Associate Director, People Relations

Core Spaces (Core) is more than a real estate company, it’s a people company. Where building relationships is just as important as building properties. From researchers and architects to designers and operators, Core is made up of risk takers and dreamers who are on a mission to invent the future of living. Our six cultural values guide us every day and we strive to live them in everything we do: PUSH (Invent Better Places to Live), GRIT (We Got This), LIFT (Help Each Other Win), SHINE (Bring Your Full Self), UPHOLD (Never Break Trust), GROW (Always Get Better). Everything Core does stems from this culture of collaboration and innovation, and the drive to constantly improve the resident experience. This unique approach has led to creating spaces and services that are redefining the way people live.

Founded in 2010, Core is a vertically integrated company, focused on acquiring, developing, and managing across the student housing and build-to-rent (“BTR”) sectors. Its residential communities feature world-class amenities, progressive design, and hospitality-driven client service. In its award-winning student portfolio, Core currently owns and/or manages over 45,000 beds – and has a pipeline of over 49,000 beds in various stages of development. Core's BTR division currently has approximately 4,000 homes under development and in its pipeline in high growth metros across the country. * For more information, visit www.corespaces.com.

*Portfolio and pipeline numbers as of Q2 2025

• A culture that provides you with a sense of belonging
• Hybrid or remote work options may vary by role to support work-life balance
• Competitive pay that values your contributions
• Incentives designed to reward your achievements
• Paid flexible PTO to disconnect or celebrate life milestones
• Paid 15 holidays, including your birthday, to disconnect and celebrate
• Paid Parental Leave that begins after 90 days
• Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community
• Monthly workshop weeks; fewer meetings & more collaboration
• Robust health plan options that begin within at least 30 days of your employment
• Monthly phone reimbursement
• Wellness allowance and perks, including a yearly subscription to a meditation app
• An environment that provides you a voice to share your perspectives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for access to confidential support services
• Company retirement options including 401(k) matching & Roth account option

As an advocate of our company values, the Associate Director, People Relations will lead the investigation and resolution of people relation matters by coaching people leaders in managing team member performance, progressive discipline, and corrective action with a focus on risk mitigation. You will have a special focus as the leader of our ADA accommodation and leave administration processes, taking a player/coach role to both lead and handle the LOA and ADA caseload in partnership with other members of the People Relations team and the Payroll & Benefits Team.  Working in close collaboration with the Talent Development and Talent Management teams, you’ll develop and execute people initiatives, programs, and events that authentically evolve our ‘OneCore’ culture, create meaningful moments of connection across and within teams, and elevate the employee experience (let’s go)!  With over 800 team members across multiple locations, entities, and time zones, we continue to navigate and adjust to our exciting and rapid growth.  We are counting on you to help deliver best-in-class experiences to our team members.

This is not your first rodeo; you are proven in developing and maintaining positive relationships and serving as a trusted go-to source for people matters. You may not know all the answers, but you are resourceful and committed to finding them! 

 People Relations, Managing Performance & Risk Mitigation

• Oversee people relations matters for the company by guiding and coaching managers in progressive discipline steps and corrective action remedies, managing and prioritizing in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

• Develop and maintain a toolkit of templates, guidelines, and resources for managers regarding performance management in close partnership with the Talent Development Manager

• Assist leaders in ensuring appropriate progressive discipline documentation is recorded and corrective action steps are followed through with team members to proactively mitigate risk

• Guide managers on developing and executing Performance Improvement Plans in partnership with the Talent Development Manager

• Intake complaints and manage the investigation process; if necessary, consult with external counsel on appropriate actions and next steps

• Lead with compassion and company values by seeking to understand an individual’s situation to understand the why and influence managers to do the same ahead of making judgments and determinations

• Establish and maintain the communication of various people matters that affect other People Operations departments such as Payroll & Benefits or Talent Management

• Utilize the HRIS and Company technology as appropriate for tracking, recording documentation and reporting

• Facilitate exit interviews with team members when voluntary resignations occur to identify the root cause, potential leadership concerns, and enhancement opportunities for the team member experience

• Keep a close eye on team member retention and turnover trends, make speedy recommendations for actions to improve

• Manage the involuntary termination process and ensuring the appropriate approval process is followed

• Prepare and finalize severance agreements when appropriate   

Accommodation & Leave Administration

• Lead an accommodation process that is ADA compliant and ensures the necessary documentation is received and tracked

• Lead the leave administration process, tracking and running point though the hand-off to the Payroll & Benefits team and/or 3rd party leave administrator

Team Member Support Resources

• Advocate and communicate team member support resources such as the OneCore Mindfulness Programming, the Employee Assistance Program, Calm and 3rd party mindfulness coach

• Promote and participate in the company’s diversity council with a mission to connect, raise awareness on DEI matters, and implement change

Policy and Compliance

• Participate in the identification, research and execution of compliant employment policies and practices across federal and multiple state and local jurisdictions

• Assist with evolving and maintaining the company handbook 

• Help with the development and maintenance of guidelines to ensure consistent practices of policy interpretation 

Ideally, you'll have

• 7-10 years of experience with a resolution of employee relations matters and the administration of people programs or HR functions

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or Organizational Development 

• Impeccable regard for using discretion with confidential documents and information

• Sound judgment in prioritizing competing demands

• Adaptable communication skills to collaborate effectively across of diverse group of stakeholders 

• Passion for collaboration, rallying people, and influencing to effectively get things done

• Proactive approach and a keen attention to details

• Ability to work autonomously while keeping key stakeholders informed

 You'll crush it if you have 

• Experience leading ADA Accommodation and Leave of Absences processes in compliance with multiple local/state jurisdictions (specific experience with Washington and California laws are a plus)

• Experience working in student housing, single family rentals, or multi-family industries

• Proven ability to exercise flexibility and adapt in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

 Organizational Structure

• Reports to: Managing Director, People Operations

• Direct Reports: N/A 

Please note that job responsibilities, reporting lines, and duties outlined in this job description are subject to change to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Core Spaces celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, which creates a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are and the community they represent.

Final compensation within this range will depend on experience, skills, qualifications, and location.
Employees may be eligible for discretionary bonuses, depending on individual and organizational performance.

Salary : $110,000 - $120,000