Senior Employee Relations Partner

Company

Alaska Airlines

The Team

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you.

Role Summary

The Senior Employee Relations Partner is a subject matter expert in investigations and employee relations. As an individual contributor, this role conducts investigations and exercise considerable judgment in providing advisement and consultation to the business on investigating workplace concerns, while making recommendations and driving resolution in a variety of situations. A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to quickly assess data, behaviors, and relationships to identify risks and gaps in the work environment. They will help develop and execute sustainable solutions that mitigate risk in the work environment and increase overall employee engagement. They will help coach and mentor the employee relations team to identify process improvements in areas that are pain points for the clients or internal HR teams. This role will work closely with the HR Business Partners, Legal, Labor, Compliance to promote equity, company values, and accountability in the workplace and to respond appropriately and fairly to employee concerns.

Key Duties

• Acts as a subject matter expert in investigations and employee relations issues – has a deep understanding of local, state, and federal laws and regulations as they relate to human resources.
• Provides advisement and consultation to leaders working through investigations and employee relations matters on approach and best practices with practical implementation strategies.
• Assesses level of partnership and involvement that is needed to conduct an investigation and provides coaching and guidance to leadership to help determine appropriate resolution.
• Partners with Leadership, Legal, Labor and Union Representatives, and the HR Business Partner team to solve a variety of workplace issues.
• With minimal direction from leadership, exercises considerable judgement when handling investigations and employee relations issues. Able to work in ambiguous and complex situations.
• Leads and ensures a consistent employee relations strategy to successfully resolve people issues and mitigate employment risks
• Makes recommendations for process improvements and systems enhancements to better address pain points for clients and the employee relations team.
• Identifies trends and areas of concerns and partners with HR Business Partner team and leadership to provide guidance, solutions, actionable feedback, education, and training opportunities.
• Leverages data to influence action, support decision making and root cause assessments as well as develop recommendations and build solutions.
• Advises the business on ways to navigate through sensitive, complex scenarios pertaining to DEI and influences change with people focused goals and objectives that is in alignment with the company’s DEI goals for a more equitable future.
• Build constructive and collaborative relationships with critical stakeholders and peers to share information, influence change, and drive resolutions to improve the employee experience and leader capability.
• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communications and documentation skills. Is able to succinctly and neutrally write fact finding reports and outline allegations, actions and outcomes.
• Coaches and mentors the employee relations team, helping others to be successful in growing their knowledge, skills, and career.

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• 4 years of experience in Employee Relations, Human Resources, leadership or a related area.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field, or an additional two years of training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Demonstrated ability in providing excellent judgement, influencing stakeholders, and in problem solving.
• Innovative, apolitical, resilient, fact-based, and a creative solutions-focused mindset, with ability to thrive in a rapidly-changing, collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated ability to seek out and incorporate feedback from all levels of the organization.
• Experience designing and managing complex processes, as well as managing projects.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HR case and compliance management systems.
• Valid Passport with th