Employee Relations Manager

GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS) delivers personalized and actionable health insights to inform diagnosis, direct treatment, and improve drug discovery. The company is uniquely positioned to accelerate the use of genomic and large-scale clinical information to enable precision medicine as the standard of care. GeneDx is at the forefront of transforming healthcare through its industry-leading exome and genome testing and interpretation services, fueled by the world’s largest, rare disease data sets. For more information, please visit www.genedx.com.

Summary

This is a hybrid position in Gaithersburg, MD

The Employee Relations (ER) Manager is a centralized, high-impact role that supports the People Business Partner (PBP) team and functional leaders across the organization. Partners across a a high-growth, diverse workforce ranging from frontline hourly employees to credentialed senior professionals across all business units

This role serves as the subject matter expert on employee relations, ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant handling of workplace issues while enabling PBPs and leaders to stay focused on strategic and proactive people work.

Operating within a tiered People model, the ER Manager partners closely with the Director. Sr. PBPs and legal to manage sensitive employee matters, mitigate risk, and strengthen manager capability. This role also contributes to broader People initiatives and ad hoc projects based on business needs and capacity.

Job Responsibilities

Employee Relations Case Management

• Lead and conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into employee concerns, including workplace complaints, policy violations, and misconduct
• Partner with PBPs and leaders to assess risk and determine appropriate corrective actions, ensuring consistency and compliance
• Manage audit-ready documentation and case tracking with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality
• Guide performance management, disciplinary actions, and terminations, including high-risk and complex cases

Manager & PBP Advisory

• Serve as a trusted advisor to PBPs and managers on employee relations matters, offering clear, pragmatic guidance aligned with company policy and legal requirements
• Coach managers on handling sensitive employee conversations, conflict resolution, and performance issues
• Enable PBPs to maintain focus on strategic partnership by owning and driving ER-related processes

Risk Mitigation & Compliance

• Partner closely with internal and external Legal counsel to ensure strict adherence to company policies, employment laws, and regulatory requirements across all ER activities; serve as the primary bridge between the People team and Legal for workplace matters.
• Identify trends, patterns, and hotspots in employee relations issues and proactively recommend solutions.
• Develop and deliver ER analytics (e.g., case volume, categories, time-to-close, repeat issues) and provide trend-based insights and recommendations to PBPs and leaders to reduce risk and improve workplace outcomes
• Partner with People Operations and Legal (as needed) on compliance, audits, and policy updates

Culture & Organizational Health

• Support a fair and respectful workplace by reinforcing company values and expected behaviors
• Contribute to maintaining a positive employee experience by resolving issues effectively and equitably
• Provide input into engagement, retention, and culture initiatives based on ER insights

Project & Program Support

• Participate in and lead ad hoc People projects based on business needs and capacity (e.g., policy rollouts, training initiatives, process improvements)
• Support the development of manager resources, toolkits, and training related to employee relations and performance management

People Manager

• No

Education, Experience, and Skills

Experience

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Employee Relations, HR Business Partnering, or a related HR function
• Proven ability to manage a high-volume ER caseload concurrently, including complex investigations and termination matters
• Experience working in a matrixed or center-of-excellence HR model preferred

Core Skills

• Strong knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and HR best practices
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess risk and balance business needs with employee experience
• High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
• Strong coaching and influencing skills, with the ability to guide managers.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, including documentation of investigations and outcomes

Ways of Working

• Ability to operate independently while collaborating cross-functionally with PBPs, People Operations, legal, and leadership
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Data-informed mindset with the ability to identify trends and translate insights into action
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Physical Demands

This is a sedentary role requiring prolonged periods of sitting while working at a computer. Physical demands include:

• Sitting for extended periods (up to 8 hours per day)
• Repetitive use of hands and fingers for typing and mouse operation
• Visual acuity for reading computer screens and documents
• Ability to communicate effectively via phone and video calls
• Occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds (office supplies, equipment)

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Acknowledgements

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.