MEDC Corporate: Employee Relations & Performance Manager Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/michigan/jobs/newprint/5194598) Apply  MEDC Corporate: Employee Relations & Performance Manager Salary $95,987.00 - $119,984.00 Annually Location Lansing, MI Job Type Permanent Full Time Remote Employment Flexible/Hybrid Job Number 1804-26-MEDC004 Department MI Economic Development Corp Opening Date 01/21/2026 Closing Date 2/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern Bargaining Unit N/A + Description + Benefits + Questions Job Description NOTE: THIS IS A MEDC CORPORATE POSITION - THIS IS NOT A STATE OF MICHIGAN CLASSIFIED POSITION. At MEDC, we help Michiganders prosper by investing in our businesses and communities, enabling the growth of good jobs, and promoting Michigan’s reputation as a world-class business location and travel destination. By joining our team, you will play an integral role in directly supporting Michigan’s success, where you work, live and play. Come be part of the team as the Employee Relations & Performance Manager. Position Summary: This position serves as a strategic human resources partner responsible for advancing a consistent, fair, and high-performing workforce through leadership of performance management, employee and labor relations, and support of compensation administration. The role works closely with leadership, managers, and employees to strengthen accountability and ensure people practices align with organizational goals, policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable employment laws. The position provides both advisory and hands-on support across the employee lifecycle, guiding leaders through performance expectations, corrective action, investigations, and workforce decisions. The role supports employment law compliance through policy and employee handbook review, interpretation, and implementation, and provides guidance on compensation-related processes consistent with established procedures. The position also advises on labor contract interpretation and manages disciplinary matters and investigations. The role balances compliance, sound judgment, and empathy to support a respectful, legally sound, and results-driven workplace culture. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: + Manages performance management program(s) for both state and corporate staff; evaluates program effectiveness, develops enhancements to performance management program and advises managers and leadership on strategies to correct performance problems. + Serves as a primary resource for employee relations matters, including conducting investigations, managing disciplinary processes, resolving workplace issues, and providing guidance on corrective action in accordance with policy, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable laws. + Serves as a trusted advisor and coach to leaders on performance expectations, coaching strategies, documentation standards, and performance improvement plans. + Investigate employee complaints, including discriminatory harassment complaints; conduct fact-finding, and recommend actions for disputes, misconduct, or policy violations; ensures recommended actions are focused on organizational defensibility. + Partners with HR leadership to direct and execute employee discipline and discharge activities; collaborates with internal and external counsel to ensure compliance with legal, policy, and regulatory requirements. + Serve as agency labor relations specialist responsible for labor relations activities including, but not limited to, the interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements; representing MEDC at labor management meetings, serves as lead negotiator for MEDC secondary bargaining agreements. + Represents the MEDC’s interest in grievances, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, and civil rights hearings. + Drafts, reviews, and updates HR policies, procedures, and employee handbook content to ensure clarity, consistency, and legal compliance; recommends revisions in response to regulatory changes or organizational needs. + Serve as MEDC’s Drug & Alcohol Testing Coordinator (DATC), ensuring all policies and procedures are followed; responsible for reasonable suspicion and follow up testing. + Monitors and coordinates unemployment insurance activities, including tracking claims, responding to agency requests, preparing required documentation, and partnering with internal stakeholders to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant claim management. + Supports compensation administration activities by providing guidance on pay placement and performance-related pay decisions in alignment with established compensation philosophy and policies. + Partners with Learning & Organizational Development team to support talent development initiatives, including providing back-up support for talent planning; Collaborates with all People Services functional areas to ensure performance outcomes inform development plans, succession planning, and pay-related decisions. + Maintains accurate and thorough documentation related to employee relations and performance matters; identifies trends or risks and provides recommendations to HR leadership to improve practices and reduce organizational exposure. + Handles sensitive and confidential employee information with a high degree of discretion and professionalism, ensuring HR systems and records remain accurate and compliant with applicable laws and requirements. + Serves as an expert in and keeps abreast of a wide variety of complex Human Resource laws, Civil Service Rules/Regulations, policies and procedures, and best practices with regard to organizational policy administration. + Performs other related duties as assigned. View the full position description HERE (https://MCSC.state.mi.us/AgencyPDFs/EE%20Relations%20Performance%20Manager%20PD.pdf) This position is based at MEDC Headquarters in Lansing and may work a hybrid schedule with a minimum of 2 days of in-office work required. Required Education and Experience Education: This position requires a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Business, Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Certification in SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR is preferred. Experience: 5 years of related experience. Progressive experience in human resources with a strong focus on performance management and manager coaching. Demonstrated experience developing or revising performance management processes or frameworks. Strong knowledge of employment law considerations related to performance, discipline, and documentation. Experience in a public sector, quasi-public, or highly regulated environment is preferred. Additional Requirements and Information For more information on MEDC and other career opportunities, please visit www.michiganbusiness.org/careers . Discover Pure Michigan at www.michigan.org . Accommodations If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact theADA coordinator (https://www.michigan.gov/ose/-/media/Project/Websites/ose/Contact/RACs.pdf) for the agency that posted this position vacancy. State employment also offers rewarding careers where you can help Michiganders enjoy better lives. Many State of Michigan jobs offer alternate work schedules and remote-work options that can help give the flexibility you need. The State of Michigan has been recognized as a leading U.S. employer by new graduates from 2021-2023 and a best large U.S. and state employer. Recognized on the international stage for fostering positive employee engagement, the State of Michigan is a past recipient of a North America Government Agency Employees Engagement Award. More details on benefits for our new hires are below: Rewarding Work:State of Michigan jobs allow you to serve Michiganders in many different ways depending on your interests and skills. Help preserve and protect our environment and the public health; enforce state laws and regulations; advocate for children, families, and victims of discrimination; support our state’s military and veterans; rebuild our state’s infrastructure; or support other state agencies through our fiscal, IT, and HR systems. Insurance Benefits:The State of Michigan offers health, mental health, dental, and vision insurance to eligible career employees, their spouses, and their children. The state also covers a life-insurance benefit of two times employees’ annual salary (up to $200,000). The state also offers long-term-disability insurance that can provide continuing benefits if an injury or illness prevents employees from working. More information is available at www.mi.gov/employeebenefits. Retirement Programs:The State of Michigan offers 401(k) and 457 plans for new hires to save for retirement. The state will automatically contribute an amount equal to 4% of your pay to a 401(k) account. The state will also match up to 5% of your pay if you contribute to your 401(k) account. Your contributions vest immediately, and the state’s contributions fully vest after just 4 years. More information is available athttp://www.mi.gov/orsstatedc. Vacation and Sick Leave:Eligible full-time employees receive between15 and 35 personal daysand 13 sick daysper year that may be rolled over to the following year if not used. Eligible employees also receive an additional day each year for community service or school functions. Paid Parental Leave:Eligible employees can take 12 weeks of paid leaveimmediately after a birth or adoption to allow needed time together at home with a new child. Paid Holidays:Eligible employees receive 13 or 14 paid holidays each year including New Year’s Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve and Day. Bonus Programs:Eligible employees with five years of service also receive annual longevity bonuses that grow as seniority increases. Some positions also may qualify for recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses or other special pay premiums. Military Pay Differential:Employees in the guard or reserves may also qualify for supplemental pay benefits if miliary pay during qualifying duty is less than normal state pay. Prior military service may also allow seniority credits to accelerate eligibility for longevity bonuses and additional personal leave accrual. Tax-Advantaged Programs:In addition to 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts, the state also offers flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), and qualified transportation fringe benefit (QTFB) programs that can help you save money by reducing your taxable income. Student Loan Forgiveness:Working for the State of Michigan may allow you to participate in programs that forgive the balance of qualifying student loans. Please view Student Loan Information (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation) to help determine if you could qualify is available from the U.S. Department of Education. Tuition Reduction:Some colleges and universities offer savings to eligible employees and family members to further their education while working for the State of Michigan. Professional Development: To help develop your career, programs are available to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 a year for education and training for college course credits and non-degree programs. Alternative and Remote Work Schedules:Depending on the nature of their duties, many state jobs offer flexible work schedules and remote or hybrid telecommuting options that can help obtain the work-life balance that you seek. Great Lakes and Great Times:Michigan boasts four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20 million acres of forests, 100 state and national parks and recreation areas, 1,300 miles of bike trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, the second-most ski areas in the nation, 650 public golf courses, 600 campgrounds, and an international dark-sky park—just for starters. Our cities offer concerts and cultural events, storied sports teams, education hubs, vibrant downtowns, one-of-a-kind craft beverages, and renowned restaurants for every appetite. From urban centers to beach towns to the great outdoors, the opportunities are endless. With your state salary and benefits and Michigan’s affordable cost of living, you can explore all that Michigan has to offer. Updated: 2/28/24 01 Do you possess a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Business, Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field? + Yes + No 02 Do you possess at least five years of HR related experience? + Yes + No 03 Are you currently or have you previously been employed by state or federal HR office or county or local government HR office? + Yes + No 04 Which option best describes your experience handling employee and/or labor relations matters (e.g., investigations, corrective action, grievances, or disciplinary processes)? + No direct experience + Limited exposure as a participant or support role + Regularly supported employee relations matters under supervision + Independently managed employee and/or labor relations cases + Led or served as subject matter expert for employee and/or labor relations 05 Which option best describes your experience with administering, developing, or revising employee performance management processes? + No experience + Participated as a user or reviewer of performance processes + Supported performance evaluations and documentation + Led implementation or revisions of performance management processes + Designed and owned organization-wide performance management frameworks 06 Which option best describes your experience interpreting and applying employment laws, HR policies, or collective bargaining agreements in day-to-day HR decision-making? + No experience + Basic awareness with limited application + Applied policies or laws with guidance + Regularly interpreted and applied policies, laws, or agreements independently + Served as a primary advisor or compliance resource for leaders 07 Which option best describes your experience supporting compensation administration activities (e.g., pay placement, equity reviews, merit increases, or performance-related pay decisions)? + No experience + Exposure only (e.g., data entry or transactional support) + Provided guidance or analysis under supervision + Regularly supported compensation decisions and administration + Served as a subject matter expert for compensation administration 08 Which option best describes your experience handling sensitive or confidential HR information? + Limited or no exposure + Handled confidential information with close supervision + Regularly handled confidential information in an HR role + Exercised independent judgment and discretion in sensitive HR matters + Served as a trusted advisor in high-risk or confidential situations 09 Briefly describe your experience navigating HR decisions in politically sensitive or publicly visible environments (e.g., board governance, legislative oversight, public scrutiny, or competing stakeholder interests). Required Question Employer State of Michigan Department MI Economic Development Corp Address MEDCHR@Michigan.org 300 N. Washington Square Lansing, Michigan, 48913 Website https://www.michiganbusiness.org/careers/ Apply Please verify your email addressVerify Email