Senior HR Manager, Employee Relations

UofL Health • Louisville, KY

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About The Position

About UofL Health: UofL Health is a fully integrated regional academic health system with six hospitals, three medical centers, nearly 200 physician practice locations, more than 1000 providers, the Frazier Rehab Institute and Brown Cancer Center. With more than 12,000 team members—physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and other highly skilled health care professionals—UofL Health is focused on one mission: delivering patient-centered care to each and every patient each and every day. Job Description: Position Summary and Purpose The Senior Manager of Employee Relations is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of an Employee Relations Team and will be responsible for establishing and leading a best-in-class Employee Relations (ER) function. This role will design and implement strategy, structure, processes, and policies that support a fair, inclusive, and legally compliant workplace. The Senior Manager, Employee Relations, is strategic thinker and hands-on leader who thrives in building programs from the ground up and is passionate about fostering positive employee experience. The Senior Manager, Employee Relations key responsibilities will be to build and lead the employee relations function, strategy and case management. They will also manage the development of policies, and adherence to regulatory standards, compliance and culture development and engagement.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of policies and regulatory needs and understanding of the legal and potential risks.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills required to initiate and develop productive working partnerships with all levels of management/ leadership and staff.
• Ability to influence results, garner support and tactfully manage complex relationships and influences within and across the organization.
• Demonstrates customer service orientation and seeks to understand customer requirements and exercising judgment in meeting their expectations, particularly when there are differences of opinions on needs and services, unanticipated contingencies or a divergence of ideas/perspectives.
• Exceptional oral and written communication, persuasion, consulting, team building and negotiation skills.
• Must be able to clearly articulate and demonstrate commitment to high quality and patient safety.
• Must be comfortable operating in a collaborative, shared leadership environment.
• 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 UofL Health System.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in employee relations leadership.
• Proven experience building or significantly evolving an ER function
• Deep knowledge of employment law, HR compliance, and investigation best practices.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive situations with discretion and professionalism.
• Computer skills with Microsoft, Excel, PowerPoint and Word required.
• Data analytic skills required.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats.
• Able to critically think through complex situations, process improvements and evidence-based practice.
• Able to assist others in developing clinical reasoning skills.
• Strong project management
• Strategic mindset with the ability to execute tactically
• Demonstrates a commitment to service, organization values and professionalism through appropriate conduct and demeanor at all times.
• Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive data at all times.
• Adheres to organizational and department specific safety standards and guidelines.
• Works collaboratively and supports efforts of team members.
• Demonstrates exceptional customer service and interacts effectively with physicians, patients, residents, visitors, staff and the broader health care community.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-growth, or matrixed environment is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and Lead the ER Function • Design and implement the Employee Relations team structure, including hiring, training, and developing ER professionals.
• Develop and roll out scalable ER processes, procedures, and tools to support consistent and fair handling of employee concerns.
• Establish metrics and reporting mechanisms to monitor ER trends and proactively address workplace issues.
• Employee Relations Strategy & Case Management • Lead the development of ER strategies that align with company values and business goals.
• Oversee complex and sensitive employee relations cases, including investigations, performance concerns, conflict resolution, and policy violations.
• Ensure timely, thorough, and legally compliant resolution of ER matters.
• Policy Development & Compliance • Create, update, and communicate HR policies and procedures in alignment with employment laws and organizational culture.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and HR Business Partners to ensure adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Training & Education • Develop and deliver training for managers and employees on ER-related topics such as respectful workplace, conflict resolution, and performance management.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders on employee relations best practices.
• Culture & Engagement • Promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and respect through proactive ER initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve employee engagement and retention through feedback and ER insights.

What This Job Offers

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