audiences, and present to small groups.
Exceptional problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills with the proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing deadlines.
Must possess the ability to make sound, independent decisions under pressure, remain calm during conflict, and effectively de-escalate stressful situations.
25% travel required.
Must be able and willing to travel to assigned communities for investigations and training, and ability to support a flexible schedule as needed.
Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday, in the corporate office or a community, and sit and work at a computer for prolonged periods.
Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, as necessary.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business Administration, or related field or the equivalent combination of education and work experience, preferred.
PHR, SHRM-CP, or other related specialized professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the main point of contact for all corporate office ER matters and partner with Regional People & Culture Managers on select field ER matters, providing guidance and support to employees, P&C, and the management team.
Develop and implement ER strategies, policies, and procedures that align with the company's values and goals, and continually assess processes to make improvements.
Conduct and manage comprehensive workplace investigations on a multitude of ER issues, ensuring a thorough, impartial, and timely process, including developing strategic interview plans, fact-finding, analyzing evidence, determining whether allegations are substantiated, interviewing witnesses and involved parties, producing clear, concise, and legally defensive documentation and reports, and facilitating an optimal resolution for the parties involved through recommended corrective and/or disciplinary actions.
Provide expert, human-centered strategic guidance to leaders on sensitive and high-risk ER issues, including performance improvement plans (PIPs), corrective actions, involuntary exits, and conflict mediation, thoughtfully tailoring solutions situationally to best safeguard company interests and ensure legal defensibility, while upholding MBK’s values and culture.
Drive fair and equitable application of policies in ER matters and guide leaders to enforce policies and practices consistently, ethically reinforcing MBK's values and maintaining legal compliance.
Serve as a trusted sounding board and escalation point for workplace concerns, manager-employee dynamics, and early signals of potentially systemic people issues.
Analyze ER data to identify trends and make recommendations for improvements.
Deliver ER-related training and capability-building initiatives on compliance, performance management, and organizational values.
Collaborate closely with P&C Leadership, Legal Counsel and managers on complex cases, performance plans, and transition strategies to mitigate organizational risk.
Stay up-to-date on employment laws and regulations to ensure compliance and proactively identify potential risks.
Handle sensitive and confidential information in a professional and discreet manner.
Perform other job duties or special projects as assigned or requested.

Benefits

competitive salaries with opportunities for growth
401(k) retirement plan with up to 4% employer matching
comprehensive industry leading medical, dental and vision insurance
company-provided life, disability and AD&D insurance
flexible spending accounts
generous paid time off including vacation and sick time, holidays, and bereavement leave
a variety of programs including leadership development, training, and personal coaching
education loan assistance and scholarships
daily living, financial and legal services
childcare and eldercare assistance
employee discounts
health and wellness resources that include virtual yoga, mindfulness, and financial readiness for employees and their family members