Network Director of Employee Relations

Job Title: Network Director of Employee Relations

Department: Human Resources

Location: Malone, NY

Hours: Full Time ** ** Monday - Friday ** ** Days*

• May be required to work outside of normal business hours on occasion

Citizen Advocates is seeking a Network Director of Employee Relations to provide strategic leadership for employee relations across our network. This is an opportunity to shape how a growing, mission-driven organization supports its people, guided by data, grounded in compliance, and delivered through strong partnership with leaders at every level. We are looking for a proven employee relations leader with strong judgment, sharp analytical skills, and the credibility to advise leadership on the organization’s most sensitive workforce matters.

Summary/Objective:

The Network Director of Employee Relations provides strategic and operational leadership for all employee relations functions across the network. This role ensures a fair, consistent, and compliant approach to workplace practices while fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and trust. The Director partners closely with leaders to address complex employee relations matters, strengthen leadership capability, and promote a positive and inclusive work environment.

This role brings a strong data-driven approach to employee relations, leveraging workforce analytics, trends, and insights to inform decision-making, reduce risk, and improve organizational outcomes. The Director plays a critical role in aligning employee relations practices with broader workforce strategy, retention efforts, and leadership development initiatives.

The Director serves as a trusted advisor to leadership and a key contributor to workforce strategy, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.

Essential Functions (Job Duties):

Employee Relations

• Lead employee relations practice across the network, including performance management, conflict resolution, corrective action, and progressive discipline
• Serve as the advisor for complex employee matters, from performance concerns through terminations
• Conduct employee investigations and manage workplace complaints and policy violations
• Manage the organization’s unemployment claims process, including responding to claims and representing CAI at hearings
• Lead new hire check-ins and exit interviews to identify engagement and turnover drivers early

Workforce Analytics & Compliance

• Build and maintain employee relations dashboards to track trends in turnover, retention, and discipline
• Analyze workforce data to identify patterns and root causes, and translate findings into actionable strategy
• Ensure accurate, audit ready documentation of employee relations activity and personnel files to include audit readiness support
• Own the organization’s drug testing program, keeping policy current with regulation

Leadership Development & Strategy

• Coach and train leaders on progressive discipline, documentation, and conflict resolution
• Partner with Learning & Development to shape training priorities based on employee relations data
• Lead cross-functional projects on workforce strategy, policy, and organizational change across CAI and DAXIA affiliates
• Support broader initiatives that strengthen culture, engagement, and leadership effectiveness

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Yes

Competencies:

• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Employee Relations Expertise
• Leadership Coaching and Development
• Regulatory and Compliance Acumen
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
• Communication and Influence
• Confidentiality and Professional Judgment

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• 7+ years of progressive experience in employee relations, HR leadership, or a related field
• Strong knowledge of employment law, regulatory requirements, and HR best practices, preferably in healthcare or human services
• Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations matters and advising leadership
• Experience developing and delivering leadership training and coaching
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and apply workforce data to decision-making
• Exceptional communication, judgment, and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent certification

Other Duties:

Please note thi…