Manager, Employee Relations

Manager, Employee Relations at The Walt Disney Company

Disney’s Employee Relations function is responsible for engaging with employees and leaders at critical moments in the employee life cycle to ensure an an equitable, inclusive, and respectful experience for all employees consistent with Disney’s policies, values, and culture.

We are looking for a Manager, Employee Relations for Disney General Entertainment who will be responsible for providing general ER support across our TV productions and corporate areas as needed.

This role will primarily support TV productions for 20th Television/20th Animation, and FX. The position may occasionally assist with casework associated with other studios under the Disney Entertainment banner as well as overflow cases for corporate areas and shared services likes Business Affairs, Labor Relations, and Network groups. This function will provide ER expertise and services, including: leading workplace investigations, policy creation and interpretation, performance management, medical accommodations, workplace training, organizational change assessment, crisis response, case data analytics, and other workplace projects impacting the employee experience. The Manager, Employee Relations must be able to perform work with little supervision, exhibit superb written and verbal communication skills, handle a wide range of complex and highly sensitive employment situations, and demonstrate strong emotional intelligence to skillfully interact with cast and crew members and internal/external stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex and sensitive workplace investigations with little supervision, including determining appropriate investigation strategies, leading witness interviews and document review, and determining findings and recommendations for appropriate resolution. Investigation topics include, for example, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, theft, conflicts of interest, and other policy violations.
• Partner collaboratively with HRBPs, Labor Relations, Studio/Network Executives and/or Show Leadership, Legal, Global Security, Information Security, Management Audit, Communications, Diversity & Inclusion and other stakeholders to execute thorough investigations and influence decisions where appropriate.
• Draft well-written investigation-related documents, such as leader/HRBP talking points, written warnings, and case executive summaries with little supervision.
• Input cases into the ER database case management system accurately and timely.
• Respond to employee complaints with federal, state and local administrative agencies as needed.
• Manage complex situations related to reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and leave of absences.
• Guide HRBPs on complex performance management issues, including conflict management and performance improvement plans.
• Provide crisis management support to employees, leaders and HR Business Partners.
• Promote knowledge and understanding of Company policies and of relevant employment laws through coaching, presentations, and training.
• Assist with the data reporting and analytics of ER cases for themes, trends and root causes to provide insights and recommendations for decision making and ER risk prevention.
• Build strong relationships with key ER partners, including Human Resources, Legal, Global Security, Information Security, Communications, Diversity & Inclusion and others.
• Assist with other ER project work and consultations related to creating an inclusive and respectful employee experience.
• May occasionally take on investigations for non-U.S. based productions as needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years Human Resources experience, and/or 5 years in Employee Relations required
• Demonstrated experience leading a wide variety of complex employee investigations and providing employee relations consultations with little supervision.
• Excellent decision making, problem solving, critical thinking and root cause/analysis skills.
• Advanced understanding of employment and HR related laws, regulations, policies, principles, concepts and practices, including Title VII, ADA, ADAA, FMLA and Canadian provincial/territorial labor laws.
• High emotional intelligence and strong people skills.
• Experience managing diversity and inclusion topics.
• Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential matters with compassion and equity.
• Ability to work collaboratively, lead and influence at all levels within the organization, and make decisions while keeping all partners and leaders informed.
• Experience working with senior executives in an “influence-without-authority” role.
• Ability to position self as credible, proactive and a trusted thought-partner.
• Independent work style, balancing the need for collaboration with minimal supervision.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with strong time management and prioritization skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Television Production experience a plus and/or other related entertainment experience a plus
• International experience a plus

Required Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Preferred Education

Juris Doctorate

Key skills/competency

• Employee Relations
• Workplace Investigations
• HR Policies
• Employment Law
• Performance Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Data Analytics
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Communication
• Stakeholder Management