Employee Relations Specialist

ZS' Corporate Support teams power the firm's core internal operations. Our global teams are collaborative, practical, and results oriented, and they thrive in a dynamic, high-performing environment. Although our people bring diverse experiences and perspectives, they share a commitment to exceptional service

The Employee Relations Specialist plays a key role in fostering a positive, respectful, and high-performing workplace by helping leaders and employees navigate complex and sensitive people matters. This role identifies employee relations trends, assesses risk, and partners with HR and other stakeholders to address workplace concerns in a fair, consistent, and well-documented manner. The Employee Relations Specialist leads and supports investigations involving concerns such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, bullying, hostile work environment, performance and conduct issues, financial misconduct, information security incidents, and inappropriate management practices. This individual also provides guidance on policy interpretation, conflict resolution, corrective action, and other employee relations matters, while helping strengthen programs, processes, manager capability, and compliance training across the firm.

What You'll Do:

• Lead complex employee relations investigations, including matters involving workplace conduct, financial misconduct, and information security incidents, and support timely, fair, and well-documented resolutions while minimizing legal, reputational, and operational risk to the firm.
• Conduct intake, assess facts, determine investigation approach, document findings, and prepare clear recommendations and case summaries for key stakeholders.
• Advise managers, HR partners, and leaders on employee relations matters including performance management, corrective action, policy interpretation, workplace conflict, and conduct concerns.
• Assess employee relations matters to identify key issues, determine risk exposure, and ensure consistent application of policies, procedures, and employment practices.
• Apply sound judgment and ensure appropriate consultation and escalation.
• Facilitate debriefs and provide clear guidance to stakeholders at all levels on sensitive employee relations matters, recommended actions, and investigation outcomes.
• Draft, review, and support communications related to complaints, disputes, corrective actions, and other sensitive employment matters.
• Analyze employee relations data and trends, identify themes, recommend processes, policy, or improvements.
• Develop and deliver training and coaching for leaders and HR partners on employee relations best practices, investigations, documentation, and effective issue resolution.
• Manage and evolve global compliance training for employee relations and workplace conduct topics, including harassment prevention, POSH, bystander intervention, and California workplace violence prevention training. Own the training strategy and annual calendar, coordinate regional legal and regulatory requirements, partner on vendor and content management, and oversee completion tracking, reporting, and audit readiness.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree, JD, or relevant HR certification preferred
• Approximately 5-8 years of relevant employee relations, HR, workplace investigations, or related experience, ideally in a multinational, matrixed, or professional services environment
• Significant experience managing sensitive and complex employee relations matters, including workplace conduct, financial misconduct, and information security incidents, with strong documentation, investigative, and recommendation-writing skills
• Strong knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and workplace investigation practices, including equal employment opportunity, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation considerations
• Deep understanding of HR policy, employee relations principles, and workplace practices, with the ability to apply them consistently and pragmatically
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive matters clearly, objectively, and professionally
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple cases and competing priorities while maintaining strong attention to detail and quality
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with HR business partners and cross-functional stakeholders
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to identify trends and recommend practical solutions
• Experience managing or supporting global compliance training programs related to workplace conduct and employee relations, including harassment prevention, POSH, bystander intervention, and California workplace violence prevention training
• Fluency in English
• Client-first mentality
• Intense work ethic
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach

How you'll grow:

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions

Perks & Benefits:

At ZS, your growth matters. We offer a comprehensive total rewards package that supports your health and well-being, financial future, time away, and professional development. With robust skills-building programs, multiple career progression paths, internal mobility, and a deeply collaborative culture, you'll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, expand your capabilities, and thrive as part of a global community. For details on total rewards in United States, visit ZS US office locations | Where we work | ZS.

Hybrid working model:

We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Travel:

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.