Senior Employee Relations & Leaves Manager | Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; or Washington, DC

POSITION

(S) Senior Employee Relations and Leaves Manager About Us Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 16 offices and 800 attorneys who provide comprehensive legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industries and are recognized for their commitment to pro-bono work in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Rome's culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of our clients and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. Our commitment to our core values and dedication to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment allows the firm to attract and retain the brightest in the industry. Job Overview The Employee Relations and Leaves Manager plays a pivotal role in maintaining a high-integrity, high-performance workplace by managing complex employee relations matters as well as overseeing employee leave and accommodation requests from initiation to return-to-work. This role ensures consistent, fair, and compliant handling of workplace concerns—including performance issues, workplace conflict, conduct concerns, and sensitive investigations—while also ensuring clear communication, procedural consistency, and compliance with firm policies and applicable federal, state, and local leave and accommodation regulations. Serving as a trusted advisor, this role works in collaboration with the Human Resources (HR) team and department management to navigate challenging situations with clarity, communication, and consistency. The position serves as a primary liaison between the firm's external leave management vendor, employees, managers, firm leadership, and the HR team, and owns the development and implementation of appropriate policies, practices, and processes that align with employment laws and regulations. This role is a hybrid working arrangement. Potential candidates must live within commuting distance of our Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, or Washington, DC office to be onsite 3 days per week. Essential Functions Employee Relations Manage the day-to-day intake, triage, investigation, documentation, and resolution of employee relations matters, escalating complex, high-risk, or highly sensitive cases to the Chief Human Resources Officer as appropriate. Conduct thorough, impartial investigations into allegations of misconduct, policy violations, workplace conflict, retaliation, and performance-related escalations. Support employees and managers through sensitive situations by providing clarity, empathy, and practical, actionable guidance in alignment with firm policy. Advise managers on performance management, conflict resolution, coaching strategies, and policy application, while identifying matters that require escalation. Proactively partner with managers to identify and address emerging behavioral or cultural concerns and guide timely, appropriate intervention early and efficiently. Maintain end‑to‑end ownership of firm policies, ensuring consistent application across the firm and leading updates based on evolving needs or policy gaps. Prepare clear, well-supported summaries, documentation, and recommendations to support decision-making on employee relations issues. Develop and refine employee relations tools, templates, and documentation standards to improve consistency, efficiency, and risk mitigation. Manage compliance training requirements related to workplace conduct and harassment prevention, including content alignment, delivery coordination, and completion oversight, at the direction of the Director of People Operations. Conduct exit interviews and analyze feedback to ensure positive employee experience. Ensure alignment with employment laws and regulations across applicable jurisdictions. Maintain precise, audit-ready documentation that meets legal, regulatory, and internal standards. Leaves Administer various leave of absence programs (FMLA, ADA, STD/LTD, other medical, parental, personal, military, etc. leaves), serving as the primary contact for leave administration for all cases/claims and ensuring appropriate parties are made aware in a timely manner. Serve as the primary point of contact for employees, facilitating coordination with the firm's external leave management vendor to ensure smooth administration of leave requests. Inform employees about their leave eligibility, rights under FMLA and state laws, leave status, and the return-to-work process, in coordination and alignment with the firm's external leave management vendor. Manage ADA accommodations, including assessing and processing accommodation requests, engaging in the interactive process with employees and managers, ensuring compliance with legal requirements, and maintaining accurate documentation - all in coordination and alignment with the firm's external leave management vendor. Act as subject matter expert on leave of absence administration to ensure compliance with federal and state leave laws on FMLA, ADA, and PWFA. Serve as an initial resource for employees with leave and accommodation-related questions. Offer guidance and support to employees with information and explanation of leave processes, practices, and procedures, including required documentation, follow-up communications, and resolution of concerns. Collaborate effectively with the HR team, managers, and firm leadership to ensure seamless leave administration and maintain positive relationships between the employee and the firm. Work with the Senior Benefits and Well-Being Manager to ensure that employees who are returning from parental and other leaves are aware of the firm's back-up day care program and other well-being resources, as well as options to modify benefits program elections on a timely basis (e.g., coverage of a newborn child under the firm's health plan). Oversee ongoing leave cases, handle extensions, and manage return-to-work processes, ensuring effective communication with managers and practice group leaders to address workforce impacts. Work closely with payroll to ensure accurate pay administration for firm paid time off, sick leave, and other leave payments. Liaise with the firm's external leave management vendor to ensure accurate tracking, documentation, and note-taking in compliance with confidentiality and legal requirements, while also holding the vendor accountable to maintaining the highest standard of client service. Monitor the firm's HRIS system to ensure all leaves are up to date and tracked accurately. Continuously assess and improve leaves and accommodation processes to enhance efficiency, employee experience, and compliance, by proactively identifying process gaps and recommending solutions. Perform other responsibilities and work additional hours as needed to fulfill job requirements. The above essential functions represent the general nature and level of responsibilities for this position and is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. The firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Skills/Qualifications 5+ years of experience in employee relations, HR business partnering, investigations, or a related HR discipline. Bachelor's degree required; JD, HR certification, or investigation training a plus. Proven capability managing employee relations matters independently, including complex or high-risk investigations, and managing complex leave and accommodation cases. Strong working knowledge of employment law, employee relations best practices, and leave and accommodation laws and regulations, including FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and applicable state and local programs. Experience partnering with an external leave management vendor; familiarity with Workday is a plus. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a commitment to clarity, accuracy, responsiveness, and discretion, including the ability to convey complex information to employees, managers, and firm leadership. High emotional intelligence and the ability to coach employees, managers, and leaders with confidence, credibility, empathy, and practical guidance; strong ability to handle sensitive conversations with confidentiality and professionalism. Strong analytical, organizational, and time management skills; ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume, time-sensitive workload, work independently, meet deadlines, and follow through. High degree of accuracy and attention to detail; ability to prepare, draft, and update sensitive documentation and communication materials. Unquestioned ability to model the highest standards of discretion, confidentiality, and equity in all interactions. Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and web-based conference call/web-sharing applications. General Expectations Promote positive work habits, including effective and timely communication, teamwork, and demonstrating respect for colleagues. Contribute to providing the highest quality of service to internal and external clients. Take appropriate initiative and ownership of job responsibilities while ensuring the assignments/job duties are performed successfully and on time. Understand and abide by firm policies and embrace firm values. Ability to maintain regular attendance and work regularly scheduled hours. Ability to sit for long periods of time, type, and handle light lifting (files, copy paper, etc.) in a professional office environment. Comply with safe work practices including compliance with the firm's

COVID-19

policies and safety measures. Compensation The salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000. Actual salaries will depend on a candidate's geographic location, relevant experience, and skillset. The salary range listed is just one component of Blank Rome's total compensation package for employees. Other monetary rewards include annual discretionary bonuses based on performance and profit-sharing contributions based on eligibility and firm profitability. In addition, Blank Rome provides a comprehensive suite of benefits to promote health and financial security, including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life, accident, and disability insurance plans. The firm also provides the opportunity to participate in 401(k) retirement benefits, commuter benefits, and well-being programs.