Employee Relations Manager

OPENTEXT - THE INFORMATION COMPANY

OpenText is a global leader in information management, where innovation, creativity, and collaboration are the key components of our corporate culture. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to partner with the most highly regarded companies in the world, tackle complex issues, and contribute to projects that shape the future of digital transformation.

AI-First. Future-Driven. Human-Centered.

At OpenText, AI is at the heart of everything we do-powering innovation, transforming work, and empowering digital knowledge workers. We're hiring talent that AI can't replace to help us shape the future of information management. Join us.

Your Impact

As an Employee Relations Manager, you will be a key member of the OpenText Global Employee Relations team and our newly developed Employee Relations Centre of Excellence supporting India, APJ and MEA.

You will serve as a trusted Employee Relations partner to leaders, HR teams and employees, bringing expertise and sound judgement to complex matters spanning performance management, employee grievances and investigations, offboarding, policy interpretation, leave management, HR legal matters, compliance and workplace accommodation.

With deep knowledge of India employment law and practices, you will help leaders navigate sensitive employee situations objectively, consistently and with the right balance of employee experience, business needs and risk management.

This is an office-based role, five days a week, preferably based in Bangalore, with Hyderabad also considered.

What the Role Offers

• Coach and advise leaders on performance management cases, helping them deliver objective, constructive feedback while ensuring appropriate documentation.
• Lead complex workplace investigations independently, including establishing investigation teams, gathering relevant facts, interviewing key witnesses, reviewing comparable cases and recommending appropriate courses of action.
• Serve as a member of the PoSH team, supporting the appropriate handling of sensitive workplace matters.
• Manage complex and emotionally charged employee relations situations with composure, neutrality and objectivity.
• Review proposed disciplinary actions and terminations to ensure appropriate processes have been followed and potential risks have been identified and mitigated.
• Mediate workplace issues and employee disputes to help minimise conflict and support effective working relationships.
• Oversee complex leave situations in partnership with HR Shared Services, Benefits and other relevant stakeholders, including effective communication and return-to-work processes.
• Partner with Legal, HR stakeholders and business leaders to assess HR legal matters, analyse facts and recommend appropriate courses of action.
• Interpret and apply relevant labour and employment laws across India and other APAC and MEA countries.
• Help leaders diagnose and resolve complex employee matters through effective questioning, active listening and thoughtful risk assessment.
• Apply OpenText policies, procedures and best practices consistently while advising leaders and helping reduce organisational risk.
• Collaborate with internal legal counsel and, where appropriate and approved, external legal counsel.
• Deliver quarterly Employee Relations reporting, interpret trends and data, and recommend opportunities to positively influence the work environment.
• Build credibility and trusted relationships across the organisation while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality when handling sensitive employee and HR information.

What You Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent HR experience.
• 8+ years of HR experience, with significant depth and demonstrated expertise in Employee Relations.
• Strong knowledge and practical understanding of India employment law.
• Demonstrated experience conducting neutral, thorough and timely workplace investigations.
• Experience managing complex performance, grievance, disciplinary, termination and employee relations matters.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, supported by strong active listening and questioning capabilities.
• Proven ability to handle difficult, sensitive or volatile situations professionally and objectively.
• Strong mediation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Sound judgement and a demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive employee information.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with experience assessing complex situations and recommending practical solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and conflicting demands while delivering consistently under tight deadlines.
• Ability and desire to mentor, develop and coach others.
• A highly self-motivated approach with the ability to operate autonomously while keeping relevant stakeholders appropriately informed.
• Strong business acumen and experience working within a large, global organisation.
• A high degree of professional ethics, integrity and transparency.
• Experience supporting APAC and/or MEA countries in addition to India would be an advantage.

OpenText's efforts to build an inclusive work environment go beyond simply complying with applicable laws. Our Employment Equity and Diversity Policy provides direction on maintaining a working environment that is inclusive of everyone, regardless of culture, national origin, race, color, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, family status, age, veteran status, disability, religion, or other basis protected by applicable laws.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please contact us at [email protected]. Our proactive approach fosters collaboration, innovation, and personal growth, enriching OpenText's vibrant workplace.