Employee Relations Consulting Director

Position: Employee Relations Consulting Director (Chicago,IL)

The Employee Relations Consulting Director is responsible for conducting thorough, prompt and objective investigations into employee complaints that impact company leadership. They provide consultative support to company officers and HR leaders on employee relations matters that involve leadership level employees including on the topics of performance, misconduct, and policy adherence. The Employee Relations Consulting Director also drafts, reviews and updates various employment agreements and advises on reductions in force and reorganizations.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

• Investigates employee complaints involving leadership level employees. Manages investigations beginning-to-end, including intake meetings, development of the investigation plan, researching the allegations, conducting effective interviews, generating investigation summary reports, developing appropriate recommendations for resolution, effectively seeking alignment on recommended outcomes, and communicating outcomes to impacted individuals.
• Documents all investigation information in the appropriate case management software in a timely manner.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and provides consultation and advice to leaders, HRBPs, and HR COEs regarding employee relations matters, complex areas of risk mitigation, and key conflict resolution. Provides employee relations support to leaders for officer level performance improvement matters.
• Provides legal and strategic business review on proposed reductions-in-force and reorganizations. Ensures appropriate positioning of CNA in relation to compliance, risk, and business outcomes.
• Provides consultation and direction regarding communication relating to reorganizations and reductions in force. Drafts leadership level separation agreements and packages.
• Stays current on changing, non-compete, non-solicit, confidentiality and other applicable employment laws. Periodically reviews and updates various types of employment agreements to ensure compliance with state and local law.
• Employee Relations liaison to the Finance Department. Provides required reporting.
• Liaison to the Corporate Investigations Department; collaborates with Corporate Investigations on overlapping investigatory matters.
• Conducts miscellaneous investigatory matters as assigned. In all investigative work, conducts investigations in a professional and impartial manner within corporate guidelines and industry standards.
• Conducts risk assessments and special projects to proactively identify possible misconduct or policy violations and to identify / report control enhancement opportunities focusing on prevention and/or timely detection.
• May perform additional duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationship

• Typically AVP or above

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Strong fundamental knowledge of federal and state employment laws, human resources policies, and employee relations investigatory best practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills. Ability to effectively build rapport with all internal and external business partners, including senior leadership.
• Strong analytical, fact-finding and evidence gathering skills.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and make sound business and legal decisions quickly and reliably.
• Strong time management and organizational skills with the ability to be flexible and exercise a sense of urgency in handling multiple cases with proper prioritization.
• Ability to collect and synthesize large quantities data, to recognize trends, and to develop, clearly communicate and effectively implement recommendations based on legal knowledge and risk mitigation principles.
• Strong influencing skills, with the ability to keep confidentiality, build and maintain credibility, and work collaboratively with customers, peers, subordinates and company leadership.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage and resolve ambiguous, complex, and sensitive situations while providing flexible solutions.
• Knowledge of the insurance industry, its products and services.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn and use Workday and HR Acuity software.

Education & Experience

• J.D. degree required
• A minimum of seven years related work experience with at least three years of experience as in-house counsel, or in employee relations or human resources settings.

CNA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact leaveadministration@cna.com.