Employee Relations Director

About this role

Archer is an aerospace company based in San Jose, California building an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a mission to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. We are designing, manufacturing, and operating an all-electric aircraft that can carry four passengers while producing minimal noise.

Our sights are set high and our problems are hard, and we believe that diversity in the workplace is what makes us smarter, drives better insights, and will ultimately lift us all to success. We are dedicated to cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment that embraces our differences, and supports and celebrates all of our team members.

What You’ll Do:

Join our People team as Director, Employee Relations. In this pivotal role, you will lead Archer’s employee relations function with a primary focus on workplace investigations — ensuring every concern is handled with thoughtful rigor and fairness. You will build and refine investigation frameworks, serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, HR partners, legal, and information security, and help shape a culture where employees feel safe raising concerns and confident that they will be addressed equitably.

• Lead Workplace Investigations: Conduct thorough, impartial investigations into the full spectrum of workplace matters, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, policy violations, workplace violence, threats, theft, data security incidents, and conflicts of interest — interviewing parties, reviewing records, and producing legally defensible findings.

• Design Investigations Program: Build and continuously improve Archer’s workplace investigations program, including intake channels, triage criteria, risk rating models, and standard work for case handling across People, Legal, and partner functions.

• Drive Learning From Cases: Systematically capture lessons learned and trend data from investigations, translate them into policy updates, control improvements, and training content, and present findings to leadership on a regular cadence.

• Own Documentation & Case Closure: Prepare investigation reports, written findings, and disciplinary recommendations; ensure all cases close promptly with complete, accurate records.

• Partner with Legal & Compliance: Work closely with Legal partners on investigations, agency charges (EEOC/CRD), and regulatory matters; surface case trends to drive preventive action.

• Develop & Govern ER Policies: Build and maintain ER policies, investigation protocols, and case management practices.

• Advise & Coach Leaders: Serve as the go-to ER advisor for managers, HRBPs, and senior leaders on performance management, disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and sensitive people matters.

• Build a Culture of Accountability: Deliver manager training on performance management, policy compliance, conflict resolution, and investigations; identify systemic risk areas and recommend improvements.

• Build Metrics & Reporting: Track investigation SLAs, ER case trends and patterns; lead periodic reporting to Archer leadership.

• HR Generalist Partnership: During periods of lower ER case volume, contribute as a cross-functional HR partner — supporting performance management cycles, onboarding and offboarding processes, leave-of-absence administration, policy development, and other HR project workstreams as business needs require. This role is designed to flex with Archer’s growth stage and ensure the People team always has depth where it’s needed most.

What You Need:

• Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Employment Law, or a related field

• Master’s degree (MBA, MHRM) or Juris Doctor (JD) preferred

• Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations and workplace investigations

• Demonstrated experience independently conducting and leading complex, high-risk, and sensitive confidential investigations (harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, workplace violence)

• Experience in high-growth technology, aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated fast-paced environments is strongly preferred

• Broad HR generalist foundation, with experience supporting performance management, onboarding/offboarding, leave administration, and employment lifecycle matters — sufficient to flex into generalist coverage when ER caseload allows

• Technical Expertise:

• Deep knowledge of federal and California employment law, knowledge of international employment law is a plus

• Experience drafting legally defensible investigation reports

• Experience responding to agency charges (EEOC, DFEH/CRD)

• Experience collaborating with external employment counsel

• Proficiency with HRIS and case management tools

• Experience designing and operationalizing a workplace investigations program, including case intake, triage, documentation standards, and metrics, preferably in a high‑growth or regulated environment.

• Soft Skills:

• Exceptional investigative judgment and objectivity

• High degree of emotional intelligence, integrity, discretion, and confidentiality

• Executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Bonus Qualifications:

• Professional certification: SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent

• Demonstrated experience building or scaling an ER function in a high-growth startup or scale-up environment

• Experience in a union or labor relations environment, including collective bargaining agreement administration

• Experience serving as a Title IX Coordinator or conducting Title IX investigations

• Background in building or scaling an ER function from the ground up in a high-growth startup or scale-up environment

• Experience developing cross-program ER processes, investigation playbooks, and manager guidance materials

• JD or prior experience as an employment law attorney

• Experience leading cross‑functional investig

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