Senior Manager, Employee Relations – HR Business Partner

Fenwick & West

. Conduct thorough, impartial workplace investigations into harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other policy violations .

Posted 9/17/2026full-timeCalifornia • United StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in conducting workplace investigations, managing employee relations, and advising on employment law, particularly in New York and California. Proficient in designing and delivering training programs while effectively coaching managers on performance and conflict resolution.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Workplace InvestigationsEmployee Relations ManagementEmployment Law KnowledgeTraining Design and DeliveryProject Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Workplace InvestigationsPerformance Improvement PlansProgressive DisciplineDocumentation StandardsConflict MediationEmployee Relations AnalysisCoaching ManagersLegal Risk AssessmentTraining DevelopmentHR Business Partnering

Soft Skills

Emotional IntelligenceDiscretionAnalytical SkillsVerbal CommunicationWritten Communication

Tools & Technologies

WorkdayPeakonHRIS

Industry Keywords

HarassmentDiscriminationRetaliationEEOADAFMLALaw Firm ExperienceProfessional Services ExperienceWorkplace ConductEmployee Engagement

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Conduct thorough, impartial workplace investigations into harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other policy violations
Prepare investigation documentation and written reports
Facilitate sensitive conversations, including misconduct allegations, terminations, restructurings, and accommodation discussions
Counsel managers on performance concerns, corrective action, performance improvement plans, and employment-action recommendations
Assess and mitigate legal and reputational risk
Resolve employee complaints, grievances, and workplace conflict
Track and analyze employee relations activity to identify patterns and root causes
Manage an active employee relations caseload from intake to closure
Design and deliver training on workplace conduct, anti-harassment, anti-retaliation, respectful-workplace practices, and handling concerns
Maintain confidential employee relations records and case files
Advise on employment law and employee relations developments, particularly in New York and California
Serve as HR business partner to assigned departments and practice groups
Develop workforce plans, engagement strategies, and talent actions with client group leaders
Coach managers on leadership, team dynamics, and difficult conversations
Advise on organizational structure, staffing, role design, and reporting relationships
Support performance reviews, calibration, merit and bonus recommendations, and promotion decisions
Partner on learning needs, career pathing, succession planning, engagement, turnover, and retention initiatives
Review Workday and Peakon data and contribute to HR insights
Collaborate with People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, and Compensation & Benefits
Support staffing needs, job descriptions, interviewing, new hire integration, local engagement, and workforce matters

Requirements

What you’ll need

Hands-on experience conducting workplace investigations end to end, including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation allegations
Experience navigating sensitive and difficult conversations, including misconduct allegations, terminations, performance escalations, and accommodation discussions
Ability to design and deliver presentations and training to managers, employees, and firm leadership
Experience partnering with HR leadership and in-house counsel on higher-risk matters
Working command of progressive discipline, documentation standards, and defensible decision-making
Experience de-escalating workplace conflict and mediating between parties
Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment law across multiple states, including EEO, ADA, FMLA, and wage and hour requirements
Track record of coaching managers and influencing without direct authority
Experience with Workday or a comparable HRIS required
Experience with engagement survey platforms such as Peakon preferred
Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills
Sound judgment, discretion, and emotional intelligence in sensitive and confidential situations
Strong project management skills with ability to manage competing priorities
Occasional travel to other firm offices may be required
8+ years of progressive HR experience, with deep hands-on employee relations experience and HR business partner experience
Law firm or professional services experience strongly preferred
Bachelor’s degree required

Benefits

Comp & perks

Healthcare
Life Insurance
Health Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts
Wellbeing benefits
Discretionary bonus for eligible employees based on performance
Hybrid work arrangement