Senior Employee & Labor Relations Specialist

• Be part of a world-class organization dedicated to advancing treatments for pediatric catastrophic diseases.

• Work in a collaborative, mission-driven environment where your contributions will make a meaningful impact on both the institution and its employees.

• Access opportunities for professional growth and career advancement, including continuous learning and development programs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Complex Investigations: Conduct and resolve highly sensitive, confidential investigations by partnering with key stakeholders to ensure equitable resolutions.

• Exit Interviews & Trend Analysis: Conduct exit interviews and provide data-driven reports to management, highlighting trends and areas of concern, while recommending corrective actions.

• Labor Contract Negotiation & Grievances: Collaborate with the Director to interpret, administer, and negotiate labor contracts. Assist in preparing for union grievance meetings and contract negotiations with bargaining units.

• Performance Improvement Plans (PIP): Assist in developing and monitoring PIPs, reviewing processes and documentation to enhance job performance and ensure compliance with institutional standards.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Promote the utilization of the EAP, and support employees and managers through return-to-work programs and other initiatives to ensure successful reintegration.

• Policy and Training: Interpreting and answering policy-related questions from employees, reviewing HR policies, the employee handbook, and union contracts regularly, recommending necessary updates. Assist in designing and delivering training on employee relations topics, such as workplace harassment, workplace violence, and labor laws (e.g., ADA).

The Candidate We Are Looking For:

We are seeking a dynamic, well-rounded professional who can blend deep technical expertise with strong interpersonal skills. Success in this role will require:

• Emotional Intelligence: A high level of emotional intelligence to manage sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, and discretion. You must possess the ability to resolve conflicts creatively and within policy.

• Analytical Skills: The ability to conduct consistent and fair, detailed investigations and communicate complex data in a way that helps to drive decision-making.

• Professional Demeanor: A proactive, engaging attitude, with a calm and even-keeled approach to handling stressful situations and ambiguous scenarios

• Labor Relations Expertise: A solid understanding of labor contracts, grievance procedures, and performance improvement methodologies, along with the ability to apply best practices.

• Independent Work Style: Ability to handle investigations and requests autonomously, ensuring timely and thorough resolution.

• Conflict Resolution Expertise: Strong skills in mediating and resolving workplace conflicts with empathy and diplomacy.

• Strong Communication & Influence: Excellent ability to communicate effectively and partner with senior leaders to align on solutions and strategies.

• Team Player: While capable of working independently, you will also be an essential collaborator, contributing to a positive and effective team dynamic.

If you are passionate about employee relations, dedicated to fostering a positive workplace environment, and ready to contribute to the groundbreaking mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, we want to hear from you!

Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's Degree required.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum Requirement: 4+ years of experience in an employee relations (ER) or similar role handling ER activities.

• Experience researching complex human resources-related issues and implementing effective courses of action.

• Experience supporting audits, surveys, and performing complex reporting and analyses; Work Day experience preferred.

• Strong experience with Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel), including Google Sheets and Slides, preferred.

• Proven performance in earlier role.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required by SJCRH Only:

• SHRM-CP or Professional in Human Resources (PHR) OR Employee Relations Investigations Certification, preferred.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer