Senior Manager, Employee Relations

Job description

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. We are seeking a collaborative, solutions oriented, and highly skilled Employee Relations Advisor to support employee relations across the EMEA region. In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to People Partners, managers, and business leaders by providing expert guidance on a broad range of employee relations matters and delivering consistent, compliant, and employee-centered solutions across multiple jurisdictions. You will partner closely with Legal, Compliance, People Partners, and other cross-functional stakeholders and control functions to manage complex workplace matters, mitigate organizational risk, and promote fair, equitable, and legally compliant employment practices across various locations in the EMEA region, seeking to achieve Regional and Global alignment. Wherever possible. In addition to managing employee relations cases, you will contribute to the continuous improvement of regional employee relations programs, policies, and processes, leveraging data, insights, and emerging technologies, including but not limited to AI innovations, to strengthen organizational effectiveness, enhance the employee experience, and support a positive, high-performing workplace culture. Key Responsibilities Employee Relations Advisory Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to People Partners, business leaders, and managers across the EMEA region, providing sound consultation on complex employee relations matters while balancing legal compliance, organizational risk, business objectives, and employee experience. Lead and manage a broad portfolio of employee relations matters across multiple jurisdictions, including workplace investigations, performance management, misconduct, grievances, disciplinary actions, workplace conflict, organizational change, and employment separations, ensuring timely, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes. Exercise sound judgment to assess risk, identify appropriate resolution strategies, and provide practical recommendations that support both business continuity and a positive workplace culture. Partner proactively with Legal, Compliance, and regional stakeholders and other control functions to ensure employee relations decisions are legally defensible, ethically sound, and aligned with company policies, values, and global governance standards. Support the localization, implementation, and continuous improvement of global employee relations programs, policies, and frameworks to meet regional business and regulatory requirements while maintaining global consistency. Identify emerging employee relations risks, workforce trends, and systemic issues, proactively recommending mitigation strategies and escalating complex or high-impact matters to the EMEA Employee Relations Lead as appropriate. Employee Relations Governance Lead or support complex workplace investigations, ensuring fair, impartial, objective, thorough and timely processes that uphold procedural integrity, confidentiality, and consistent application of company policies. Ensure comprehensive and compliant case documentation, maintaining accurate records in accordance with company standards, GDPR requirements, and applicable employment legislation. Drive continuous improvement of employee relations operations by identifying opportunities to enhance case management processes, governance standards, reporting capabilities, and service delivery effectiveness. Support the implementation and governance of global employee relations policies, standard operating procedures, and compliance frameworks across the EMEA region, ensuring alignment with local employment legislation and regulatory requirements. Contribute to the development, continuous evaluation, and evolution of ER policies to promote global consistency, ensure legal compliance, mitigate risk, and enhance the employee experience. Monitor legislative developments, evolving case law, and regulatory changes across EMEA, translating legal developments into practical guidance and recommendations for People Partners and business leaders. Identify patterns, recurring themes, and organizational risks through case analysis, proactively escalating significant trends and recommending preventive actions to strengthen organizational effectiveness. Partner with Legal and regional stakeholders to support Works Councils, TUPE, collective consultation, labor inspections, restructures, and other jurisdiction-specific employment relations requirements. Stakeholder Partnership & Enablement Build trusted partnerships with People Partners, Legal, Compliance, People Support, other control functions and business leaders to deliver integrated, high-quality employee relations support and consistent decision-making across the region. Provide expert consultation and coaching to managers on complex employee relations matters, strengthening leadership capability, and promoting proactive issue resolution. Champion fair, inclusive, and employee-centered practices by fostering consistency, transparency, and equitable application of employment policies and procedures. Develop and enhance manager toolkits, guidance materials, knowledge resources, and communications that improve leader capability and strengthen employee relations practices across the organization. Leverage HR technology platforms, including ServiceNow and AI-enabled solutions, to improve case management, operational efficiency, knowledge sharing, and service delivery. Contribute regional insights, best practices, and lessons learned to the Global Employee Relations Center of Excellence, supporting enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives. Data, Reporting & Insights Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential employee relations documentation while ensuring data integrity and compliance with organizational and regulatory standards. Analyze employee relations metrics, case trends, and workforce insights to identify emerging risks, measure operational effectiveness, and inform strategic decision-making. Develop meaningful reports, dashboards, and executive-level insights that enable proactive workforce planning, organizational risk mitigation, and continuous improvement of employee relations programs. Utilize data analytics and emerging technologies to identify trends, improve operational efficiency, and support evidence-based recommendations that enhance employee relations outcomes. Qualifications & Experience Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Employment Law, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, or a related discipline; equivalent combination of education and progressive professional experience will be considered. Five or more years of progressive experience in Employee Relations, Human Resources, Employment Law, or Compliance, with demonstrated responsibility for managing complex employee relations matters across multiple EMEA jurisdictions. Proven expertise in leading workplace investigations and advising on a broad range of employee relations matters, including performance management, disciplinary actions, grievances, misconduct, workplace conflict, organizational change, restructures, and employment separations. Strong knowledge of employment legislation, regulatory frameworks, and employee relations practices across one or more EMEA countries, with the ability to interpret legal requirements and translate them into practical business solutions. Demonstrated ability to assess organizational and legal risk, exercise sound judgment, and deliver balanced, business-focused recommendations that align with company values and regulatory obligations. Exceptional consultation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and establish trusted partnerships with leaders, People Partners, Legal, and cross-functional stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Experience operating successfully within complex, global, matrixed, and multicultural organizations, effectively managing competing priorities and navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced environment. Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, with experience leveraging employee relations data, trends, and insights to identify systemic issues, mitigate organizational risk, and drive continuous improvement. Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and ethical decision-making while balancing employee advocacy, legal compliance, and business priorities. Proficiency with HR technologies, case management systems, and AI-enabled tools to enhance operational efficiency, improve decision-making, and deliver a high-quality employee experience. Preferred Qualifications Professional certification in Human Resources or Employee Relations (e.g., CIPD Level 5 or 7, SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR, or equivalent internationally recognized credential) or junior to mid-level employer lawyer looking to move into employee relations. Fluency in English is required; proficiency in one or more additional EMEA languages is highly desirable and preferred to support cross-border employee relations consultation. Demonstrated experience operating within a global People Operations, Global Business Services (GBS), Shared Services, or tiered HR service delivery model. Working knowledge of Works Councils, trade unions, collective consultation, TUPE, labor inspections, restructures, and other country-specific labor relations frameworks across the EMEA region. Experience supporting multinational organizations with complex cross-border employee relations matters, organizational change, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Experience leveraging HR technologies, case management platforms, and AI-enabled solutions to enhance employee relations operations, reporting, knowledge management, and service delivery. Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, staying current on evolving employment legislation, emerging workplace trends, and leading employee relations practices across the EMEA region. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.