Senior Employee Relations and People Strategy Manager

About Graham:

Graham provides life-changing tools and resources for children, young adults and families who face some of the most difficult obstacles caused by poverty, racial injustice, and lack of access to educational opportunities, living wage employment, quality healthcare, and affordable housing.
 

We collaborate with communities and strong partners to create and implement innovative strategies so everyone can lead healthy, joyful, and successful lives.

Program Description:

Graham Talent Development & Support department is a strategic business partner committed to advancing the organization’s mission and vision. Under this umbrella are human resources, learning practice, proficiency, team experience, and engagement. We partner with the programs and executive leadership to promote ongoing learning and people engagement and development. We believe in continuously investing in our people and culture, identifying opportunities to evolve and improve to ensure our organization realizes our goals.

Principal Objective/Role Overview:

The Senior Employee Relations and People Strategy Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that enhance the employee experience, resolve workplace conflicts and complaints, and foster a positive organizational culture. This role leverages expertise in behavioral science with employee relations work, leveraging evidence-based behavioral frameworks to proactively address root causes of workplace conflict, improve communication systems, and develop more human-centered pathways for accountability, feedback, and trust-building. The goal is to shift Graham’s employee relations approach from being primarily reactive to being more strategic, preventative, and insight driven. This role involves collaborating with various leaders and teams to ensure that HR policies and practices align with Graham’s vision, mission, and pillars.

Job Responsibilities:

• Design behaviorally informed conflict resolution protocols to address workplace issues effectively.
• Implement feedback loops that promote psychological safety and reduce escalation.
• Analyze relational dynamics and culture trends to inform employee relations strategy.
• Build training tools and decision aids for people leaders to enhance their decision-making capabilities.
• Develop and implement employee relations strategies informed by organizational analyses, labor laws and regulatory statutes, advice from Graham’s employment counsel, case studies, and input from key organizational stakeholders to promote a positive work environment.
• Address and resolve employee grievances and conflicts in a fair and timely manner.
• Conduct investigations into employee complaints and recommend appropriate actions.
• Collaborate with leaders to develop and implement people strategies that support Graham’s vision and priorities.
• Provide guidance and support to supervisors, other leaders, and employees on HR policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Monitor and analyze employee experience metrics to identify areas for improvement.
• Design and deliver training programs (webinars, micro learnings, live facilitated sessions) on employee relations, conflict resolution, and other relevant topics.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations.
• Using data-informed storytelling, deliver to internal and external audiences, regular “spotlight talks” on insights, ‘wins,’ and forecasts.
• Provide strategic coaching as needed to support continuous improvements.
• Function as a brand ambassador for Graham, ensuring strategic networking and visibility to share and learn from employee relations and people strategy best practices.

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree, preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in employee relations, HR management, or a similar role.
• Strong knowledge of labor laws and regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in HR software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Professional HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR), preferred
• Experience in developing and implementing people strategies in a corporate setting.

Salary & Compensation:

• Annual Base Salary: $95,000.00/year
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Benefits Eligibility: This role is eligible to participate in our Performance Based Merit Award program at the end of each fiscal year, and eligible for benefits including health insurance, retirement plans (pension and 403B thrift), career coaching via Bravely, and more!

EEO Statement

The Equal Employment Opportunity Policy of Graham is to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. Graham hires and promotes individuals solely based on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Graham believes that associates should be provided with a working environment which enables each associate to be productive and to work to the best of his or her ability. We do not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

We expect and require the cooperation of all associates in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free atmosphere.