UFG is currently seeking a Lead Employee Relations Specialist who will serve as the senior employee relations resource and plays a key role in building, formalizing, and continuously improving UFGs employee relations function. This role establishes scalable processes, standards, tools, case management practices, reporting, and manager resources while providing hands-on consultation and support for complex workplace and performance matters, policy interpretation, investigations, conflict resolution, and employment practices. The role partners closely with Human Resources Business Partners, Legal, and business leaders to promote a positive work environment, strengthen leader capability, and drive consistent, fair, and compliant outcomes across the organization. The Lead Employee Relations Specialist exercises sound judgment, maintains confidentiality, and provides practical solutions aligned with organizational values and business objectives.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Lead the build-out and ongoing development of UFGs employee relations function, including the operating model, service standards, intake and escalation protocols, investigation practices, case management, documentation requirements, and governance routines.
- Serve as the senior Human Resources subject matter expert for employee relations, workplace investigations, corrective action, performance improvement documentation, conflict resolution, and employment risk management.
- Establish consistent employee relations frameworks, templates, decision guides, manager resources, and quality standards that support timely, fair, and well-documented outcomes across the enterprise.
- Serve as a key partner to UFGs Legal Department in managing complex employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, ethics hotline reports, and concerns involving policy violations, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and employee complaints.
- Lead and conduct objective workplace investigations; prepare investigation plans, interview documentation, findings, recommendations, and supporting materials while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate legal partnership.
- Develop and maintain a centralized employee relations case management approach, including case categorization, documentation standards, record retention, service-level expectations, and reporting practices.
- Analyze employee relations data and trends to identify recurring issues, organizational risk, policy or process gaps, and opportunities for proactive intervention; provide actionable insights to Human Resources and business leaders.
- Provide consultation and coaching to leaders and Human Resources Business Partners regarding workplace concerns, employee conduct, policy interpretation, performance management, corrective action, and complex employment matters.
- Apply sound judgment in collaboration with Legal to interpret employment laws, company policies, and Human Resources procedures, driving consistent, fair, and legally compliant outcomes.
- Build trusted partnerships with leaders, Human Resources Business Partners, Legal, Compliance, and other cross-functional stakeholders while balancing employee advocacy, risk management, and business needs.
- Provide employee relations expertise and risk assessment for organizational restructures, workforce transitions, and reduction-in-force activities, including documentation and implementation support.
- Support unemployment claims, administrative agency responses, ethics and compliance matters, and other employment-related documentation in partnership with appropriate stakeholders.
- Lead the development and facilitation of manager and Human Resources training on employee relations topics, including workplace investigations, performance documentation, corrective action, policy application, conflict resolution, and leadership best practices.
- Identify and implement continuous improvements to Human Resources policies, procedures, manager resources, employee relations practices, and the overall employee experience; perform other duties as assigned.
Job Specifications:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field required.
- Professional Human Resources certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR) preferred.
Experience:
- 7+ years of progressive Human Resources experience with significant responsibility in employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, and employment law.
- 3+ years of Human Resources experience within a property and casualty insurance carrier required.
- Demonstrated experience independently leading complex workplace investigations and advising leaders on sensitive, high-risk employee relations matters.
- Experience building or maturing employee relations infrastructure, including intake and escalation processes, case management, documentation standards, reporting, manager tools, and training.
- Experience partnering directly with business leaders, Human Resources Business Partners, Legal, and Compliance to resolve complex employment issues and drive consistent practices across an organization.
Knowledge, skills & abilities:
- Advanced knowledge of employee relations principles, workplace investigations, employment law, performance management, and Human Resources best practices.
- Strong understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulatory requirements.
- Working knowledge of property and casualty insurance operations, organizational structures, and business functions.
- Excellent investigative, interviewing, documentation, analytical, and case-management skills.
- Strong conflict resolution, mediation, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to assess employment risk, identify patterns and root causes, and provide practical, business-focused recommendations.
- Strong consultative, relationship-building, and influencing skills, with the ability to establish new practices and lead through partnership without direct authority.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
- Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to build sustainable processes while managing multiple complex cases, priorities, and deadlines.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment while balancing legal compliance, employee experience, and business objectives.
Working Conditions:
- General office environment
- This position may be full-time in a UFG facility, hybrid (flexible between office and home) or fully remote.
Pay Transparency Statement:
UFG Insurance is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary range for this position is $123, 000 - $163,000 annually, which represents the typical range for new hires in this role. Individual pay within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, education, certifications, skills, internal equity, geography and market data.
In addition to base salary, UFG Insurance offers a comprehensive total rewards package that includes:
- Annual incentive compensation
- Medical, dental, vision & life insurance
- Accident, critical Illness & short-term disability insurance
- Retirement plans with employer contributions
- Generous time-off program
- Programs designed to support the employee well-being and financial security.
This pay range disclosure is provided in accordance with applicable state and local pay transparency laws.