Employee Relations Partner

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Employee Relations Partner plays a critical role in fostering a positive and compliant workplace culture within the bank. This role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees, ensuring fair and consistent treatment across the organization while mitigating risk and supporting the bank’s mission of integrity, customer service, and operational excellence. The Employee Relations Partner is responsible for managing employee relations matters, conducting investigations, and supporting policy adherence in alignment with banking regulations and employment law.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert guidance to managers and employees on employee relations issues, including performance management, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution.

• Conduct thorough, confidential investigations into employee complaints, including harassment, discrimination, and ethical concerns, ensuring compliance with internal policies and banking regulations.

• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and HR leadership to ensure consistent and legally sound handling of employee relations matters.

• Monitor and analyze employee relations trends, identifying risk areas and recommending proactive solutions to improve workplace culture and reduce liability.

• Support the development and delivery of training programs on workplace conduct, ethics, respectful communication, and regulatory compliance.

• Collaborate with HR Business Partners and senior leaders to support organizational changes, restructures, and workforce planning initiatives.

• Maintain detailed documentation of employee relations cases, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and compliance with recordkeeping standards.

• Assist in the review and enhancement of employee relations policies and procedures to align with banking industry standards and employment law.

• Serve as a resource for interpreting federal and state employment laws, banking regulations, and internal policies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field

• 5+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations, preferably in the banking or financial services industry.

• In-depth knowledge of employment law, regulatory compliance, and HR best practices.

• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.

• Proven ability to manage sensitive and complex situations with discretion and professionalism.

• Experience conducting investigations and preparing detailed reports.

• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Attributes:

• Master’s degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR)

• Experience working in a regulated industry such as banking or financial services.

• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret data to inform decisions.

• Commitment to ethical practices, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Ability to build trust and influence across all levels of the organization.

Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.