Director Employee Relations, Corporate Human Resources

Description Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Department: Corporate Human Resources

Location: Penn Medicine Bala Cynwyd - 2 Bala Plaza

Schedule: Hybrid

Summary:

• The Director of Employee Relations is responsible for leading a centralized employee relations function in support of employees and leaders across the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The director will play a pivotal role in fostering and driving a positive, inclusive, fair and productive work environment. The director will create and leverage a cohesive and proactive employee relations strategy that is informed by HR best practice and aligns with internal cultural initiatives, i.e. fair and just culture. The director will ensure fairness and equity in the interpretation and application of HR policies. They will also ensure compliance with local, state and federal employment laws. The director will work collaboratively with HR leaders at each entity and within the corporate COE's.
• This role is instrumental in maintaining a harmonious work environment that supports both the organizational goals and employee well-being.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and launch of a centralized employee relations function at UPHS, serving over 40K employees.
• Serve as a key partner within the HR team and provide support and guidance on a variety of employee relations matters to promote a positive employee experience.
• Provide day-to-day oversight, management and guidance to the employee relations team members on a broad range of employee relations matters.
• Serving as a trusted advisor, this role will advise senior management on complex employee relations issues, including areas of risk and legal exposure.
• In partnership with labor relations, proactively conducts risk/vulnerability assessment and leverages mitigation approaches.
• Partner with inside and outside legal counsel as necessary on employee relations matters including legal claims filed by current and former employees. Collaborates with legal counsel to track, monitor and report out on legal claims.
• In partnership with other HR functions, including labor and organizational development, monitors employee climate to identify workplace opportunities and trends. Recommend proactive solutions based on business needs and best practices.
• Partner with other key HR functions to design and leverage training programs for managers and employees on employee relations topics.
• Develop, implement and maintain comprehensive employee policies that are legally compliant. Ensures that policies are interpreted and applied in a fair and equitable manner.
• Ensure a fair and thorough examination of employee relations and investigations and conflicts.
• Work collaboratively with key HR leaders, specifically HR Operations, to ensure a seamless and collaborative approach to addressing tier one and tier two employee relations issues.
• Develop metrics to measure performance within the employee relations function.
• Provides oversight of the EEO-1 and VETS reporting process. Partners with HRIS and external vendor to ensure compliance.
• Participate in special projects such as HR system implementations, as needed.

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree is required.
• Master's Degree is preferred.
• 10+ years multi-disciplinary HR experience, including employee relations is required.
• 5+ years of experience in an HR leadership role is required.

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.