Dean Kruse
Pflugerville
Summary
Seasoned Employee Relations Manager with broad experience in managing employee grievances, conducting internal investigations, and leading teams. Skilled in cultivating positive work environments through proactive communication strategies, an empathy first approach, and strong conflict resolution abilities.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Employee Relations Manager
ServiceNow
Santa Clara
04.2024 - Current
- Conduct thorough, neutral, and timely workplace investigations. Investigations are focused in AMS, but occasionally investigate matters out of EMEA and APJ.
- Partner with Global Employment Law as necessary, and provide meaningful, data-driven, and actionable insights and recommendations to HR and the business.
- Act as a company culture champion, working with HRBPs and business stakeholders to drive high levels of engagement.
- Identify employee relations issues across the business, partnering cross-functionally to recommend and implement improvements to the employee experience.
- Act as a key strategic partner to the Global Employment Law, Ethics and Compliance, and Global Safety and Security Teams.
Staff Employee Relations Partner
Tesla
Austin
03.2021 - 03.2024
- Conducted thorough and neutral workplace investigations in a timely manner.
- Investigated allegation types of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace violence, and other alleged violations of law and Tesla's policies and procedures.
- Investigated matters involving employees at all levels of the company, including C-suite level executives.
- Partnered with Employment Legal, Human Resources, Safety and Security, and other stakeholders as needed during an investigation.
- Provided guidance and recommendations to Human Resources and the appropriate business leaders during the resolution of the investigation.
- Managed and trained one Employee Relations Partner. reviewed their work product.
- Reviewed and edited investigation reports from Employee Relations Partners and outside counsel.
- Created the employee onboarding process for Employee Relations at Tesla.
- Conducted training for HR partners on the investigation process and swim lane responsibilities.
- Triaged escalations, including the review of documentation, assigned issue types and priority tier levels, conducted pre-investigation intake, and assigned cases to investigators.
Director
University of Texas
Austin
01.2018 - 03.2021
- Served as the primary contact and investigator for complex Title IX investigations, including high-profile and urgent issues.
- Managed the workflow of cases to and from the Title IX office.
- Assembled, trained, and managed a diverse Title IX team that executed departmental and university goals while focusing on the student and employee experience during the investigation process.
- Represented the university as the go-to resource on Title IX-related topics.
- Reviewed and edited university Title IX-related documents, including investigation reports, institutional rules, and policies.
- Created, prioritized, and executed departmental goals and projects while managing a staff and conducting high-profile investigations concurrently.
Assistant Director
University of Texas
Austin
08.2016 - 01.2018
- Investigated alleged student misconduct in Title IX-related matters, including allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking.
- Supervised one full-time Title IX Investigator.
- Managed all complaint intake and case assignments, including pre-investigation inquiry, allegation assignment, and data tracking.
- Created and presented new staff and campus partner training sessions including topics on Title IX process, university policy, state and federal regulations, and reporting requirements.
- Created monthly data reports to meet campus, state, and federal requirements.
Title IX Investigator
University of Texas
Austin
03.2016 - 08.2016
- Conducted investigations of alleged student misconduct and specifically Title IX complaints, which include, but are not limited to, allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, interpersonal violence, stalking, and sex discrimination.
- Conducted interviews with witnesses, complainants, and respondents.
- Evaluated and reviewed pertinent evidence.
- Assessed the credibility of the involved individuals.
- Determined violations of institutional rules based on a preponderance of evidence standard.
- Produced meticulous investigative reports.
Area Coordinator
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo
08.2013 - 03.2016
- Managed recruitment, onboarding, and performance management of six full-time Residence Hall Directors.
- Created and managed a campus-wide Resident Assistant Development program for first-year staff.
- Assisted with staff recruitment efforts, including national placement exchanges and on-campus interview days.
- Mentored student organizations in aligning goals with institutional objectives.
- Organized and directed an orientation program for new on-campus residents.
Education
Master of Arts - Higher Education Administration
University of Mississippi
University, MS05-2010
Bachelor of Arts -
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI12-2005
Skills
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Workplace investigations
- Conflict resolution
- Written and verbal communication
- Report writing
- Team development and management
Timeline
Employee Relations Manager
ServiceNow
04.2024 - Current
Staff Employee Relations Partner
Tesla
03.2021 - 03.2024
Director
University of Texas
01.2018 - 03.2021
Assistant Director
University of Texas
08.2016 - 01.2018
Title IX Investigator
University of Texas
03.2016 - 08.2016
Area Coordinator
Western Michigan University
08.2013 - 03.2016
Master of Arts - Higher Education Administration
University of Mississippi
Bachelor of Arts -
Western Michigan University
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