Employee Relations Consultant – EMEA, North Region

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources (HR) professional with a strong Employee Relations (ER) investigations background to join a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment. The Global ER team is part of Cisco’s People & Communities (P&C) organization and is responsible for the fair and respectful treatment of employees through the investigation of workplace complaints and advising on multi-layered highly complex employment matters. The successful candidate will initially be responsible for managing employee relations matters in the North Region (including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway & Sweden) of EMEA. The role will report into the Employee Relations function in EMEA.

The Employee Relations Consultant will:

• Conduct ER investigations and recommend appropriate actions consistent with Cisco’s policies and practices.
• Maintain comprehensive case records and document investigation findings.
• Independently manage assigned casework, providing timely communication to relevant parties and bringing investigations to closure quickly and definitively.
• Remain respectful and empathetic in face of difficult and uncomfortable situations surrounding an investigation.
• Advise on disciplinary action recommendations for matters handled by other groups.
• Advise People Partners, cross-functional partners, and managers on ER matters and policy interpretation.
• Coach and counsel management and employees daily on a variety of complex ER case matters.
• Consult and collaborate with Global ER, P&C peers, Country support/acceleration, Employee Legal team and other cross-functional team members and partners.
• Research and apply regional or country requirements as they relate to employment-related case management, programs, policies, tools and processes.
• Participate in the improvement, design and education delivery of global programs managed within the team.
• Uphold and integrate Cisco’s Guiding Principles in all actions, decisions and interactions.
• Foster a culture of integrity, respect, and accountability in every aspect of Employee Relations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or related field.
• 6+ years of Human Resources or Employee Relations experience, with at least 3 years of investigation experience.
• 2+ years’ experience working in a multi-national company.
• Solid knowledge of employment and labour laws, compliance requirements and cultural practices across our Northern European countries.
• Advanced proficiency in English (oral and written). Other languages are advantageous but not essential.
• Technically proficient in Microsoft tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Desired Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in collaborating and supporting strategic objectives.
• Exercise solid judgment and ownership of the decision-making process.
• Extensive use of leadership and influence skills as well as objectivity.
• Ability to work independently with confidence and low supervision.
• Ideally, you have solid knowledge and direct experience of employment law in the North Region (including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway & Sweden), however this is not essential, and experience of handling employment law matters in European countries is sufficient.
• You are highly pragmatic and can make decisions with limited information.
• Embrace collaboration, fast-paced environments, desire to learn, achieving results, earning trust, crafting strategy and leading change through productive disruption.
• Excellent with multi-tasking and managing high case volume.
• Ability to lead HR strategy discussions and generate plans for implementation in accordance with Cisco philosophy and culture.
• Embrace emerging AI tools to improve efficiency while balancing the critical human element of employee advocacy and workplace culture.