Human Resources Manager- Employee Relations & Leave Management

Human Resources Manager - Employee Relations & Leave Management

District Council of Madison Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Madison, WI

Description

Full-time Exempt | 40 hrs./week | $75,000 - $80,000 annually | Full-Time Benefits | Reports To: Sr. Human Resources Director | Location: Madison/Dane County (multi-site)

If you feel fulfilled by giving back to our community, you can feel confident that St. Vincent de Paul is a great place to work! We are an organization dedicated to serving our community, and we are looking for a candidate who is passionate about our core values. Come work in a fun, rewarding, and compassionate environment!

Job Summary

In this full-time role, you will serve as the primary lead for employee relations, workplace investigations, and leave management across St. Vincent de Paul-Madison, while providing critical operational support to the Sr. Director of Human Resources. We are looking for a candidate who can assume day-to-day responsibility for complex HR matters while supporting the organization’s mission to serve neighbors in need with dignity and compassion.

The HR Manager works across a complex nonprofit organization that includes manufacturing-style processing operations, retail stores, food pantry services, pharmacy services, and administrative/program departments, applying consistent HR practices while adapting to the unique needs of each environment. This position requires strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to balance compassion with accountability in a mission-driven nonprofit setting.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the organization’s primary point of contact for employee relation matters
• Lead and independently manage workplace investigations, including concerns related to conduct, performance, policy violations, retaliation, and workplace conflict
• Ensure investigations are timely, fair, well-documented, and legally compliant
• Advise managers on corrective action, documentation, performance management, and progressive discipline
• Escalate high risk or sensitive matters and provide formal recommendations to the Sr. HR Director
• Prepare documentation, summaries, and recommendations for senior-level review
• Maintain confidentiality, sound judgment, and professionalism in all employee relation matters
• Independently administer FMLA, WFMLA, ADA accommodations, and other statutory or organizational leaves
• Manage ADA interactive process and assess medical documentation and accommodation feasibility
• Track leave usage and ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational requirements
• Interpret and apply federal and Wisconsin employment laws to complex employee situations
• Provide guidance to managers and employees regarding leave rights, responsibilities, and processes
• Identify leave-related risks and recommend corrective or preventive actions
• Manage day-to-day HR operational decisions within approved policy and authority
• Support implementation, interpretation, and enforcement of HR policies and procedures
• Ensure consistent application of policies across departments and locations
• Assist with organizational risk mitigation related to attendance, performance, and compliance
• Partner with payroll and leadership to ensure accurate HR-related communication and documentation
• Act as the Senior HR Director’s designee on assigned HR matters
• Collaborate closely with the Sr. HR Director to ensure alignment, consistency, and continuity of HR practices
• Serve as a trusted HR resource to managers while maintaining appropriate boundaries and escalation protocols
• Collaborate in implementing effective strategies for attracting, sourcing, recruiting, and evaluating qualified job candidates
• Support recruiting efforts of store and department managers while maintaining a high standard for talent
• Partner with department and store managers to implement standardized onboarding and orientation programs that give new employees a sense of belonging and purpose, assimilate them into the community quickly, and set them up for long-term success with the organization.
• Ensure new employees are assimilated effectively, feel a sense of belonging, and are positioned for long-term success
• Assist in coordinating activities designed to promote and maintain a high level of employee morale, engagement and retention.
• In collaboration with the Sr. HR Director, develop and implement programs, practices, and policies that foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
• Support an organizational culture grounded in respect, dignity, accountability, inclusion, and belonging
• Participate in teamwork and collaboration by listening, fostering dialogue, and facilitating joint problem solving
• Demonstrate cultural competence and inclusive practices across all interactions
• Oversee the employee Safeguarding Policy ensuring training enrollment, background checks, and ongoing trainings
• Adhere to the Safeguarding Policy by ensuring timely completion of mandatory training, staying updated on relevant training modules, and undergoing the necessary background checks to maintain compliance.
• Maintain working knowledge of applicable human resources laws and regulations
• Establish themselves as a positive resource by maintaining a regular presence at each of the SVdP locations
• Build strong working relationships with employees, managers, and leaders across diverse operational environments
• Adapt HR practices to varied work settings including processing/manufacturing, retail, food pantry, pharmacy, and administrative departments

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.

What You’ll Love!

• Working in a mission driven environment where your efforts make a difference
• Being part of a diverse community within our organization and Dane County
• Full-time benefits: health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, voluntary long/short-term disability and a generous paid time off program

Daily assignments will rotate based on staffing and operational needs. An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Requirements

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR or SPHR certification
• Experience supervising HR staff or serving as a lead HR partner
• Familiarity with trauma-informed workplace practices, particularly in human services or community-based organizations
• Experience working in mission-driven or faith-based nonprofit organizations while maintaining inclusive, legally compliant HR practices
• Experience developing or delivering manager training on employee relations, documentation, and leave processes
• Experience working in mission-driven, charitable, or community-focused organizations is highly desirable
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret and communicate data
• Experience with HR software implementation
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Ability to travel to multiple sites on a regular basis. Overnight travel on rare occasions
• Understanding of the role of a nonprofit board
• An understanding of and comfort level with working in a faith-based organization rooted in Catholic principles and values
• Ability to work well with a culturally and socially diverse population as represented by the organization’s employees and clients

FULL-TIME JOB BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options

• Employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance

• Voluntary short-term disability and voluntary life insurance coverage available

• 403(b) retirement plan and an employer-sponsored SEP-IRA

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and sick time off leave policies

Salary Description

$75,000 - $80,000 annually