Employee Relations Investigator

Work Arrangement: 

This role is based remotely but if you live within a 50-mile radius of Austin, Mountain View, or Warren, you are expected to report to that location three times a week, at a minimum 

Department Overview: 

As a member of the Employee Relations Investigations & Policy team, you will strive to be a role model for the Company by supporting the delivery of high-performance services with high integrity. The Employee Relations Investigations & Policy teams’ objectives are to deliver timely, best-in-class services in a collaborative way while also protecting GM’s high standards of HR, legal, ethical, and financial integrity. The team plays a key role in reinforcing GM’s Speak Up culture by providing safe, fair, and consistent handling of concerns raised through internal reporting channels. Each member of this team, including Managers, are expected to adhere to these standards: 

• Workplace and Product Safety 

• Compliance & Ethics 

• Strategic Partnering 

• Responsive & Accountable 

• Sound Judgement & High Trust 

• Real-time Transparency and Communication 

• Superior Work Product Quality 

• Strong Work Ethic 

• Controlling Costs 

• Company and Industry Knowledge 

• Teamwork 

Role Overview: 

The Employee Relations Investigator will perform impartial, fact-based investigations of suspected misconduct and policy violations including, but not limited to, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, bullying, and violations of our Winning with Integrity policy. They will own the end-to-end investigation process, from investigation planning through closure (fact-finding, analysis, and report writing). The Investigator will work closely with HR Policy and the Compliance & Special Investigations leadership on investigative efforts, and they will partner with HR, Labor Relations, Legal, and other stakeholders to drive timely, fair, consistent, and balanced outcomes that align with GM values, policies, and applicable laws. 

Responsibilities:  

• Develop investigative plans including scope, participant lists, and timelines; execute and document work in accordance with professional standards and GM investigation protocols. 

• Communicate investigation results clearly and timely to all constituencies (e.g., HR, leaders, Legal, and other stakeholders). 

• Effectively collaborate cross-functionally with HR, Labor Relations, Legal, Audit, Security, Operations, and other constituencies. 

• Partner with the HR Policy team on post investigation strategies such as ensuring equity in employment actions resulting from the investigation and identifying proactive training efforts to mitigate future risk. 

• Draft clear, concise, high quality investigation reports that synthesize facts, policy standards, analysis, and the conclusion of the case. 

• Demonstrate strong case management discipline, including accurate and timely documentation, appropriate evidence handling and storage, adherence to record retention requirements, and consistent application of investigation quality standards. 

• Ensure confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained. 

Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of professional experience in Human Resources, or Corporate Global Investigations, Labor Relations, Legal, or Compliance, including a minimum of 3+ years conducting workplace investigations into discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other policy violations. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Criminal Justice, or a related field preferred, or equivalent experience. 

• Advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., PHR, SPHR, AWI) is a plus. 

• Experience performing investigations of alleged misconduct at the direction of Leadership, managing cases from assignment through fact-finding, analysis, and report completion while balancing urgency and quality. 

• Ability to identify and develop sources of information relative to the subject of the investigation. 

• Experience conducting effective informational and interrogatory interviews with reporters, subjects, and witnesses at all levels of the organization. 

• Experience evaluating systems of internal control and related procedures to identify potential gaps or process improvements related to people, policy, or culture. 

• Experience recommending changes in investigative process to improve efficiency/effectiveness while maintaining the highest quality standards. 

• Prior experience maintaining open, honest, and timely communication with personnel involved in investigations/projects. 

• Managerial courage demonstrated through effective, direct, and respectful communication. 

• Ability to collaborate, build relationships, gain credibility, and partner effectively with others up and down a matrixed organization. 

• Ability to investigate objectively. 

• Aptitude for critical thinking and succinctly presenting the best course of action. 

• Exceptional organizational, analytical, leadership and interpersonal skills , with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple complex investigations concurrently. 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting clear, concise investigation reports and summaries for HR, leaders, and Legal. 

• Demonstrated ability to handle high-risk, sensitive matters (e.g., offensive symbols/graffiti, conflict of interest, retaliation) with discretion, judgment, and composure. 

• Knowledge and understanding of automotive industry environment and business needs and experience working with represented/hourly workforces (UAW or similar union environment) are both a plus. 

Subject Matter Requirements: 

• Develop investigative plans including scope, participant lists, and timelines; execute and document work in accordance with professional standards and GM investigation protocols. 

• Communicate investigation results clearly and timely to all constituencies (e.g., HR, leaders, Legal, and other stakeholders). 

• Effectively collaborate cross functionally with HR, Labor Relations, Legal, Audit, Security, Operations, and other constituencies. 

• Partner with the HR Policy team on post investigation strategies such as ensuring equity in employment actions resulting from the investigation and identifying proactive training efforts to mitigate future risk. 

• Draft clear, concise, high quality investigation reports that synthesize facts, policy standards, analysis, and the conclusion of the case. 

• Demonstrate strong case management discipline, including accurate and timely documentation, appropriate evidence handling and storage, adherence to record retention requirements, and consistent application of investigation quality standards. 

Compensation: 

The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position, as well as geography of the selected candidate. 

• The salary range for this role is $105,600 to $135,700. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position. 

• Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance. 

• Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.