Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota hiring Senior Director of Employee Relations in Eagan, Minnesota, United States | LinkedIn (2024)

About Blue CrossBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is one of the most recognized and trusted health care brands in the world with 2.5 million members. We’re committed to reinventing health care to improve health for our members and the community. We hope you'll join us.

How is this role important to our work?Are you ready to grow your career? We are looking for a seasoned Senior Director Employee Relations, who will report directly to our CHRO. In this role, you will lead and manage the employee relations team and enterprise Employee Relations (ER) strategy. You will proactively stay abreast of all federal, state, and local employment laws and legislation to incorporate into the company policies, processes, and procedures. This role partners with multiple stakeholders, including HR, legal, compliance, leadership, associates, etc. You will be a thought leader in the ER space with a strong combination of technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. You will oversee and participate in the execution and consultation for all ER issues including positive employee relations, investigations, complaint resolution, performance management, and organizational restructure and reduction. This role plays a crucial part in fostering a harmonious work environment and safeguarding the company's compliance with a proactive approach to applicable employment laws.

Day in the Life

• Serves as the highest-level expert in the organization on employee relations including investigations, complaint resolution, performance management, policy management, and the reduction in force process.
• Manages a team of employee relations professionals who serve as expert resources to both Human Resources and business leaders on issues including performance management, harassment, policy violations, and complaints to ensure consistent and fair processes are employed.
• Manages the HR Service Center team which responds to a variety of employee inquiry types and understands trends to help improve the employee experience.
• Leads, manages, and creates strategy for leaves of absence, ADA accommodations, workers comp and disability programs for the organization. Works directly with the benefits team to deliver the desired results.
• Partners with Diversity Equity & Inclusion leaders and employee resource groups giving advice and consultation on the inclusion of every employee helping to accelerate the organizations equity strategy.
• Has an expert skill level and understands the tools and partnerships that should be used when interpreting employment law. Leads key partnerships with both internal and external counsel.
• Lead investigations and partners with cross-functional resources by providing consultation on topics related to policy development and communications, employment-related investigations, and other related matters.
• Apply employee and labor relations expertise to successfully identify trends and challenges, predict and mitigate risk, and develop and execute solution-focused strategies, programs, and procedures.
• Critically reviews proposed job eliminations, terminations, and layoff decisions and provides consultation, documentation, and leadership to the organization with legal and other functional collaboration.
• Leads the governance and implementation of new and updated employee relations policies and procedures and ensures the currency, accuracy, and accessibility to human resources, people leaders, and associates.
• Leads the company's response strategy on employment related inquiries, charges, and complaints from agencies in partnership with internal and external legal groups.
• Determine appropriate resolution of cases if further investigation is warranted. Work closely with Human Resource Business Partners and business leaders as appropriate to make recommendations.
• Lead and/or participate in broader Human Resources initiatives as assigned, which may include the development, communication and implementation of Human Resource programs, trainings, or initiatives that impact employee relations matters.
• Establish metrics and assess progress and results; identify and communicate trends to senior leaders.
• Provide effective leadership to direct reports, including mentoring, development, and performance management. Coach direct reports on resolving sensitive employee relations cases.
• Regularly partners with and presents to senior executives and creates materials for the Board of Directors.

Nice To Have

• Master’s degree in industrial relations, HR, etc.
• SHRM - SCP

Required Skills & Experiences

• Bachelor's degree
• 10 + years in a progressive people organization (or similar) having served at least five years in a leadership role or similar function, supporting an organization of comparable size and complexity. All relevant experience including work, education, transferable skills, and military experience will be considered.
• Advanced knowledge of Employee/Labor law, legal compliance requirements, Human Resources trends and newly-surfacing litigation/regulatory areas.
• Outstanding investigative skills, and experience handling complex and sensitive employee relations matters.
• Demonstrated results in planning, developing, and implementing Employee Relations and legislative changes and policy initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing executive-ready communications related to management of large-scale/high profile investigations, projects, legislative changes, policies
• Extensive, multi-faceted experience in designing and executing people strategies and action plans
• Demonstrated ability to establish strategic direction aligned with corporate strategies.
• Problem-solving skills that enable efficient identification of issues, structuring, and execution of analysis, development, and actionable recommendations
• Proven presentation and communication skills and the ability to build strategic business cases
• Demonstrated ability to design, lead and execute complex projects
• Ability to synthesize information, develop sound recommendations, and present data to aid in effective decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale programs from concept to execution
• Exceptional people leader, with demonstrated success managing and building high-performing teams
• Strong ability to inspire, coach, and consult leaders through change and transformation
• Adept at considering business strategy, developing or evaluating alternative solutions, and outlining potential risks and benefits
• Self-motivated and proactive with a reputation for critical thinking and seeing around corners
• Strong customer orientation with outstanding consultative and solutioning skills
• High social and emotional intelligence with experience establishing relationships as a trusted advisor
• Team-oriented with the ability to foster a collaborative and creative environment and an inclusive and diverse workplace
• Highly adaptable to change; able to easily navigate between high-level strategy and roll-up-sleeves execution

Make A DifferenceBlue Cross is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer that values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Reasonable Accommodation for Job Seekers with a Disability: If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to talent.acquisition@bluecrossmn.com.

All roles require a high school diploma (or equivalency) and legal authorization to work in the U.S.

Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota and Blue Plus® are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.