Senior Employee Relations Business Partner

Work Location: Atlanta, GA

About the Role

The Senior Employee Relations Business Partner (Sr. ERBP) serves as a subject matter expert responsible for managing the organization's most complex, sensitive, and high-risk employee relations matters within a large, complex academic healthcare environment. The Sr. ERBP provides strategic employee relations consultation to executive leaders, HR partners, legal counsel, and operational stakeholders while leading workplace investigations involving significant organizational, regulatory, legal, or reputational risk. This role operates with substantial autonomy while partnering closely with Employee Relations leadership, HR Business Partners, Legal, Compliance, Labor Relations (where applicable), and executive leadership to support fair, compliant, and business-aligned employment decisions.

Responsibilities

• Complex Employee Relations Consultation
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, physicians, executives, HR Business Partners, and operational leaders on highly complex employee relations matters.
  • Provide expert guidance regarding performance management, disciplinary actions, workplace conflict, policy interpretation, behavioral concerns, employee misconduct, and organizational risk.
  • Assess potential legal, compliance, regulatory, employee experience, and reputational risks associated with workplace situations.
  • Influence and guide leaders through sensitive employment decisions while balancing organizational objectives and employee concerns.
  • Support consistent application of policies, practices, and organizational values across business units.
• Workplace Investigations
  • Lead highly complex and high-risk investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace misconduct, ethics violations, conflicts of interest, executive leader concerns, regulatory issues, and other sensitive matters.
  • Develop investigation strategies, conduct interviews, evaluate evidence, assess credibility, and determine findings.
  • Prepare comprehensive investigation reports and recommendations for leadership review and action.
  • Partner with Legal, Compliance, Security, Labor Relations, and other stakeholders throughout the investigative process.
  • Ensure investigations are conducted in a timely, objective, and defensible manner consistent with organizational standards and legal requirements.
  • Manage matters involving significant organizational exposure, elevated stakeholder visibility, or potential litigation.
• Strategic Risk Mitigation
  • Identify emerging employee relations trends, workplace risks, and organizational vulnerabilities.
  • Recommend proactive interventions to address recurring workplace issues and reduce future risk.
  • Analyze case data and workplace trends to inform leadership decision-making.
  • Support organizational initiatives focused on employee engagement, culture, retention, leader effectiveness, and workplace conduct.
  • Participate in development of employee relations strategies that advance organizational objectives and cultural priorities.
• Leadership Coaching and Stakeholder Partnership
  • Coach leaders at all levels regarding effective employee relations practices and workplace conflict resolution.
  • Build trusted relationships with executive and operational leaders to strengthen organizational capability and accountability.
  • Partner closely with HR Business Partners to ensure integrated and consistent workforce solutions.
  • Provide guidance during organizational changes, workforce actions, and other complex employee-related initiatives.
• Employee Relations Center of Excellence Support
  • Serve as a senior resource and mentor to Employee Relations Business Partners and other HR professionals.
  • Share best practices, investigative techniques, and employee relations expertise to elevate overall team capability.
  • Contribute to policy development, process improvement initiatives, training programs, and leader education efforts.
  • Support organizational initiatives designed to promote proactive, data-informed, and service-oriented employee relations practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field.
• 6+ years of progressive Employee Relations, Human Resources, Employment Law, Labor Relations, or related experience.
• Significant experience conducting complex workplace investigations and advising senior leaders on sensitive employee relations matters.
• Demonstrated expertise in employment law principles, investigative methodologies, documentation practices, and risk assessment.
• Experience working in large, matrixed, highly regulated, or complex organizations.
• Strong consultation, conflict management, interviewing, facilitation, and influence skills.
• Ability to effectively manage highly sensitive and confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Employment Law or related field.
• Experience in an academic medical center, healthcare system, higher education institution, or similarly complex environment.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, workplace investigations certification, mediation certification, or equivalent professional credential.
• Experience supporting executive-level investigations and high-profile employee relations matters.
• Experience utilizing employee relations case management systems and data analytics to drive decision-making.

Success Profile

The successful Sr. ERBP:

• Is competent in employee relations strategy, investigations, and risk assessment.
• Is credible with senior leaders and trusted to navigate sensitive workplace issues.
• Is composed under pressure while managing emotionally charged and high-risk situations.
• Is proactive in identifying risks and opportunities before issues escalate.
• Is responsive to leaders and stakeholders while maintaining investigative rigor.
• Is influential in driving sound decisions and strengthening organizational culture.

Benefits

At Emory Healthcare we fuel your professional journey with better benefits, valuable resources, ongoing mentorship and leadership programs for all types of jobs, and a supportive environment that enables you to reach new heights in your career and be what you want to be. We provide:

• Comprehensive health benefits that start day 1.
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance & Reimbursement Programs.
• Family-focused benefits.
• Wellness incentives.
• Ongoing mentorship, development, and leadership programs.
• And more.

Physical Requirements

• Lifting: 1-10 lbs occasionally (0-33% of the work day), negligible frequently (34-66% of the workday), negligible constantly (67-100% of the workday). Lifting 10 lbs max.
• Carrying of small articles such as dockets, ledgers, files, small tools.
• Occasional standing & walking, frequent sitting, close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing).
• Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Environmental Factors

Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to:

• Blood-borne pathogen exposure.
• Bio-hazardous waste, chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors.
• Communicable diseases, electrical shock.
• Floor surfaces, hot/cold temperatures, indoor/outdoor conditions.
• Latex, lighting, patient care/handling injuries, radiation.
• Shift work, travel may be required.
• Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators.
• Environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.