Senior Employee Relations Manager

The Employee Relations team operates as a Center of Excellence within Airbnb's People team. ER professionals are not simply case handlers — they are strategic partners who build the frameworks, guidelines, and operating principles that uphold Airbnb's culture at scale. This role shapes how the organization navigates complex workplace matters with consistency, fairness, and integrity. You will partner across HR, Legal, and business leadership to drive sound decision-making rooted in trust, mutual respect, and accountability. Success is not measured by cases closed. It is measured by the quality of outcomes, the strength of the practices we embed across the organization, and whether our work reinforces the culture and values that make Airbnb, Airbnb.

We’re looking for an individual with strong Employee Relations (ER) expertise to join the ER team at Airbnb. This individual will be an instrumental part of the ER team, which includes implementing and improving frameworks, guidelines, approaches, practices and operating principles. Building and reinforcing Airbnb’s culture is a key requirement for this position. 

The successful candidate will establish relationships across the organization and provide ER subject matter expertise in order to support the mission, culture and values of Airbnb.

Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Implement the Employee Relations (ER) framework for their client groups, including strategies and proposals to continuously drive improvements in ER practices within the organization based on trust, mutual respect, strong performance management, and accountability in support of the goals of the organization.
• Help implement a comprehensive communications strategy to promote ER best practices throughout the organization.
• Maintain and revise HR policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance, enhance the workplace and promote the company culture.
• Assess employment risk in coordination with HR leadership and Legal based on current regulatory landscape and anticipated changes.
  

Case Management

• Take the lead in addressing employee issues, complaints, and complex investigations across functions and regions working in partnership with other HR, Legal, and compliance related teams.
• Ensure cases are handled fairly, consistently, transparently, in a timely fashion, and in line with Airbnb culture, policies, and appropriate local laws.Lead employee relations investigations, making recommendations on appropriate courses of action, matching investigation strategy to the complexity, risk, sensitivity, and confidentiality of the investigation.
• Counsel HR and business leaders on ER issues, trends and risks to foster sound business decisions.
• Review and refresh training offerings depending on company needs and external regulations.Advise HR leaders and business leaders on how to handle complex matters that may require investigation and/or serious/complex disciplinary matters.
  

ER Consulting

• Help develop, socialize and rollout ER processes, strategy, approaches, guidelines, practices and operating procedures.
• Ensure that optimal decisions are made by leaders, Talent Partners and other stakeholders through influencing, coaching, and by providing technical expertise and sound strategy.
• Drive ER efforts that support HR and business initiatives.
• Help develop and conduct training to leaders, managers, employees, Talent Partners and other stakeholders.
• Maintain an organized case management system; Ability to run analytics and metrics and produce dashboards.
• Collect, analyze, interpret and make recommendations on ER related data.
• Set and execute against the ER strategy.

• 15+ years of Employee Relations/Human Resources managing complex global investigations 
• Superior written oral communication skills and strong analytical skills.
• Ability to maintain composure, remain positive, collaborative and objective while under pressure and dealing with senior leaders and complex issues. 
• Proven track record of positively influencing leaders, teams and stakeholders
• Ability to be a coach, mentor and partner with stakeholders at varying levels of seniority
• Expert knowledge of ER, labor relations, training, conflict resolution and direct experience leading complex global investigations at all levels including executive level
• Strong preference for direct experience supporting international ER matters
• Deep understanding of FMLA, EEO laws, ADA and other employment-related state and federal laws & regulations 
• Must be able to work under pressure and deal with complex issues, while maintaining composure
• Comfortable leveraging generative AI tools (e.g.,Claude, Gemini, etc.) to accelerate daily tasks
• Experienced decision maker who uses good reasoning and sound judgment required
• Ability to be discreet and maintain confidentiality is required
• Must be self-motivated and have an enhanced ability to prioritize/plan in a fast-paced, high growth environment
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree preferred
• Some travel may be required

Your Location:

This position is US - Remote Eligible. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed to with your manager. While the position is Remote Eligible, you must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity. Click here for the up-to-date list of excluded states. This list is continuously evolving, so please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list  If your position is employed by another Airbnb entity, your recruiter will inform you what states you are eligible to work from.