What are the responsibilities and job description for the Employee Relations Manager (Hybrid) position at Wake County?
What You'll Be Doing
The Employee Relations Manager provides guidance, coaching, training, and investigation services to ensure the County’s compliance with HR policies and procedures, legal requirements, and state and federal laws. The role also provides technical guidance regarding employment law and best practices. These areas include addressing employee complaints, interpreting policy, advocating for personnel best practices, and ensuring thoughtful application of corrective action procedures and performance improvement initiatives. The Employee Relations Manager also provides objective consultation services to promote productive and positive relationships between employees at all levels of the organization.
Responsibilities Include
Wake County’s Human Resources Department partners closely with county leadership to deliver innovative, results-driven, and customer-focused HR programs and services. With a team of about 70 dedicated professionals, we provide a wide range of support including Benefits and Employee Wellness, Recruitment, Rewards and Recognition, Employee Relations, Training, and more.
Our department is consistently recognized for excellence in wellness and talent management. Through forward-thinking strategies that serve as industry models, we've helped position Wake County as a national leader in public sector HR. Honors such as the Healthiest Employer Hall of Fame and the Agency Award for Excellence reflect our commitment to creating a thriving workplace.
We invite you to explore our competitive benefits package , which includes a 5% 401(k) contribution and free access to the Employee Health Center. Join us in building a stronger, healthier, and more innovative Wake County.
Required
The Basics (Required Education and Experience)
Location: WCOB Raleigh, NC 27602 USA
Employment Type: Regular
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Hiring Range: 130,000.00 - 150,000.00
Market Range: 99,333.00 - 178,793.00
Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.
Posting Closing Date: 7:00 pm on 5/20/2026
What Makes Wake Great Equal Opportunity Statement Background Check Statement Emergency Service Worker Statement
What Makes Wake Great
Consistently ranked high among the best places to live and work in America, Wake County is home to NC State University, Research Triangle Park, and 2006 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. In addition to being Wake County’s seat of government, Raleigh is also the center of state government, with the Capitol Building, legislature and many state government offices located in Raleigh. With an estimated population of just over 1.2 million residents, Wake County is North Carolina’s most populous county. Entertainment, recreation, and art and culture abound with the North Carolina Museum of Art, JC Raulston Arboretum, and the Neuse River Trail all in the heart of Wake County. Wake County uses the Council/Manager form of government. Currently, the seven members of the Board of Commissioners are elected by district on a partisan basis and serve four-year terms. In Fall 2026, two at-large seats will be added for nine total commissioners. The County is regarded as a fiscally responsible and well-managed government, enjoying a AAA bond rating. The County’s FY2026 General Fund budget is approximately $2.1 billion, and the County has over 5,100 full time employees. Wake County Government came in at #2 on the Healthiest Employers list for 2024. This year, US News & World Report ranked Raleigh #5 on its list of Best Places to Live, and the Milken Institute ranked Raleigh #1 on its 2025 list of Best-Performing Cities.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Wake County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
Background Check Statement
Position may require a background check that may include: criminal, credit, motor vehicle, education, and sexual offender registry or others based on job requirements. Unless required by state law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude you from consideration for employment. Wake County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Emergency Service Worker Statement
In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations should be expected. Employee may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during and after the emergency. Employee may also be required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.
The Employee Relations Manager provides guidance, coaching, training, and investigation services to ensure the County’s compliance with HR policies and procedures, legal requirements, and state and federal laws. The role also provides technical guidance regarding employment law and best practices. These areas include addressing employee complaints, interpreting policy, advocating for personnel best practices, and ensuring thoughtful application of corrective action procedures and performance improvement initiatives. The Employee Relations Manager also provides objective consultation services to promote productive and positive relationships between employees at all levels of the organization.
Responsibilities Include
- Managing all areas of employee relations administration to achieve organizational goals, improve staff skills, and increase self-sufficiency.
- Providing resources and guidance when complex workplace issues arise among employees or between employees and managers, especially at key points of the employee life cycle such as performance management, leave, job changes, and end of employment.
- Working closely with management and employees to improve working relationships, build morale, and increase retention by proactively recommending actions, training, and programs to enhance the employee experience.
- Conveying complex issues clearly and objectively and delivering difficult messages with professionalism and empathy.
- Modeling ethical behavior and maintaining confidentiality and integrity with all stakeholders.
- Aligning ER decisions with organizational values and goals and influencing leadership through data, insights, and solutions.
- Developing and facilitating training to educate the workforce on various employment law and leadership development topics.
- Assisting with the internal communication of HR initiatives.
- Leveraging the County’s Employee Assistance Program toward positive outcomes.
- Supervising, coaching, and developing Employee Relations staff.
Wake County’s Human Resources Department partners closely with county leadership to deliver innovative, results-driven, and customer-focused HR programs and services. With a team of about 70 dedicated professionals, we provide a wide range of support including Benefits and Employee Wellness, Recruitment, Rewards and Recognition, Employee Relations, Training, and more.
Our department is consistently recognized for excellence in wellness and talent management. Through forward-thinking strategies that serve as industry models, we've helped position Wake County as a national leader in public sector HR. Honors such as the Healthiest Employer Hall of Fame and the Agency Award for Excellence reflect our commitment to creating a thriving workplace.
We invite you to explore our competitive benefits package , which includes a 5% 401(k) contribution and free access to the Employee Health Center. Join us in building a stronger, healthier, and more innovative Wake County.
Required
The Basics (Required Education and Experience)
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field
- Five (5) years of experience in human resources administration directly related to the position’s functional area, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience
- Equivalent education and experience are accepted
- Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.
- Graduate degree in a related field
- PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or other relevant human resources certification
- Knowledge of Human Resources best practices within public and local government operations
- Work cooperatively with a diverse group of personnel on multiple projects and initiatives while meeting deadlines, ensuring follow-through and managing high-stress situations
- Navigate effectively in a political environment through partnership with legal counsel and the Board of Commissioners
- Leverage excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills to communicate directly, soundly and diplomatically with employees and leadership at all levels of the organization
- Balance human-centric soft skills with ER expertise, labor law knowledge, and data analytics to achieve organizational goals
- Facilitate constructive conversations to rebuild working relationships and to identify and address any underlying issues
- Conduct one-on-one and group conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation and investigation
- Uphold HR policies and practices, resolve complaints, diffuse high-tension situations and conflicts, and counsel on difficult topics
- Demonstrate initiative and independent judgment in dealing effectively with ambiguity, recognizing trends, identifying approaches and offering a variety of options and solutions to solve problems
- Work independently to analyze, develop and present analytical studies and provide constructive recommendations
- Provide effective coaching, mentoring and training to cultivate, support and encourage superior performance and achievement
Location: WCOB Raleigh, NC 27602 USA
Employment Type: Regular
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Hiring Range: 130,000.00 - 150,000.00
Market Range: 99,333.00 - 178,793.00
Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.
Posting Closing Date: 7:00 pm on 5/20/2026
What Makes Wake Great Equal Opportunity Statement Background Check Statement Emergency Service Worker Statement
What Makes Wake Great
Consistently ranked high among the best places to live and work in America, Wake County is home to NC State University, Research Triangle Park, and 2006 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. In addition to being Wake County’s seat of government, Raleigh is also the center of state government, with the Capitol Building, legislature and many state government offices located in Raleigh. With an estimated population of just over 1.2 million residents, Wake County is North Carolina’s most populous county. Entertainment, recreation, and art and culture abound with the North Carolina Museum of Art, JC Raulston Arboretum, and the Neuse River Trail all in the heart of Wake County. Wake County uses the Council/Manager form of government. Currently, the seven members of the Board of Commissioners are elected by district on a partisan basis and serve four-year terms. In Fall 2026, two at-large seats will be added for nine total commissioners. The County is regarded as a fiscally responsible and well-managed government, enjoying a AAA bond rating. The County’s FY2026 General Fund budget is approximately $2.1 billion, and the County has over 5,100 full time employees. Wake County Government came in at #2 on the Healthiest Employers list for 2024. This year, US News & World Report ranked Raleigh #5 on its list of Best Places to Live, and the Milken Institute ranked Raleigh #1 on its 2025 list of Best-Performing Cities.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Wake County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
Background Check Statement
Position may require a background check that may include: criminal, credit, motor vehicle, education, and sexual offender registry or others based on job requirements. Unless required by state law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude you from consideration for employment. Wake County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Emergency Service Worker Statement
In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations should be expected. Employee may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during and after the emergency. Employee may also be required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.