Director of Employee Relations and Leave Management

Acrisure is a global Fintech leader that combines the best of humans and high tech to offer multiple financial products and services to millions of businesses and individual clients. We connect clients to solutions that help them protect and grow what matters, including Insurance, Reinsurance, Cyber Services, Mortgage Origination and more.Acrisure employs over 17,000 entrepreneurial colleagues in 21 countries and have grown from $38 million to $4.3 billion in revenue in just over ten years. Our culture is defined by our entrepreneurial spirit and all that comes with it: innovation, client centricity and an indomitable will to win. Position Overview:The Director of Employee Relations and Leave Management is a people leader who is responsible for overseeing complex employee relations issues, managing leave of absence and accommodation processes, and overseeing the maintenance of all HR policies and associated trainings. This role involves providing strategic leadership in handling sensitive employee matters, ensuring legal compliance, and enhancing overall employee experience. The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership experience in employee relations, investigations, and leave administration, with a deep understanding of employment laws and best practices. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead and shape the employee relations function within our organization, ensuring a fair, compliant, and supportive workplace for all employees.Key Responsibilities:Team Leadership and Collaboration:Lead the teams responsible for employee relations, ADA, and leave management, providing mentorship, support, and development opportunities.Work closely with other parts of the HR function, such as HRBPs, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR Operations and HR Compliance, to ensure an integrated approach to employee support and policy implementation.Employee Relations Management:Lead and resolve complex employee relations cases, including workplace complaints, disputes, and conflict resolution.Conduct thorough investigations in response to employee complaints, ensuring timely, fair, and consistent outcomes.Partner with internal legal counsel to ensure compliance with all relevant employment laws, including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation policies.Develop strategies and processes for managing ambiguous and escalated employee relations issues while exercising discretion and independent judgment.ADA Compliance and Accommodations:Serve as the subject matter expert on managing requests for reasonable accommodations and overseeing the interactive process with employees and managers.Collaborate with HR Business Partners and managers to ensure consistent application of accommodation procedures.Track and document all ADA accommodation requests, actions, and outcomes to maintain compliance and reduce legal risks.Leave of Absence Management:Oversee the administration of leave programs, including FMLA, ADA-related leave, short-term and long-term disability, and company-specific leave policies.Manage the end-to-end leave process, from eligibility determination to employee return-to-work planning.Partner with HR Operations and third-party vendors to ensure accurate and timely leave processing, record-keeping, and compliance with all applicable laws.Policy Management, Education and Innovation:Partner with Legal and the Director of HR Compliance in the development and enhancement of all Human Resource policies and oversee the maintenance and communication of such policies and associated procedures and guidelines to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws.Educate and coach managers and employees on policies, including employee relations best practices, ADA processes, and leave of absence guidelines.Provide consultative support to leaders and HR partners on employee relations and leave issues, ensuring alignment with organizational culture and values.Oversee the implementation and maintenance of systems for case management and/or vendor partners that help the team improve efficiency and enhance compliance.Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., SPHR, SHRM-SCP) preferred.10+ years of experience in employee relations, leave management, or a related HR role, with knowledge of employee relations best practices and significant experience managing complex cases and investigations, and 5+ years in a leadership role.Strong experience in conducting investigations, managing conflict, and providing sound recommendations for resolution.Knowledge of employment laws, including ADA, FMLA, and other federal and state regulations.Strategic thinking and decision-making skills are critical for success.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with employees, managers, and senior leaders.Workday experience and experience utilizing case management systems strongly preferredProven leadership and team management skills, with a focus on coaching and developing talent.Acrisure is committed to employing a diverse workforce. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.  California residents can learn more about our privacy practices for applicants by visiting the Acrisure California Applicant Privacy Policy available at .To Executive Search Firms & Staffing Agencies: Acrisure does not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a mutual service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered Acrisure’s property, and Acrisure will not be obligated to pay a referral fee. This includes resumes submitted directly to Hiring Managers without contacting Acrisure’s Human Resources Talent Department.SummaryLocation: GRAND RAPIDS, MI; BOSTON, MA; CHICAGO, ILType: Full time