Associate Director, Employee Relations

Associate Director, Employee Relations

Skadden is seeking an Associate Director, Employee Relations. This position will be responsible for fostering a positive, high-performing workplace culture by designing, implementing, and managing employee relations and performance management processes that align employee contributions with organizational goals. It will 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. This position will be based in our New York office and has a hybrid in-office / remote working schedule. Please note that the Firm will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Responsibilities include :

• Serving as the primary point of contact for resolving employee relations issues, including grievances, interpersonal conflicts, workplace concerns, and policy violations.
• Providing expert guidance and coaching to business partners and senior leaders on workplace policies, disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and best practices for maintaining a respectful and inclusive work environment.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to leadership and People Strategy Business Partners on sensitive employee relations matters, offering risk assessments, strategic recommendations, and support for complex decision-making.
• Conducting thorough and impartial investigations into allegations of misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or other workplace issues.
• Ensuring adherence to organizational policies, procedures, and all relevant employment laws in the resolution of employee relations matters.
• Staying current on federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, proactively advising leadership on compliance, risk mitigation, and emerging trends.
• Maintaining accurate, confidential, and thorough documentation of employee relations cases, investigations, and outcomes.
• Reviewing and analyzing reports and analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement in employee relations.
• Providing 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 People Operations, designing, developing, and managing the organization's performance management framework, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, values, and strategic priorities.
• Creating and maintaining 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.
• Implementing and monitoring Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) for employees requiring additional support, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and legal requirements.
• Providing coaching to business partners and managers to build capability in delivering constructive feedback, setting clear expectations, and driving high performance.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of performance management processes, soliciting feedback from stakeholders and recommending enhancements based on data, feedback, and industry best practices.
• Analyzing performance data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for organizational and individual development, supporting a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Participating in the interviewing, selection, and training process for the employee relations team.
• Monitoring attendance and expense reports to ensure accuracy and compliance with firm policies.
• Overseeing employees' work, providing guidance in the resolution of problems, and evaluating performance.
• Developing and communicating departmental guidelines and procedures.

Qualifications :

Education and Experience :

Culture & Life at Skadden

What makes Skadden special is our people and the culture, community, and spirit of collaboration we have created. We believe in teamwork and inspiring each other to be our best in an atmosphere that promotes professionalism and excellence in all that we do. We know that inclusion and drawing on the strength of a wide spectrum of talent only make us better and is vital to the firm's success. Our goal is for everyone at the firm to enjoy a challenging career with opportunities for development and growth and to support the well-being of our attorneys and business services professionals.

Benefits

The overall well-being of our team is important to us. We offer generous benefits to help you achieve wellness in all areas of your life.

For further details, please visit : https : / / www.skadden.com / careers / staff / employee-benefits

The starting base salary for this position is expected to be within the range listed under Salary Details. Actual salary will be determined based on skills, experience (to the extent relevant) and other job-related factors, consistent with applicable law.

Salary Details

$250,000 - $280,000

EEO Statement

Skadden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate against applicants or employees based on any legally impermissible factor including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual and reproductive health decisions, disability, any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, or stalking. Applicants who require an accommodation during the application process should contact Lara Bell at (212) 735-2794.