KAI MILLES
Human Resources/Employee Relations
Ashburn,VA
Summary
Dynamic Human Resources and Employee Relations executive with over 30 years of progressive experience in steering complex workplace investigations, crafting employee relations strategies, and enhancing performance management within global and multi-state organizations. Trusted advisor to executives, legal counsel, HR leadership, and business stakeholders on high-risk employee matters, compliance issues, workplace conduct, and organizational risk mitigation. Renowned for cultivating strong partnerships, mentoring teams, and streamlining operational processes to achieve fair, consistent, and legally defensible outcomes. Committed to driving organizational effectiveness through innovative HR consulting initiatives that align with business objectives.
Overview
1
1
Certification
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Corporate Employee Relations (GCER) Investigator
AMAZON
10.2023 - Current
- Lead highly sensitive employee relations investigations involving employees and leaders across multiple business lines and international regions, including Germany, United Kingdom, and Australia.
- Conduct end-to-end investigations involving allegations of misconduct, retaliation, discrimination, policy violations, workplace conflict, and leadership concerns.
- Conduct detailed complainant, witness, and subject interviews while maintaining strict confidentiality and procedural integrity.
- Analyze evidence from internal systems, communications, personnel records, and business documentation to support investigative findings.
- Partner with executives, Human Resources, Legal, and external stakeholders to assess risk and determine appropriate outcomes.
- Prepare comprehensive investigative reports and executive-level summaries supporting legally defensible decisions.
- Analyze investigation trends and employee feedback to identify systemic concerns and opportunities for proactive intervention.
- Provide consultation regarding policy interpretation, employee conduct concerns, and organizational risk management.
- Facilitate resolution of complex workplace issues while balancing employee experience and business objectives.
- Successfully managed highly sensitive investigations involving senior leaders and employees across multiple international regions.
- Earned Amazon Recruiting Certification and participated in behavioral interviewing and candidate evaluation activities supporting high-bar hiring standards.
- Designed and implemented investigator performance-review metrics that improved consistency in productivity and quality assessments.
- Mentored and onboarded new investigators, accelerating knowledge transfer and team effectiveness.
- Partnered in development of a global investigator resource platform that improved workflow efficiency and access to critical resources.
- Contributed to proactive risk-mitigation efforts through trend analysis and strategic recommendations to business leadership.
Corporate Employee Relations Investigator
AMAZON
01.2023 - 10.2023
- Conducted full life-cycle investigations involving salaried employees from Level 5 through Director and Vice President levels.
- Managed high-risk employee relations matters involving workplace conduct, performance concerns, policy violations, and leadership complaints.
- Partnered closely with HR Business Partners, Legal, and executive stakeholders on complex employee relations issues.
- Provided consultation regarding investigation strategy, policy interpretation, and recommended outcomes.
- Monitored investigation trends and delivered actionable insights to senior leadership.
- Supported organizational risk assessments involving sensitive allegations and escalated employee concerns.
- Facilitated stakeholder communication to ensure timely and effective case resolution.
- Transitioned rapidly into Corporate Employee Relations and assumed responsibility for complex investigations involving senior leaders.
- Established strong relationships with executives, HR leaders, and Legal partners across multiple business units.
- Served as mentor and resource for peers and newly hired investigators.
- Delivered data-driven insights supporting organizational decision-making and risk reduction.
Employee Relations Investigator (ERCI)
AMAZON
11.2020 - 01.2023
- Conducted workplace investigations involving hourly and salaried employees across domestic and international operations.
- Managed investigations involving employee misconduct, workplace behavior, attendance, performance concerns, retaliation, and policy violations.
- Served as a subject matter expert for investigators and Human Resources Business Partners.
- Partnered with HR, Legal, Ethics, and business leaders to ensure consistent policy application and risk mitigation.
- Supported candidate selection efforts through participation in interviews and hiring debrief discussions.
- Mentored newly hired investigators and supported onboarding initiatives.
- Contributed to development and implementation of employee relations knowledge-management resources.
- Supported organizational growth as the ERCI organization expanded from approximately 15 investigators to more than 70 investigators.
- Participated in interviewing and selection activities supporting successful hiring initiatives.
- Contributed to development and implementation of the ERCI Knowledge Hub, improving consistency and knowledge sharing.
- Earned certification in Amazon's Managing Great Hiring Decisions (MGHD) program.
- Recognized as a subject matter expert for employee relations consultation and investigative best practices.
Senior Employee Relations Advisor (Contract)
FREDDIE MAC
07.2019 - 07.2020
- Managed employee relations investigations and escalations across Information Technology, Single Family, Multi-Family, Investments, and Capital Markets divisions.
- Conducted investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, misconduct, performance concerns, and workplace conflict.
- Partnered with Corporate Legal to resolve high-risk employee matters and minimize organizational risk.
- Advised leaders on workforce reductions, performance management, workplace conduct, and employee relations strategies.
- Provided strategic coaching to management regarding difficult employee situations and corrective-action processes.
- Managed numerous high-profile employee relations matters involving significant organizational risk.
- Successfully partnered with Corporate Legal on sensitive and complex workplace investigations.
- Delivered guidance that improved consistency, fairness, and defensibility of employment decisions.
Associate, Employee Relations / Corporate Investigations
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON
04.2017 - 12.2018
- Led investigations involving ethics concerns, workplace conduct issues, discrimination, retaliation, and policy violations.
- Conducted interviews, analyzed evidence, and prepared investigative findings and recommendations.
- Collaborated with Legal, HR leadership, and business executives regarding investigation outcomes and disciplinary actions.
- Served as trusted advisor to management on employee relations and workplace risk issues.
- Selected to participate in Missing Persons Investigative Team and Insider Risk Management initiatives.
- Recognized for effective management of complex investigations and executive stakeholder relationships.
- Developed strong cross-functional partnerships across HR, Security, Compliance, and Legal organizations.
Senior Employee Relations Specialist
GDIT (Formerly CSRA)
08.2011 - 03.2017
- Managed employee relations matters and investigations across domestic and international employee populations.
- Conducted investigations involving workplace conflict, employee complaints, misconduct allegations, and policy violations.
- Provided consultation regarding performance management, employee concerns, and policy interpretation.
- Recommended corrective actions and disciplinary measures based on investigation findings.
- Facilitated management training focused on communication, coaching, conflict resolution, and employee engagement.
- Served as primary employee relations consultant supporting multiple business units.
- Developed a reputation as a trusted advisor to executives, managers, and HR professionals.
- Mentored new investigators and HR team members, improving team capability and consistency.
- Improved employee relations processes through trend analysis, policy consultation, and management training.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Education
George Mason University
Fairfax, VAGraduate Coursework-Human Relations Management
Johns Hopkins University
Graduate Coursework-Human Resources Management
Marymount University
Skills
- Global Employee Relations
- Workplace Investigations
- Performance Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Executive Coaching
- Employment Law Compliance
- Employee Engagement
- Stakeholder Management
- Training & Facilitation
- Risk Mitigation
- Talent Assessment
- Evidence gathering
Certification
Held TS/SCI clearance
MBTI trained
Amazon MGHD Interviewing Certified
Professional Development
- Amazon Recruiting Certification
- Managing Great Hiring Decisions (MGHD) Certification
- SHRM Member
- Previously Held TS/SCI Clearance
Professional Highlights
- 30+ years of Human Resources and Employee Relations leadership experience across technology, financial services, consulting, government contracting, and defense industries.
- Conducted and led highly sensitive workplace investigations across the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and Australia.
- Trusted advisor to executives, HR leadership, Legal Counsel, Directors, and Vice Presidents on complex employee relations matters and organizational risk.
- Helped scale Amazon's Employee Relations investigation organization from approximately 15 investigators to more than 70 investigators.
- Developed investigator performance-review metrics and operational improvements supporting consistency and quality across investigative teams.
- Earned Amazon Recruiting Certification and Managing Great Hiring Decisions (MGHD) Certification.
- Managed and developed HR teams supporting domestic and international operations.
- Previously held TS/SCI Clearance.
Earlier Career Experience
- Human Resources Contractor, Triple Canopy
- Human Resources Director, IBA Molecular
- Human Resources Director, Northrop Grumman
- Human Resources Manager, Cable & Wireless
- Human Resources Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Languages
English
Full Professional
Estonian
Full Professional
Timeline
Global Corporate Employee Relations (GCER) Investigator
AMAZON
10.2023 - Current
Corporate Employee Relations Investigator
AMAZON
01.2023 - 10.2023
Employee Relations Investigator (ERCI)
AMAZON
11.2020 - 01.2023
Senior Employee Relations Advisor (Contract)
FREDDIE MAC
07.2019 - 07.2020
Associate, Employee Relations / Corporate Investigations
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON
04.2017 - 12.2018
Senior Employee Relations Specialist
GDIT (Formerly CSRA)
08.2011 - 03.2017
Bachelor of Science - Education
George Mason University
Graduate Coursework-Human Relations Management
Johns Hopkins University
Graduate Coursework-Human Resources Management
Marymount University