Employee Relations/Investigator

The Team:

Celonis is looking for the ideal candidate to join our Legal (Employment and Compliance team) to conduct company-wide investigations regarding suspected violations of government laws and regulations, company Code of Conduct and policies and expected behaviors at a global level. Celonis is currently in 17 countries across Europe, North America and Asia.

In addition, this individual will support the employment legal team at a global level, assisting with work such as litigation, learning about laws and requirements for certain countries, reviewing or drafting policies, harmonizing employment contracts, keeping up to speed about new law developments, and working on compliance-related projects with the People & Culture team.

As the company grows and develops, and this indivual develops professionally, there will also be opportunity for this role to grow.

Primary Responsibilities

Investigator (~50% of the time depending on caseload).

• Conduct investigations: Conduct prompt, thorough and fair investigations at all levels in the organization on a wide array of issues such as workplace harassment, discrimination, fraud, retaliation and conflicts of interest, as well as other violations of law, our Code of Conduct & Ethics, or related policies. This will include investigations in Europe, North America, and Asia.
• Develop, follow, and improve Investigation Processes: Regularly improve investigation process and materials. Process will include: reviewing relevant documentation, preparing investigation plans and interview questions, interviewing involved parties, taking accurate notes, assessing credibility, determining findings/results, and preparing concise, helpful investigation reports
• Communicate with stakeholders: Develop and follow communication processes to keep stakeholders informed in a timely manner. Investigations will often involve partnering with the People & Culture team, Employment Law attorneys, Ethics & Compliance team or other stakeholders.
• Help manage investigation case management system: configure system, determine and implement best practices for use of system to track each stage of investigations; help train users and follow up with them to confirm all relevant information is in system; help run reports.
• Recommend and implement operational actions: As a result of investigation findings,recommend and help implement operational actions and other improvements such as updates to policies and practices to support risk mitigation and ethical culture. This would also include analyzing data to identify, and mitigate any, concerning trends.
• Investigation process: : Train and coach: help develop others to be able to assist with, or conduct, investigations.
• Legal and regulatory developments. Maintain an up-to-date understanding of legal and regulatory developments and best practices related to whistleblowing and investigations.

Support of Global Employment Law team (~50% of time) such as:

• Legal research: Conduct legal research on cases and trends.
• Policies, processes. Draft or review/revise policies and processes.
• Legal templates and documents. Harmonize and draft employment agreements or other legal templates in different jurisdictions.
• Legal and regulatory developments. Keep up to speed about new developments in employment law at a global level.
• Government inquiries. Assist with government inquiries, audits or investigations.
• Guidelines and training materials. Help develop guidelines and training materials on employment law topics.
• Projects: work on employment or miscellaneous projects at a global level.
• Litigation: support senior employment law attorneys with administrative claims and litigation

Requirements and Skills

Minimum requirements:

• Degree: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
• Experience: Minimum years of experience
  • Minimum 4+ years of experience investigating employment-related matters including conducting interviews, collecting and analyzing information to make findings, and prepare written reports for stakeholders in English
  • Experience working in Human Resources, Employee Relations, Compliance or Employment Law department in a company or law firm.
• Languages: Fluency in English (speaking, listening and in written communications as English is primary language at Celonis) plus fluency in Spanish or German
• Travel: Ability to travel required and dependent on business needs; occasionally with short notice

Skills:

• Legal mindset: demonstrate a logical, analytical, and creative way of solving problems and finding solutions taking into account applicable legal regulations (for example, EU and individual countries)
• Flexibility: able to adaptto a fast-growth, rapidly changing environment, and comfortable to work with ambiguity and risk.
• Global mindset and curiosity: experience with and strong interest in learning about laws and cultures of other countries.
• Ability to work well under pressure: manage multiple investigations and other projects at once, in a demanding environment, with the ability to meet short deadlines.
• Handling sensitive information: handle sensitive issues with discretion and empathy, while also being able to confront witnesses with difficult questions (if necessary); maintain a welcoming, supportive, fair and safe environment for employees; ability to have difficult conversations and diffuse tension.
• Strong sense of integrity and ethics: Demonstrate professionalism, as well as understanding and support of company values; show respect, honesty, and humility
• Oral and written communication skills: Demonstrate clear, concise and professional communication (writing, listening and speaking) including being an active listener This skill includes giving presentations to senior leaders and large groups of people.
• Analytical skills. Strong analytical, problem solving, risk based approach and critical thinking to evaluate complex issues. Be able to exercise independent judgment and confidence in making decisions.
• Ownership and results driven- strong experience being proactive, owning workload, and delivering on commitments with a sense of urgency, accuracy, and attention to detail; with the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, as well as.
• Manage projects and work with cross functional stakeholders Able to build strong networks and effectively engage and manage projects with stakeholders including the ability to drive, steer, convince and influence others in-person and virtually in a matrix environment; be collaborative in a matrix environment
• Experience with Excel, Powerpoint, Word (or Google equivalents).

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Attorney experience (Law Degree) practicing international employment law
• Licensed to practice law in Spain or Germany.
• Experience with handling issues in multiple countries.
• Project management experience
• Formal training and/or Certification in Investigations
• Ability to speak more than two languages
• Experience in the tech industry
• Experience in a high-growth company or other fast paced environment.