Employee Relations Manager (Hybrid)

Company Description

At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, 60+ retail stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things, and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth.

Job Description

We are seeking an Employee Relations Manager to join our team. In this role, you will ensure every employee’s experience is consistent with Lakeshore’s core business mission, purpose and values. The position plays a critical role in further developing and scaling our ER processes and strategy, performance management, workplace concerns and workers compensation. Applicants should have significant employee relations experience, deep subject-matter expertise, and strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.

A day on the job looks like this: 

• Conduct timely, objective and thorough internal investigations, including but not limited to allegations of harassment, discrimination and retaliation and prepare all required documentation.
• Maintain detailed and accurate documentation of investigations, the interactive process and other relevant matters with timely memorialization of the notes and supporting documents into the department’s case management system 
• In partnership with HRBPs, provide expert coaching and counseling to leaders on performance improvement and disciplinary action, including termination when appropriate 
• Partner with HRBPs, the Legal team and senior leadership to adhere to investigative best practices, reaching the optimal outcomes for our organization and employees 
• Directly manage our response to requests for reasonable accommodations under federal and state law 
• Initiate a proactive, strategic approach to employee relations by identifying and analyzing ER data/metrics for themes, trends and root-cause identification 
• Analyze employee relations cases and survey data to identify trends and recommend strategic interventions to strengthen manager effectiveness, reduce and mitigate repeating issue types, and improve the overall work environment 
• In partnership with HR Compliance and Legal teams, track changes in labor laws, regulations and industry trends to ensure our employee relations practices and protocols align with applicable laws and best practices 

Qualifications

Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field required 
• SHRM, PHR certifications preferred 
• At least five (5) years of direct experience in employee relations, HRBP or employment/labor law with an emphasis on employee relations work, including conducting investigations and advising on a wide range of sensitive and complex employee relations issues 
• Experience working with and applying employment and labor laws throughout the U.S.; broad knowledge of employee relations, complex workplace investigations, federal and state laws/regulations (including but not limited to Title VII, ADA and FMLA) 
• Strong interpersonal and persuasion skills, enabling the individual to establish productive partnerships and work collaboratively across multiple management levels and personalities to influence senior leadership, stakeholders, peers and employees at all levels across a large, dispersed and culturally diverse organization 
• Proven problem-solving and analytical skills in a highly ambiguous environment with the capacity to work autonomously to simultaneously manage competing priorities 
• Experience working with quantitative and qualitative data to identify root causes, recognize patterns and develop creative, innovative solutions for complex problems 
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with extreme discretion and objectivity 
• Ability to build strong, inclusive and collaborative working relationships 
• Strong conflict-resolution skills 

Additional Information

And here’s our end of the bargain! 

• Salary: $120,000-130,000 with an annual bonus of up to 15%
• Paid leave for new parents to support work/life balance and family bonding
• Excellent medical/dental and vision coverage—EPO, PPO and HSA
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (because you will retire someday)
• Flexible benefits—choose what you like, ignore the rest
• On-site preschool for our employees’ children
• On-site employee gym for all levels/fitness needs
• Generous employee discount
• Casual dress…and we really mean it

At Lakeshore, we know our diversity makes us stronger, and when everyone feels included and valued, we all win. We strive to embrace our differences and create an intentionally diverse and inclusive community that is representative of the teachers, families and children we serve.
We know we couldn’t do the extraordinary things we’re doing without the people on our team. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of this spectacular group, Lakeshore is more than a great place to work—it’s a great experience to be part of. Day in and day out, we give everything we’ve got to create products that instill a sense of wonder and foster a true love of learning. To help maintain this high bar for success, we’re constantly on the lookout for people to join us. So if you’re a down-to-earth professional who shares our desire for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you. 
To learn more about Lakeshore, visit www.lakeshorelearning.com/careers 
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
People are selected to become members of the Lakeshore family based on skill, merit and mind-boggling talent—not based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, domestic partnership status, military status, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, alienage, AIDS or AIDS-related complex status, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If things aren’t equal, we all lose.

To learn about how we collect and use Applicant information, please visit our Employee/Applicant Privacy Policy. INDRLL11