Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Senior Employee Relations Specialist

MBK Real Estate (MBK) is an industry leader in real estate operations and development. Through its subsidiaries, MBK Rental Living, MBK Industrial Properties and MBK Senior Living, MBK Real Estate is renowned for building award-winning new home and apartment communities, state-of-art distribution facilities and for its reputation in providing exceptional high standards of service throughout its senior living communities.

MBK is a privately held real estate development firm with roots in the business dating back to 1996. MBK's extensive activities through its operating divisions, along with the size and scale of our development and building activities represent the continuation and commitment to American enterprise.

Job Description

MBK Real Estate is hiring a Senior Employee Relations Specialist to join our team at our Home Office in Irvine, CA

This role will be hybrid with 3 days in office and 2 days remote.

Job Summary:

The Senior Employee Relations Specialist is a neutral and impartial partner responsible for managing and resolving complex employee relations (ER) matters within the corporate office and providing critical support for field operations, particularly in cases of conflict of interest or absence of the Regional People & Culture Manager (PCM). The Senior Employee Relations Specialist advises leaders and employees on performance management (e.g., corrective actions, PIPs), conflict resolution, and conducts internal investigations, including those stemming from the hotline. This role is integral to the People & Culture (P&C) team, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and company policies, while upholding MBK's core values.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Serve as the main point of contact for all corporate office ER matters and partner with Regional People & Culture Managers on select field ER matters, providing guidance and support to employees, P&C, and the management team.
• Develop and implement ER strategies, policies, and procedures that align with the company's values and goals, and continually assess processes to make improvements.
• Conduct and manage comprehensive workplace investigations on a multitude of ER issues, ensuring a thorough, impartial, and timely process, including developing strategic interview plans, fact-finding, analyzing evidence, determining whether allegations are substantiated, interviewing witnesses and involved parties, producing clear, concise, and legally defensive documentation and reports, and facilitating an optimal resolution for the parties involved through recommended corrective and/or disciplinary actions.
• Provide expert, human-centered strategic guidance to leaders on sensitive and high-risk ER issues, including performance improvement plans (PIPs), corrective actions, involuntary exits, and conflict mediation, thoughtfully tailoring solutions situationally to best safeguard company interests and ensure legal defensibility, while upholding MBK's values and culture.
• Drive fair and equitable application of policies in ER matters and guide leaders to enforce policies and practices consistently, ethically reinforcing MBK's values and maintaining legal compliance.
• Serve as a trusted sounding board and escalation point for workplace concerns, manager-employee dynamics, and early signals of potentially systemic people issues.
• Analyze ER data to identify trends and make recommendations for improvements.
• Deliver ER-related training and capability-building initiatives on compliance, performance management, and organizational values.
• Collaborate closely with P&C Leadership, Legal Counsel and managers on complex cases, performance plans, and transition strategies to mitigate organizational risk.
• Stay up-to-date on employment laws and regulations to ensure compliance and proactively identify potential risks.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information in a professional and discreet manner.
• Perform other job duties or special projects as assigned or requested.

Education and Licenses/Certifications Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business Administration, or related field or the equivalent combination of education and work experience, preferred.
• PHR, SHRM-CP, or other related specialized professional certification preferred.

Experience Requirements (in years):

• 4+ years of prior work experience functioning in a similar role managing investigations and corrective actions, with a combination of corporate and multi-site or field experience.
• Experience with California and multi-state compliance.

Required Competencies:

• Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and proven ability to exercise discretion when overseeing sensitive employee information and ER matters.
• Demonstrated ability in planning, conducting, and documenting impartial and thorough internal investigations of varying levels of complexity, from initial intake to final resolution.
• Adept at conflict resolution and mediation, with proven ability to view situations from all perspectives and work creatively to resolve employment concerns fairly.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.), with HRIS, preferably Workday, and standard office equipment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to speak, write and read English, articulate complex HR concepts clearly and professionally to diverse audiences, and present to small groups.
• Exceptional problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills with the proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing deadlines.
• Must possess the ability to make sound, independent decisions under pressure, remain calm during conflict, and effectively de-escalate stressful situations.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• 25% travel required. Must be able and willing to travel to assigned communities for investigations and training, and ability to support a flexible schedule as needed.
• Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday, in the corporate office or a community, and sit and work at a computer for prolonged periods.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, as necessary.

Salary: $120,000-$130,000 + Bonus

We offer a rich benefits package comprising of the following: competitive salaries with opportunities for growth; 401(k) retirement plan with up to 4% employer matching; comprehensive industry leading medical, dental and vision insurance; company-provided life, disability and AD&D insurance; flexible spending accounts, generous paid time off including vacation and sick time, holidays, and bereavement leave; and a variety of programs including leadership development, training, and personal coaching; education loan assistance and scholarships; daily living, financial and legal services; childcare and eldercare assistance; employee discounts; and health and wellness resources that include virtual yoga, mindfulness, and financial readiness for employees and their family members.

If you are ready to meet the challenges of this critical role, we want to hear from you

MBK is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or other protected reason. Our company is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for qualifying individuals in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact

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Regulatory Disclosures for Senior Living Communities with Medicaid Residents: An "Excluded Party" is a person that the federal or state government found not eligible to provide care and services in a facility that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding. If employed at one of our senior living communities that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding, team members must not be considered an "Excluded Party" as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, any state Medicaid Programs, and any additional federal and state government contract programs. If, as a team member, you learn that you are an Excluded Party at any time, you must present your Excluded Party notice letter to your supervisor immediately.

Other Regulatory Requirements: If employed at one of our senior living communities, team members must continually comply with certain laws and regulations that impact the company, including, but not limited to, as applicable, state licensing regulations, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Resident Rights as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and any other federal or state laws relating to team members' professional licenses.

HIPAA Disclosure:

All Team Members prior to commencing employment and once employed must not be considered an "Excluded Party" as defined by the Medicare and state Medicaid Programs as well as other federal and state government contract programs. If as an associate you learn you are an Excluded Party, you must present your Excluded Party notice letter to your supervisor immediately. An Excluded Party is a person that the federal or state government found not eligible to provide care and services in a Community that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding. In addition, at all times, during your employment, all associates must be in compliance with certain laws and regulations that affect the company, including but not limited to Resident Rights, HIPAA, State licensing regulations, and those laws relating you an associates' professional license.