Senior Specialist, Employee Relations

About the role

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has forged a reputation as one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. Relying on innovation, intellect, teamwork and tenacity, our lawyers deliver the highest quality advice and novel solutions to our clients' legal issues. We are known for handling the most complex transactions, litigation/controversy issues, and regulatory matters, as well as for the strong partnerships we build with clients and each other. Our attorneys, who reflect a broad range of experiences and perspectives, work together seamlessly across 50-plus practices and 21 offices in the world's major financial centers. We are seeking a Senior Specialist, Employee Relations to join our Firm. This position will be based in our New York City office (hybrid). The Senior Specialist, Employee Relations is responsible for fostering a positive, high-performing workplace culture by partnering with Employee Relations Senior Managers in designing, implementing, and managing employee relations and performance management processes that align employee contributions with organizational goals. You will work with the Employee Relations Senior Managers to serve as a strategic advisor to leadership and people strategy business partners, addressing complex employee concerns, conducting sensitive investigations, and ensuring compliance with employment laws and organizational policies. This position plays a critical role in promoting fairness, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization. This position also requires a high level of discretion, professionalism, and the ability to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a point of contact for addressing and resolving employee relations issues, including grievances, interpersonal conflicts, workplace concerns, and policy violations.
• Partners with Employee Relations Senior Managers in acting as trusted advisors to leadership and business partners on sensitive employee relations matters, offering risk assessments, strategic recommendations, and support for complex decision-making.
• Collaborates with the Office of General Counsel and leadership to ensure investigations are conducted in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational standards.
• Ensures adherence to organizational policies, procedures, and all relevant employment laws in the resolution of employee relations matters.
• Stays current on federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, proactively advising leadership on compliance, risk mitigation, and emerging trends. Partners with legal counsel to address complex legal issues and minimize organizational risk.
• Maintains accurate, confidential, and thorough documentation of employee relations cases, investigations, and outcomes.
• Reviews and analyzes reports and analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement in employee relations.
• Provides data-driven insights on workforce trends, turnover, and root causes of employee relations issues, recommending proactive solutions to enhance the workplace environment and employee engagement.
• In partnership with Employee Relations Senior Managers and People Operations, designs, develops, and manages the organization's performance management framework, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, values, and strategic priorities.
• Creates and maintains tools, templates, and processes to support effective performance evaluations, goal setting, feedback delivery, and ongoing performance conversations in collaboration with business partners and Centers of Excellence.
• Implements and monitors Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) for employees requiring additional support, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and legal requirements.
• Works with Employee Relations Senior Managers to provide coaching to business partners and managers to build capability in delivering constructive feedback, setting clear expectations, and driving high performance.
• Monitors the effectiveness of performance management processes, soliciting feedback from stakeholders and recommending enhancements based on data, feedback, and industry best practic

Additional Information

We invite you to review our current business services professionals openings to learn about the opportunities available across the firm.

Your Match

How well this role fits your profile.

Company Intel

What employees say

Worked at skadden? Share your experience