Employee Relations Advisor

Dr. Martens is more than a brand - it's a global icon with over 60 years of attitude, heritage, and cultural impact. We're a thriving, values-driven business powered by diverse thinkers, bold doers, and people who bring their whole selves to work. If you're ready to make your mark, you're in the right place.

At DM, our values guide everything we do: Be Yourself, Act Courageously, Show You Care. They're not just words - they're how we turn passion into progress.

WHERE YOU CONTRIBUTE

The Employee Relations Advisor plays a critical role in creating a fair, consistent and high performing workplace by providing expert employee relations support across the Americas region. The role ensures that people practices are compliant, commercially sound and aligned with our values, while enabling leaders to manage risk, performance and change confidently.

Acting as a trusted advisor to managers and HR colleagues, this role supports a positive employee experience through effective case management, pragmatic guidance and early intervention. The Employee Relations Advisor contributes to organizational effectiveness by reducing risk, improving manager capability, and supporting employee engagement and retention during periods of change.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES

Employee Relations Case Management

• Lead and manage employee relations cases end-to-end-, including investigations, disciplinary action, grievances, performance management, performance improvement, disciplinary processes, attendance and conduct matters.
• Ensure cases are handled fairly, consistently and in line with policy, legislation and best practice.
• Maintain accurate, confidential documentation and case records.

Manager Advisory & Capability Building

• Act as a trusted advisor to managers, providing clear guidance on employee relations processes, decision-making and effective people conversations.
• Coach managers to build confidence and capability in handling employee issues appropriately and proactively.
• Coach and guide managers on People fundamentals, including documentation standards, policy interpretation effective people conversations.
• Reinforce consistent processes, procedures, resources and expectations for people leadership as well as employees across retail and corporate environments.

Legal Compliance & Risk Management

• Apply strong working knowledge of employment law across the Americas, ensuring compliance and mitigating legal and reputational risk.
• Identify emerging risks, trends, or systemic issues and escalate appropriately.

Policy Application & Continuous Improvement

• Support consistent application of People policies across markets, balancing standardization with local legal requirements.
• Contribute to the review and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, processes and guidance.

Change & Organizational Support

• Provide employee relations support for organizational change activity, including restructures, consultations and role changes.
• Partner with People Partners and leaders to ensure employee experience is managed professionally and respectfully during change.
• Support corporate offboarding by coordinating equipment returns, conducting exit interviews, coordinating final paycheck processing, and exit survey review.

Insight, Data & Reporting

• Track and analyze employee relations activity, identifying trends, root causes and improvement opportunities.
• Provide insights that inform preventative actions, manager training and broader People priorities.
• Manage and track employee offboarding and leaver forms & data (exit surveys).

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with People Partners, Legal, Payroll and other People teams to deliver a consistent, high quality employee experience.

KEY SKILLS & CAPABILITIES

• Strong expertise in employee relations case management, including complex and high-risk scenarios.
• Solid knowledge of employment law and employee relations practices across the Americas region.
• Ability to balance commercial pragmatism with fairness, consistency and employee experience.
• Skilled at influencing and advising managers with varying levels of people management capability.
• High level of judgement, discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive matters.
• Clear, confident communicator with the ability to explain complex issues in a practical way.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical mindset, able to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities from case data.
• Collaborative approach, working effectively across HR, Legal and the wider business.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the confidence to operate in periods of organisational change.

We live and breathe Rebellious Self Expression at Dr. Martens, and there are 3 core values at the heart of it. They never stand alone, but work together as a balancing act of rights and responsibilities to support how we work together at DMs.

BE YOURSELF. ACT COURAGEOUSLY. SHOW YOU CARE.

At DM your technical capability will go hand in hand with the below:

• Great relationship management that delivers results through effective teamwork
• You’ll be a proud custodian to our DM’s culture, embodying what we stand for and encouraging others to do the same
• You’ll help build a highly engaged team – ensuring a collaborative culture and providing guidance & support to other team members
• You will take ownership for your own development, proactively seeking out feedback to build self-awareness
• You will bring the outside-in; you’ll share best practice across the team/business and encourage ideas sharing as well as collaborative problem solving
• You’ll lead the way and role model on all things DE&I & wellbeing

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Welcome to the brand pair of Docs
• Employee discount of 65% off footwear and 50% on accessories
• Early Friday finish in the summertime
• Amazing Portland based office & rooftop
• Hybrid work schedule
• Affordable & comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision packages
• Our Employee Assistance Program – for when times might get tough
• 401(k) Pre-Tax and Roth Retirement savings plans
• DM Foundation, supporting and empowering our communities around the world
• Paid volunteer hours

READY TO FILL YOUR BOOTS?

If you're excited to own your impact, shape the future of an iconic brand, and grow your career in a place that champions individuality - we'd love to hear from you.

We strive to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. Should you require an accommodation, please contact our Talent Acquisition team, by email at jobs@drmartens.com and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

At Dr. Martens, we are committed to creating an environment in which we can all be our best and bring our authentic selves to work. We encourage applications, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, veteran status, or disability. Diverse and inclusive teams have a positive impact on our brand; helping us to authentically speak to our consumers.

We strive to develop a business where our people can thrive and feel empowered to express themselves. Because we believe everyone should feel supported and included, whatever their role in the Dr. Martens community.