Public Relations Jobs 2026 (Now Hiring) – Smart Auto Apply

Requisition #: 1404

Job Title: Employee Relations & Compliance Lead

Location: McLean, VA (hybrid)

Nice to have- SHRMP-CP or PHR

JOB SUMMARY

The Employee Relations & Compliance Lead is responsible for protecting the organization by ensuring that all people practices are consistent, compliant, legally defensible, and aligned with regulatory and contractual requirements. This role serves as the organization’s primary authority on employee relations, policy interpretation, and workforce compliance.

This role leads all employee relations investigations, governs People policies, ensures audit readiness, and mitigates risk through proactive compliance oversight and manager education. The Employee Relations and Compliance Lead partners closely with Legal, People Operations leadership, and managers to ensure sound judgment, clear documentation, and consistent application of standards. Acts as the process owner for Employee Relations & Support, ensuring the process is current, followed, and reinforced through clear accountability. Owns, updates, and reinforces the use of progressive disciplinary documentation across Employee Relations cases.

1. Lead Employee Relations Investigations and Resolutions

· Serve as the central authority for all employee relations investigations across the organization

· Lead workplace investigations when due process and case assessment determine an investigation is warranted

· Ensure investigations are conducted in a timely, objective, and legally defensible manner

· Review evidence, documentation, and witness statements; determine findings and recommendations

· Partner with People Operations Business Partners on ER intake, issue assessment, and escalation. Works closely with People Ops Business Partners and managers on cases that require additional assessment or judgement.

· Advise leadership on appropriate corrective action and risk mitigation strategies

· Identify trends in ER cases and recommend systemic improvements

2. Ensure Compliance with Employment Law and GovCon Regulations

· Ensure organizational compliance with all applicable employment laws and regulations

· Maintain deep expertise in GovCon-specific requirements, including:

o FAR / DFARS

o OFCCP

o EEO and VETS-4212

o DCAA-related workforce documentation

· Monitor regulatory changes and assess impact on People Operations practices

· Partner with People Operations Manager to ensure workflows support compliance

· Advise leadership on compliance risks and remediation strategies

3. Own Policy Governance and Employee Handbook

· Own the development, maintenance, and governance of all People policies

· Ensure policies are clear, current, compliant, and consistently applied

· Lead the annual policy and handbook review cycle

· Interpret policies and provide authoritative guidance to leaders and managers

· Ensure policy updates are communicated clearly and adopted consistently

· Align policy language with operational practices and documentation standards

4. Conduct Audits and Regulatory Reporting

· Lead internal audits, including:

o I-9 compliance

o Personnel file audits

o Job classification reviews

· Own regulatory and contractual reporting requirements (EEO-1, VETS-4212, OFCCP readiness)

· Serve as the primary People Operations lead during external audits and reviews

· Partner with HRIS Analyst to ensure accurate, auditable data

· Identify gaps and implement corrective action plans

5. Train Managers on Policy, ER, and Documentation Standards

· Design and deliver training for managers on:

o Employee relations fundamentals

o Performance documentation standards

o Policy interpretation and application

o Handling sensitive employee issues

· Coach leaders on managing risk through consistent documentation and early intervention

· Provide just-in-time guidance to managers on ER and compliance matters

· Reinforce a culture of accountability, fairness, and consistency

6. Serve as Primary Liaison to Legal and Auditors

· Act as the primary point of contact between People Operations Director and Legal Counsel

· Partner with Legal on high-risk ER cases, investigations, and litigation matters

· Coordinate responses to legal inquiries, subpoenas, and agency requests

· Lead preparation for and participation in external audits and regulatory reviews

· Ensure leadership is informed of legal and compliance risks

7. Proactive Risk Identification and Governance

· Identify emerging ER, compliance, and policy risks across the organization

· Analyze trends to proactively mitigate future issues

· Recommend policy, process, or training changes to reduce risk

· Partner with People Operations Director on governance strategy and risk posture

· Ensure consistent application of standards across all business units

What Success Looks Like in This Role

· ER cases are handled consistently, timely, and defensibly

· Clean audit outcomes and strong compliance posture

· Managers demonstrate improved documentation and ER judgment

· Policies are clear, current, and consistently applied

· Reduced recurrence of high-risk employee relations issues

Qualifications

Education

· Bachelor’s degree in HR, Legal Studies, or related field

Experience

· 8+ years HR experience with ER and compliance focus

· GovCon compliance experience strongly preferred

Skills & Competencies

· Investigation and documentation expertise

· Employment law knowledge

· Risk assessment

· Policy development

· Judgment and discretion