Senior Employee and Labor Relations Consultant – Human Resources

About the role

The Senior Employee and Labor Relations Consultant – Human Resources is a senior-level expert who serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to leaders across HealthPartners. This role plays a critical part in shaping and executing employee and labor relations strategies that align with organizational goals, support a positive and inclusive workplace culture, and ensure compliance with all applicable employment and labor laws.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance and policy interpretation to leaders, colleagues, and HR partners on employee and labor relations matters, including policies, union collective bargaining agreements, and employment laws.
• Ensure consistent application of policies and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Acts as a mediator between disagreeing parties to bring fair resolution to situations involving conflict.
• Conduct and manage complex investigations into policy violations or legal concerns (e.g., harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, confidentiality breaches).
• Document findings and recommend appropriate resolutions, including corrective action.
• Advise leaders and HR partners on performance management, including coaching, corrective action, and terminations.
• Assess risk, recommend appropriate actions, and review/approve corrective actions and terminations to ensure fairness and legal compliance.
• Create and conduct on-going training of leaders regarding employment/labor law, policies and the performance management process including curriculum development and delivery.
• Provide labor relations support as needed based on assigned areas.
• Investigate and respond to grievances in accordance with collective bargaining agreements and organizational policy.
• May lead special negotiations, negotiate Letters of Understanding, participate in preparation for main negotiations, and/or participate in such negotiations, union awareness planning, and participate in strike planning.
• Represent the organization in labor – management committees, arbitrations, and grievances.
• Foster collaborative relationships with union leadership to support organizational goals.
• Lead or support responses to employment-related legal matters, including EEOC/MDHR/WDWD charges, DOL complaints, lawsuits, and attorney demand letters.
• Prepare requests and represent the organization in regulatory compliance surveys.
• Represent the organization in mediation, settlement discussions, and employment-related proceedings.
• Respond to Unemployment Compensation claims and represent organization at unemployment hearings.
• Review analysis of ER/LR data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for proactive intervention.
• Develop reports for their leader and senior leadership with actionable insights.
• Drive continuous improvement by evaluating the effectiveness of ER/LR programs and recommending enhancements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in labor and/or employee relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing moderately complex to complex investigations and advising senior leaders.
• Experience responding to regulatory agencies (e.g., EEOC, MDHR, WDWD).
• Expert-level knowledge of employment and labor law and HR best practices (e.g., FMLA, ADA, Title VII, FLSA).
• Experience working in union and non-union environments.
• Strong investigation, problem solving, conflict resolution, coaching and negotiation skills are all critical to this role.
• Ability to influence and coach leaders at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple cases with high complexity.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and mentor other ER professionals.
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and influencing skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in labor relations is strongly preferred.
• Masters’ degree in Human Resources, or related field.
• PURHR/SPHR certification.

Benefits

Designed To Support Your Total Health As a HealthPartners colleague, we’re committed to nurturing your diverse talents, valuing your dedication, and supporting your work-life balance. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to support every aspect of your life, including health, time off, retirement planning, and continuous learning opportunities. Our goal is to help you thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially, so you can continue delivering exceptional care.

About Us

At HealthPartners we believe in the power of good – good deeds and good people working together. As part of our team, you’ll find an inclusive environment that encourages new ways of thinking, celebrates differences, and recognizes hard work. We’re a nonprofit, integrated health care organization, providing health insurance in six states and high-quality care at more than 90 locations, including hospitals and clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We bring together research and education through HealthPartners Institute, training medical professionals across the region and conducting innovative research that improve lives around the world. At HealthPartners, everyone is welcome, included and valued. We’re working together to increase diversity and inclusion in our workplace, advance health equity in care and coverage, and partner with the community as advocates for change.