Associate Director, Employee Relations & Compliance

Associate Director, Employee Relations & Compliance

Base pay range: $/yr - $/yr

BACKGROUND

The Position

The Associate Director, Employee Relations & Compliance, will play a pivotal role in managing employee relations functions and cultivating a positive, inclusive, and harmonious workplace environment. This collaborative leader will work across a team of employees and managers whose make-up Is diverse in experiences, identities, race, ethnicity, culture, and socioeconomics to address interpersonal workplace disputes, implement people management policies, analyze workplace trends, and ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations.

Additionally, the Associate Director, Employee Relations & Compliance will ensure that NYC Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) adheres to federal immigration regulations for the employment of individuals with work Visas. This individual will be involved in developing strategic immigration compliance frameworks, advising on sponsorship and employment eligibility issues, and maintaining robust internal systems to monitor and document compliance.

This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong background in employee relations, conflict resolution, immigration law, policy development, stakeholder management and the ability to provide guidance on best practices for compliance with employment laws, while also considering cultural norms and practices for the organization.

• Provide guidance to managers/supervisors to proactively address the root causes of people management issues and offer resolution strategies for effective outcomes.
• Assess and address employee relations issues using a DEIB-informed lens, including actively identifying and interrupting bias, microaggressions, and ensuring employee relations decisions account for cultural norms, power dynamics, and lived experience while maintaining organizational standards.
• Support Managers/Supervisors with conflict resolution, providing constructive feedback, and the interpretation of people management policies.
• Develop and deliver training programs on topics related to employee relations best practices, addressing misconduct/poor performance, supporting conflict resolution, facilitating staff mediation, and managing employee grievances.
• Directs and manages employment termination and off-boarding tasks to ensure structured and compliant processes.
• Aid in the optimization and utilization of people management tools such as Collaborative Improvement Plans (CIP) and Disciplinary Action Forms (DAF).
• Stay abreast of employment related laws and legal affairs and lead any implementation efforts.
• Conduct initial interviews and gather information regarding alleged misconduct such as harassment/discrimination allegations, work complaints, personnel conflicts, or other concerns; and ensures that the process is thorough and unbiased.
• Ensure CJA policies and procedures are compliant with labor laws and regulations.
• Provide strategic recommendations to resolve complex employee relations issues and mitigate potential legal risks.
• Performs other related employee relations duties as assigned.

• Serve as the agency's subject matter expert on immigration compliance including I-9, E-Verify, H-1B, J-1, F-1, O-1, TN, PERM, I-140, I-485, and other visa regulations.
• Provide guidance to leadership on sponsorship options, onboarding of foreign nationals, and employment eligibility verification.
• Oversee systems and processes for tracking visa expirations, extensions, and compliance requirements.
• Oversee and maintain I-9 compliance programs, ensuring timely completion, proper retention, and readiness for audit.
• Track and communicate regulatory updates from DHS, DOL, ICE, USCIS, DOJ, and other relevant bodies.
• Partner with external immigration counsel to prepare and manage petitions, extensions, and PERM applications.
• Lead internal I-9 and immigration file audits; identify and correct discrepancies to minimize risk exposure.
• Coordinate with Payroll and Legal on implications of employment status changes, terminations, and tax changes.
• Support foreign national employees with immigration-related onboarding, renewal reminders, and…