Director, Employee Relations

We are so glad you are interested in joining Sutter Health!

Organization:

Position Overview:

Job Description:

Provides strategic, operational, and consultative leadership across an integrated healthcare delivery system, serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and HR partners on complex employee relations matters. This role drives enterprise-wide employee relations strategies, promotes a high-performing workplace, and helps leaders effectively manage workforce issues across acute, ambulatory, ancillary, and home health settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise employee relations strategies, programs, and scalable practices across a complex healthcare system.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees at all levels on complex employee relations matters involving both management and union represented employees.

• Lead proactive workplace initiatives, investigations, internal reviews, performance improvement, behavior management, grievances, discipline, end-of-employment matters, coaching, and conflict resolution.

• Partner closely with HR Business Partners, Legal, Labor Relations, Compliance, Risk, Security, Communications, and leadership on employee relations, crisis management, threat assessment, workplace safety, leaves, accommodations, and other complex workforce matters.

• Provide strategic leadership and employee relations expertise during enterprise transformation, organizational restructuring, and workforce transition initiatives.

• Use workforce data and analytics to identify trends, mitigate risk, improve workforce effectiveness, and strengthen the employee experience.

• Develop and deliver proactive education, coaching, and consultation to build leader capability and promote consistent, effective employee relations practices.

• Establish and advance enterprise-wide standards, practices, and approaches that support a positive, high-performing work environment while ensuring alignment with organizational policies and applicable legislation.

Required Leadership Experience

• Director-level experience or above leading Employee Relations within a large, highly matrixed organization with multiple business units, geographic locations, and diverse workforce populations.

• Deep, demonstrated expertise in Employee Relations, including investigations, performance management, workplace conduct, conflict resolution, discipline, grievances, and complex employee matters.

• Strong Employee Relations skill set is essential; this is not primarily a Labor Relations role.

• Experience advising senior executives and leaders across a highly matrixed, multi-site organization.

• Healthcare experience strongly preferred, particularly within an integrated delivery system or similarly complex environment.

• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise-wide initiatives, influence across functions, and navigate complex organizational change.

• Strong knowledge of employment practices, policies, and applicable federal, state, and local legislation.

EDUCATION:

Equivalent experience will be accepted in lieu of the required degree or diploma.

Bachelor’s degree

TYPICAL EXPERIENCE:

8 years recent relevant experience

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

Progressive employee relations experience.

Leadership experience managing managers and multi-site teams in complex environments.

Exceptional people management skill sets with demonstrated ability to cultivate an engaging, high-performing, and inclusive culture

Strong executive communication, influence, and cross-functional partnership and collaboration skills. Ability to operate within complex, matrixed environments.

Demonstrated ability to leverage strong judgment and balanced approach, when navigating high risk, complex, or emotionally-charged matters

Expert knowledge of federal and state employment laws, including NLRA, Title VII, ADA, FMLA or CFRA, and wage and hour requirements.

Advanced investigative skills and experience in restructuring, performance improvement, discipline, leaves/accommodations, crisis management, threat assessment, and reputation matters. Experience advising senior executives.

High proficiency in leveraging data and analytics to drive business and people outcomes. 

Cultural competence and demonstrated commitment to inclusion and belonging.

Ability to lead effectively in fast paced clinical environments and maintain stability during operational disruption.

Job Shift:

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Employee Status:

Sutter Health is an equal opportunity employer EOE/M/F/Disability/Veterans.

The compensation range may vary based on the geographic location where the position is filled. Total compensation considers multiple factors, including, but not limited to a candidate’s experience, education, skills, licensure, certifications, departmental equity, training, and organizational needs. Base pay is only one component of Sutter Health’s comprehensive total rewards program. Eligible positions also include a comprehensive benefits package.