Employee Relations Partner

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position:

The Employee Relations partner’s primary responsibility is to support the Employee Relations Team, driving effectiveness and structure as it relates to our core ER spans of control. This role will partner closely with HRBP and HR Shared Services to drive performance execution and overall performance best practices. This position is responsible for developing, interpreting, and recommending program goals and objectives, as well as policies, procedures and courses of action to keep a positive work environment.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Support and collaborate with the Employee Relations Performance team; provide coaching, guidance and be a “teacher leader” that enables our leaders to get the best out of their teams
• Partner closely with HRBLs and global HR/ER team to standardize performance practices, guidelines, performance protocols and leadership expectations
• Leverage data and analytics to educate HR partners and leaders on solutions; driven and backed by accurate performance data
• Provide coaching and mentoring to people leaders to improve ER management processes, conflict resolutions, performance management programs, disciplinary and corrective actions and policy interpretation.
• Foster and promote Intuitive' Culture and Values at all levels.
• Leverage and partner with our legal team for appropriate guidance and risk mitigation
• Build out our Threat Management and Crisis framework, focused on supporting employees through onsite threats, violence, conflict and death.
• Drive solutions on ER escalations, including escalated complaints, employee direct or hotline calls, work environment incidents as unfair business practices, hostile work environment claims, discrimination, harassment, racism, etc., using Intuitive methodology and processes.
• As needed, serve as facilitator and apply interventions to resolve conflicts between employees due to disagreements, conflicts, or misunderstandings.
• Create and facilitate formal and informal training related to employee relations matters including performance counseling, employment law, equal opportunity and compliance initiatives.
• Collaborate with HRBP's on developing and reviewing performance management processes for involuntary separations, or transfers requiring strategic risk management solutions, and discipline methods where applicable, while applying Intuitive Culture and values.
• Ensures that there is alignment between people management strategies and the existing Intuitive values, policies and compliance requirements, updating each as required.
• Support and conduct investigations related to faults to the Code of Conduct and Ethics of the Organization, presenting the results and action plans to corporate legal department
• Partner effectively with other cross-functional teams such as Inclusion & Diversity and Legal & Employee Relations.

Qualifications

Skills, Experience, Education, & Training:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, Business, Psychology or related field strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in supporting an ER function, preferably within a manufacturing environment
• 5+ years HR experience of which 5+ years direct experience focusing on handling ER issues of all levels of complexity
• Ability to influence and partner with different levels of the organization to achieve results, including senior stakeholders.
• Effective influence and communication skills when recommending and implementing solutions with business partners.
• Must have ability to work independently and collaboratively; prioritize and complete tasks while working under a deadline in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a disciplined approach to case management and administration.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.