Employee Relations Director

Join Archer, a high-growth technology company, as the Employee Relations Director. In this pivotal role, you will lead the employee relations function with a primary focus on workplace investigations. You will build and refine investigation frameworks, serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, HR partners, legal, and information security, and help shape a culture where employees feel safe raising concerns. You will also design and continuously improve Archer's workplace investigations program, drive learning from cases, own documentation and case closure, partner with legal and compliance, develop and govern ER policies, advise and coach leaders, build a culture of accountability, build metrics and reporting, and contribute as a cross-functional HR partner during periods of lower ER case volume.

• Lead and oversee Archer's employee relations function, focusing on workplace investigations and ensuring concerns are handled with rigor and fairness.
• Build and continuously improve Archer’s workplace investigations program, including intake channels, triage criteria, risk rating models, and standard work for case handling.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, HR partners, legal, and information security, and help shape a culture where employees feel safe raising concerns.
• Proficiency with HRIS and case management tools
• Experience drafting legally defensible investigation reports
• Executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders
• Deep knowledge of federal and California employment law, knowledge of international employment law is a plus
• High degree of emotional intelligence, integrity, discretion, and confidentiality
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Broad HR generalist foundation, with experience supporting performance management, onboarding/offboarding, leave administration, and employment lifecycle matters — sufficient to flex into generalist coverage when ER caseload allows
• Master’s degree (MBA, MHRM) or Juris Doctor (JD) preferred
• Experience in high-growth technology, aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated fast-paced environments is strongly preferred
• Experience collaborating with external employment counsel
• Exceptional investigative judgment and objectivity
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Employment Law, or a related field
• Experience responding to agency charges (EEOC, DFEH/CRD)
• Experience designing and operationalizing a workplace investigations program, including case intake, triage, documentation standards, and metrics, preferably in a high‑growth or regulated environment
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations and workplace investigations
• Demonstrated experience independently conducting and leading complex, high-risk, and sensitive confidential investigations (harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, workplace violence)
• Professional certification: SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience building or scaling an ER function in a high-growth startup or scale-up environment
• Experience in a union or labor relations environment, including collective bargaining agreement administration
• Background in building or scaling an ER function from the ground up in a high-growth startup or scale-up environment
• Experience serving as a Title IX Coordinator or conducting Title IX investigations
• Experience developing cross-program ER processes, investigation playbooks, and manager guidance materials
• JD or prior experience as an employment law attorney
• Experience leading cross‑functional investigations involving Legal, Information Security, Compliance, Safety, or Security teams, with clear governance over roles, data handling, and escalation
• Experience implementing or optimizing investigation case management systems and reporting dashboards that provide actionable insights to senior leadership