Employee Relations Manager

About Us

Join us at WinCo Foods, where we're more than just a grocery retailer - we're a growing family of over 140 supermarkets in 10 states with over 22,000 employee owners. Our purpose is to make the lives our customers and employee owners better by offering the lowest possible prices to feed their families. Currently, WinCo is the second largest Employee-Owned company in the United States. With more than 500 millionaire employee-owners in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Our benefits, including top-tier medical plans and tuition support set us apart. In your role, you'll be instrumental in making a real impact in the communities we serve, embodying our purpose every day.

Overview

Job Summary

The Employee Relations Manager oversees a team of Employee Relations Specialists and provides hands-on leadership in addressing employee performance, conduct, and workplace concerns. This role ensures timely and consistent case management, supports team development, and contributes to the delivery of employee relations training and tools. Under the direction of the Director, Employee Relations, this position partners with Senior Employee Relations Specialists, Legal, and business leaders to help ensure guidance and practices align with company policies and employment laws. The Manager also plays a key role in identifying trends, improving team workflows, and supporting the effective implementation of employee relations policies and initiatives.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of Employee Relations Specialists, ensuring consistent and timely handling of employee relations matters.
• Model and educate best practices for handling employee relations investigations and documentation.
• Create and facilitate training on best practices for navigating and documenting performance and conduct issues.
• Lead, evaluate, and develop Specialist staff to ensure team’s activities are conducted accurately, ethically, consistently and according to relevant regulations, laws, and standards.
• Stay abreast of labor laws and regulations affecting, impacting, or relating to the employee relations function.
• Serve as a working manager by overseeing day-to-day case activity and stepping in on escalated cases as needed.
• Partner with Senior Employee Relations Specialists as needed on more complex or cross-functional matters.
• Collaborate with HR leaders and peers, Legal, and business leaders to ensure guidance and practices are aligned with company policies and employment laws.
• Monitor and analyze employee relations trends and data, and recommend practical improvements in tools, systems, or guidance protocols.
• Partner with the Director of Employee Relations to implement policy and strategy within the ER team.
• Assist in refining team workflows, case protocols, and service delivery models to increase effectiveness and consistency.
• Perform other duties as assigned or needed.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:

• At least 6 years of experience in employee relations, human resources, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex employee relations matters and investigations.
• Working knowledge of employment laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local level.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to make sound judgments.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and advise stakeholders at all levels.

Ability to:

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant federal and state regulations and legislation
• Effectively drive change in an organization to improve results.
• Establish and maintain good rapport with co-workers, supervisors and others.
• Write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings.
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Effectively prioritize and perform a variety of simultaneous tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Be available to respond to calls on urgent matters involving including after business hours, on weekends and holidays if necessary.
• Perform primary duties with efficiency and accuracy.

Preferred Education, Experience, and/or Credentials:

• Professional certification (e.g., AWI-CH, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR).
• Supervisory experience, including coaching and developing a team.
• Experience in a multi-location or retail environment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policies and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and qualifications required of personnel may vary.

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EEO/Inclusivity

As WinCo Foods continues to grow, our diversity—from our variety of perspectives and wide range of experiences—is essential to our strategy and success. We are committed to continue to cultivate and celebrate an inclusive environment in which all employees are valued and respected regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.