Senior Manager, Employee Relations

. Lead, develop, and oversee the Employee Relations team .

Posted 9/25/2026full-timeBannockburn • Illinois • United StatesSenior💰 $126,506 - $210,858 per yearWebsite

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead, develop, and oversee the Employee Relations team
Ensure consistent application of policies, processes, and best practices
Manage complex and high-risk employee relations cases, including investigations into workplace conflicts, discrimination, harassment, and policy violations
Provide expert guidance to HR directors, business partners, and leadership on employee relations issues, conflict resolution, and performance management strategies
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and company policies
Oversee and analyze employee relations data, create monthly reports, and identify workplace trends
Collaborate with HR Directors, business partners, and business leaders to develop and implement solutions for employee relations challenges
Serve as a key advisor in high-level coaching and counseling for performance management and conflict resolution
Design and deliver training programs for managers and employees on workplace policies, ethics, performance management, and dispute resolution
Partner with legal counsel and HR leadership on complex ER matters, terminations, and policy development
Contribute to the overall HR strategy by aligning ER initiatives with business priorities and workforce optimization efforts
Supervise team-related activities, including hiring, promotions, pay increases, scheduling, performance reviews, and discipline

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field
10+ years of progressive employee relations experience, including at least 7 years in a senior leadership role managing an ER team
5+ years of experience managing, directly or indirectly, a progressive Employee Relations function
Extensive experience conducting and managing investigations of complex/sensitive workplace complaints, government agency claims and audits, including EEOC and state discrimination charges and OFCCP audits, and internal ethics reports
Solid judgment and experience assessing risk relative to the business
Project management experience
In-depth knowledge of relevant state and federal employment laws, including Title VI, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, etc.
Ability to analyze complex issues and facts and summarize essential issues to various audiences
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including analysis, interpretation, and reasoning
Ability to work with and positively influence peers and senior management
Self-motivated and high endurance with critical attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines and reporting
Master’s in HR strongly preferred
PHR or SPHR certification preferred

Comp & perks