Employee Relations Business Partner

Summary

Cox Automotive is a technology-driven automotive company serving drivers, dealers, and consumer automotive brands. The Employee Relations Business Partner provides guidance and recommendations on employee relations matters, including disciplinary actions, performance improvement plans, terminations, and investigations. The role partners with leaders, HR, Legal, and other teams to ensure consistent compliance and timely case resolution.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an employee relations subject-matter expert, advising and guiding leaders with strong listening, probing, and investigatory skills, and the ability to clearly and objectively synthetize information in a timely manner
• Using Workday and Service Now to support business leaders with reviews of employee disciplinary actions, performance improvement plans, and involuntary termination review requests
• Partner directly with the ER team, people leaders, HR Business Partners, Legal, and other departments to provide recommendations that align with company values and priorities
• Act as a champion for compliance by interpreting policies and processes, ensuring consistent application, and educating employees and stakeholders as needed
• Own assigned employee relations cases within the case management system and/or Ethics Hotline, documenting and handling matters in accordance with ER team processes and practices
• Analyze employee relations trends and proactively identify and escalate areas of opportunity
• Partner with HR Business Partners to promote a positive and open employee relations environment where employees feel comfortable seeking guidance and receiving a timely issue resolution
• Assist with information gathering related to legal complaints and charges
• Serve as a backup for Employee Relations intake role as needed
• Conduct less complex employee relations investigations as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

• Candidates must reside within the Eastern or Central Time Zones of the United States
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Management, or related field and 2 years' related experience in Human Resources and/or Employee Relations. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and up to 2 years' experience; or 6 years' experience in a related field
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Direct experience supporting business leaders with employee disciplinary actions, conduct/behavior issues, performance improvement plans/performance issues, and involuntary terminations
• Working knowledge of state and federal employment laws and union avoidance
• Ability to communicate effectively across all employee levels (exempt, non-exempt, corporate, and field)
• Strong coaching, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrated influencing skills, with the ability to advise HR Business Partners and leaders on recommendations related to discipline, performance improvement plans, and terminations
• Ability to work independently and with a sense of urgency and prioritization
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Sound judgement and discretion when handling sensitive matters
• Ability to collect, understand, interpret and share data effectively
• Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future
• PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SCP certification
• Experience with ServiceNow or other web-based case management systems
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Experience leveraging AI tools (Microsoft CoPilot, Claude, or similar technologies) to improve efficiency, support investigations, analyze trends, and enhance employee relations processes

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Candidates must reside within the Eastern or Central Time Zones of the United States
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Management, or related field and 2 years' related experience in Human Resources and/or Employee Relations. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and up to 2 years' experience; or 6 years' experience in a related field
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Direct experience supporting business leaders with employee disciplinary actions, conduct/behavior issues, performance improvement plans/performance issues, and involuntary terminations
• Working knowledge of state and federal employment laws and union avoidance
• Ability to communicate effectively across all employee levels (exempt, non-exempt, corporate, and field)
• Strong coaching, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrated influencing skills, with the ability to advise HR Business Partners and leaders on recommendations related to discipline, performance improvement plans, and terminations
• Ability to work independently and with a sense of urgency and prioritization
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Sound judgement and discretion when handling sensitive matters
• Ability to collect, understand, interpret and share data effectively
• Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. No OPT, CPT, STEM/OPT or visa sponsorship now or in future

Nice to Haves

• PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SCP certification
• Experience with ServiceNow or other web-based case management systems
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Experience leveraging AI tools (Microsoft CoPilot, Claude, or similar technologies) to improve efficiency, support investigations, analyze trends, and enhance employee relations processes

Benefits

• Flexible work option: can work remotely but need to live in the specified city, state, or region
• Eligible employees may take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company’s needs, and its obligations
• Seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year
• Up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for employees’ own wellness or that of family members
• Bereavement leave
• Time off to vote
• Jury duty leave
• Volunteer time off
• Military leave
• Parental leave
• Health care insurance (medical, dental, vision) may be offered
• Retirement planning (401(k)) may be offered
• Paid days off, including sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO, may be offered