Lead Employee Relations Partner (Investigator)

Why UKG:

At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workforce operating platform. Helping people get paid, grow in their careers, and shape the future of their industries. That's what we do.

We never stop learning. We never stop challenging the norm. We push for better, and we celebrate the wins along the way. Here, you'll get flexibility that's real, benefits you can count on, and a team that succeeds together. Because at UKG, your work matters-and so do you.

Lead ER Partner - Investigator:

As a Lead Employee Relations (Investigator) professional within the People & Employment Practices (PEP) team, you will be instrumental in cultivating a respectful, fair, and legally compliant workplace culture. You will collaborate with HR Business Partners, Legal, Compliance, People Operations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure employee relations strategies align with organizational values and legal standards. This role demands strategic and analytical expertise in employment law, conflict resolution, and organizational change management. You will lead complex, high-risk, multi-jurisdictional investigations, influence policy development, and drive ER strategy through data insights. Additionally, you will lead or participate in cross-functional projects to enhance the employee relations framework, continuously improving practices and fostering a cohesive organizational environment.

• Serve as a regional ER expert, applying local employment law knowledge and cultural awareness to provide tailored support, while contributing to global ER matters by sharing insights and best practices.
• Lead and oversee prompt, impartial investigations into harassment, discrimination, retaliation, conflict of interest, and other misconduct and policy violations, ensuring fairness, confidentiality, and consistency.
• Develop and execute investigation strategies, conduct informed and culturally sensitive interviews, assess credibility, and produce clear, concise, and legally sound investigation reports.
• Educate employees and managers on policies, legal obligations, and best practices, and provide expert guidance and coaching on complex employee situations.
• Mediate interpersonal and team conflicts to foster a collaborative work environment and support managers in addressing performance issues and implementing improvement plans.
• Ensure data accuracy and integrity in ER metrics and reporting, supporting informed decision-making and strategic planning.
• Analyze ER-related data to identify trends, root causes, and systemic risks, recommending proactive, scalable solutions to improve the employee experience and mitigate risk.
• Lead or participate in cross-functional projects and enterprise ER initiatives, ensuring alignment with global ER strategy and organizational priorities.
• Support audits, litigation, and regulatory inquiries, including documentation preparation and partnership with Legal.
• Drive continuous improvement of ER programs, investigation protocols, training, and enabling HR technologies.
• Collaborate with Legal, People Operations, HR Business Partners, and relevant stakeholders to develop, implement, and maintain ER policies that align with labor laws and organizational values, ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master's preferred) or an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered in lieu of a degree

• 8+ years of progressive experience in employee relations, HR, or employment law, with a strong track record of handling complex workplace issues
• Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
• Demonstrated experience conducting complex workplace investigations, resolving conflicts, and managing sensitive employee matters with discretion and integrity
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to assess risk and make sound, data-informed decisions
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build rapport across all levels of the organization
• Experience working in a matrixed or global organization is a plus

• Experience with HRIS and case management systems is a plus.