Principal HR Consultant

Job Description: • Serve as the primary advisor to people managers and organizational leaders on a wide range of employee relations matters, including performance concerns, interpersonal conflicts, accommodations, and corrective actions • Provide real-time guidance and problem-solving on employee issues, while scaffolding and equipping managers and leaders with long-term strategies for sustainable resolution • Partner with people managers to implement performance improvement plans and manage progressive discipline practices, balancing legal compliance alongside equitable and strengths-based practices • Investigate and support resolution of employee complaints, escalating appropriately and ensuring alignment with legal obligations and organizational values • Deliver “push in” conflict resolution support, including mediations and facilitated conversations • Lead and manage leave of absence cases, ensuring compliance with applicable federal and state laws, consistent application of organizational policies, and accurate payroll processing through clear direction and handoffs • Help organizations assess and mitigate risk by ensuring alignment with employment law, internal policies, and best practices • Provide clear, actionable recommendations and documentation that supports compliance and effective management • Collaborate with legal counsel and PositivelyHR leadership to address high-level, high-risk, or highly complex issues • Coach managers and leaders through sensitive personnel decisions, building their people management skill and confidence when navigating sensitive employee matters • Support the rollout of HR policies and people practices by helping managers apply them in practical, values-aligned ways • Facilitate manager learning opportunities–including office hours and workshops–on performance management topics such as goal-setting, leading performance conversations, etc. • Help managers and leaders build internal muscle for handling employee issues by modeling effective conversations, documentation, and strategic thinking • Partner closely with other members of the PositivelyHR team to ensure coordinated, high-quality service and support to each client • Maintain strong documentation of casework, interventions, and client communications in alignment with internal protocols • Contribute to the continuous improvement of internal tools and processes including workflows, templates, and guidance materials to necessary to support the scaling of high-quality PositivelyHR services • May support the development or refinement of related employee handbook policies • Stay current on employment law developments, HR best practices, and contribute to internal learning and development efforts Requirements: • 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including substantial experience advising managers on performance management, leaves (including state statutory leaves), and employee relations • In-depth knowledge of employment laws and HR compliance practices, particularly related to accommodations, FMLA, wage & hour, and disciplinary actions. • Must have experience navigating employment law in states with a complex legal landscape (i.e. CA, NY, etc.) • Proven ability to identify patterns or recurring needs to build or improve tools, templates, or frameworks enabling a consistent, impactful experience for positivelyhr clients and their managers. • Ability to deliver on this strategic, high-impact work while effectively balancing the day-to-day needs of clients and managers • Demonstrated success guiding and coaching supervisors through difficult personnel issues with a strengths-based, equity-focused lens • Strong judgment and the ability to assess and respond in real time during meetings, coaching conversations, or employee interactions while maintaining alignment with policies and organizational values • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate legal and technical guidance into practical, values-aligned advice • Experience in a high-volume, multi-stakeholder environment—such as an HR outsourcing firm, PEO/ASO service organization, consulting or professional services firm, or a headquarters/shared-services role in a large or matrixed, multi-site organization—providing ongoing support to a portfolio of clients, departments, or regions with diverse needs and priorities. • Preference for individuals with experience working in or with non-profit organizations • Skilled at balancing care for individual employees with the needs and responsibilities of the broader organization • High emotional intelligence and a calm, professional approach under pressure • Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and people-centered HR practices • Preference for individuals with a professional certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) • Must be located in the United States and willing to work eastern timezone hours to accommodate Positively Partners’ primarily east coast clients Benefits: • access to high-quality, inclusive health benefits • an opportunity for an end of year discretionary bonus calculated in equal measure based on individual, team, and organizational performance • supporting employee growth in our field, including providing training and support on an ongoing basis Apply tot his job