Employee Relations Business Partner (Foster City)

At MidPen, we build communities that change lives. Since 1970, we have been committed to our mission: to provide safe, affordable housing of high quality to those in need; establish stability and opportunity in the lives of residents; and foster diverse communities that allow people from all ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds to live in dignity, harmony, and mutual respect.

We develop affordable housing, provide professional property management for all our communities, and coordinate robust onsite support programs that help residents thrive. We are active in 12 Northern California counties and have earned recognition as one of the nation’s leading non-profit developers and stewards of affordable housing. Our current portfolio of more than 130 properties is home to 20,000 working families, seniors, and people with special needs. We take pride in delivering affordable housing solutions, and we invite you to join us on a journey toward social, economic, and racial equity.

MidPen is, once again, proud to be certified as an official Great Place to Work® in 2025.

• Act as the primary employee relations lead, managing investigations and advising employees and leaders on conflict resolution, performance management, corrective action, terminations, accommodations, and compliance with applicable laws.
• Partner with PBPs, business leaders, People Operations, legal counsel, and workers’ compensation providers to develop ER documentation, guide separations, and support return-to-work and modified duty programs.

• Partner with PBPs and business leaders to address ER matters, ensuring consistent practices across client groups, identifying trends, and driving targeted interventions related to team dynamics and culture.
• Serve as a trusted ER resource and coach to PBPs, providing guidance on complex or sensitive situations and aligning on ER strategy through ongoing collaboration and team forums.

• Proactively identify and mitigate employee relations risks, ensuring compliance with federal, California, and local employment laws; partner with legal counsel on complex or high‑risk matters.
• Maintain confidential ER documentation, stay current on employment law and HR best practices, and communicate key updates to People Team and business leaders.

• Analyze and report ER case data to identify trends and root causes, providing actionable insights and partnering with People Operations and L&D to recommend policy, training, and management improvements.

• Develop and execute proactive Employee Relations strategies aligned with MidPen’s people priorities, leveraging ER data and cross‑PBP insights to anticipate risk, identify systemic issues, and ensure a consistent, equitable employee experience across the organization.
• Partner with Learning & Development and PBPs to translate ER trends into targeted training and capability‑building programs that address root causes and strengthen manager and employee effectiveness (e.g., respectful workplace, performance management, conflict resolution).

• Review, update, interpret, and develop ER policies to ensure legal compliance, consistent application, and alignment with evolving organizational needs; perform other related duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the education, knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Deep knowledge of California employment law (FEHA, FMLA/CFRA, ADA, FLSA) and the ability to apply it in day‑to‑day employee relations matters.
• Proven experience conducting thorough, objective, and legally defensible investigations, including documentation and disciplinary outcomes.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex and high‑risk situations.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential matters with discretion, build trust across all organizational levels, and collaborate effectively with HR partners.
• Commitment to fair and equitable employee treatment, alignment with MidPen’s Mission and Values, and ability to travel to worksites as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5-7 years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations, including conducting workplace investigations.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex ER cases, including those involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct.
• 2+ years of workers compensation experience such as claim coordination, return-to-work programs, etc.
• Certification in HR strongly preferred (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR).
• Experience working in a multi-site or field-based organization preferred.
• Non-profit or affordable housing sector experience a plus.

$140,000 - $157,500 Annual Salary - Pay based on applicable experience and qualifications

Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred

MidPen Housing Corp. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please notify your recruiter. Consistent with its obligations under the law, MidPen Housing Corp. will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.