Associate Director, Employee Relations

AbbVie - North Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

North Chicago, IL

Chemical Manufacturing

About the position

The Associate Director, Employee Relations at AbbVie will play a pivotal role in executing employee and workplace relations services across the United States. This position is designed to lead a team of Employee Relations professionals while serving as a central point of contact for providing expert guidance and support to employees and managers. The Associate Director will be responsible for fostering a positive and productive work environment, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and enhancing AbbVie's organizational culture. This role requires a proactive approach to addressing workplace issues and a commitment to maintaining high standards of service delivery. In this capacity, the Associate Director will provide consultative and problem-solving services to various stakeholders, including direct reports, managers, and Business HR partners. The individual will be expected to translate complex HR policies into actionable recommendations, ensuring that the needs of the business and employees are met effectively. Additionally, the Associate Director will oversee the professional development of the Employee Relations team, manage case loads, and prepare metrics and reports to inform decision-making. The role also involves creating and delivering training on Employee Relations topics, collaborating with business leaders to design solutions that balance employee needs with legal requirements, and managing projects that may involve cross-functional teams. The Associate Director will be responsible for documenting case information accurately and maintaining confidentiality, while also identifying risks and developing contingency plans as necessary. This position requires strong organizational skills, the ability to make effective decisions in ambiguous situations, and a commitment to fostering employee engagement and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert consultative and problem-solving services to direct reports, managers, employees, Business HR and Office of Ethics and Compliance partners regarding HR policies and practices.
• Directly lead a team of employee relations managers/specialists, assisting with team capabilities, professional development, and training.
• Manage case load distribution, work schedules, and departmental needs, preparing metrics, reporting, insights, and action plans for the team.
• Foster employee engagement and inclusion within the organization.
• Independently resolve policy & practice inquiries, performance management, workplace accommodations, EWR investigations, and other assigned cases.
• Ensure professional service is provided in accordance with EWR department expectations and guidelines.
• Create and deliver EWR training to various audiences, addressing diverse and difficult problems across multiple businesses.
• Collaborate closely with customers to design solutions that balance business, employee, and legal needs.
• Identify critical factors in situations, recommend alternate courses of action, and demonstrate planning and execution skills to achieve favorable outcomes.
• Facilitate alignment from multiple functions and resolve disagreements independently, documenting information related to cases and outcomes accurately.

Requirements

• Bachelors degree in human resources, Business, Employee Relations, or related field; Masters preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10 years work experience in Employee Relations and/or Business HR experience.
• Strong organizational skills to move open cases forward to resolution in a timely manner.
• Knowledge of US Employment Law and HR related policies and procedures.
• Proficiency in MS Office Windows environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills to build strong partnerships and influence stakeholders.
• Strong business judgment aligned with organizational philosophies and compliant with regulations.
• Ability to make effective decisions in ambiguous situations.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a leadership role within Employee Relations or HR.
• Familiarity with compliance and regulatory requirements in HR practices.

Benefits

• Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan eligibility
• Participation in short-term incentive programs
• Participation in long-term incentive programs