Senior Associate Relations Business Partner

You could say we're at the center of the center.

Here at Edward Jones the client is our single focus and our relationships with them are the measure of everything we do. And Service and Operations divisions are at the center of it all. We support our clients, branch teams and headquarter associates in providing the best possible experience. Advocate for our more than 7 million clients through regulation communication, fraud protection and managing their investment distributions. Protect their investments by mitigating risk. And innovate new ways of working. Using insights to create solutions for the future - in the here and now.

Job Overview

Position Schedule: Full-Time

As part of the overall People Function, the Senior Associate Relations Business Partner serves as the expert advisor and consultant to all levels of leadership, including Directors and General Partners, on highly complex and sensitive associate relations and business challenges that are not of a routine nature. The Sr. Associate Relations Business Partner is responsible for producing high quality results that are communicated skillfully to mitigate risk to the firm. Supports department leadership in training and development of Associate Relations colleagues. Leverages analytics and insights to recognize case trends and collaborates across internal Centers of Excellence and Business Human Capital to inform and influence solutions which enable the firm's strategic priorities.

• Acts autonomously in leading, guiding, directing and influencing firm Leaders and Associates through a broad spectrum of multifaceted interpersonal, business, and leadership challenges. Assessing and determining appropriate action based on the investigation of facts, circumstances, and input from all involved parties.
• Provides decisions and advises leaders how to execute outcomes, ranging from coaching, up to and including separation of employment. Frequently responsible for delivering outcomes directly to associates.
• Collaborate and coach Associate Relations Business Partners in more complex situations to arrive at appropriate outcomes while developing the acumen of colleagues.
• Assists department leadership with the development of new Associate Relations Business Partners through onboarding, training and coaching on the responsibilities and skills of the position.
• Promotes and enables a fair and inclusive workplace. Represents Edward Jones culture and values while also mitigating legal; federal and provincial employment law; business; financial; regulatory; reputational; and associate experience risks.
• Responsible for constant and reliable evaluation of facts and circumstances, weighed against prior precedent and ever-changing employment laws, to create consistency and mitigate risk to the firm.
• Manages and resolves complex issues that are escalated by other COEs (Center of Excellence) (i.e., Compliance, Leaves/Accommodations, Business Human Capital, Public Relations, Managing Partners Office and Diversity Equity and Inclusion).
• Advises and collaborates with external entities and internal functions including but not limited to: Legal (internal and external counsel), Compliance, COEs, Business Leaders, Global Security and Local Law Enforcement, Regional Leadership and Divisional HR, EAP (Employee Assistance Program), and vendors.
• Represents the Associate Relations function on division and firm initiatives. Collaborates with cross-divisional leadership to set strategy focused on the associate experience and moments that matter throughout their career lifecycle.
• Testify on behalf of the firm in legal proceedings alleging violations of employment law.

• Prominent level of influence across all levels of associates and leaders across the firm, including Directors and General Partners.
• Provides subject matter expertise and direction to leaders across the firm (including Directors and General Partners) on complex situations that sets the stage for legal strategies the firm will utilize to defend its position.
• The quality of the investigation and the skill with which the findings are communicated can impact the affected associate's decision on potential legal action against the firm. The legal exposure and typical settlement costs associated with employment litigation pose both financial risk and negative public perception.
• Provides guidance and development to Associate Relations colleagues in the management of increasingly complex situations.

• Minimum Education: Post-secondary degree/diploma or bachelor's degree and/or 5+ years of experience
• Minimum Experience: 5 Years
• Other Qualifications Required for the Job:
  • Five years of experience in HR position with 2 years directly in employee relations (or in an increasingly responsible leadership position) preferred
  • Availability to work MST or PST hours preferred
  • HR certification preferred
  • In-depth knowledge of Canadian employment law