Kevin Burnham
Little Elm,TX
Summary
Strategic Employee Relations executive with 15+ years of experience leading enterprise-wide ER functions, modernizing investigations operations, and advising senior leadership in complex, highly regulated environments. Recognized for building scalable ER frameworks that strengthen organizational culture, reduce risk exposure, and ensure fair, consistent, and defensible outcomes. Adept at navigating sensitive, high-impact matters involving compliance, ethics, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and workplace misconduct. Known for elevating ER capability through technology, analytics, and coaching that improves decision-making and organizational trust.
Experienced HR professional with strong expertise in employee relations, conflict resolution, and organizational development. Proven track record of fostering positive workplace environments through effective communication, problem-solving, and team collaboration. Highly adaptable, results-driven, and reliable in addressing evolving business needs. Skilled in performance management, policy implementation, and employee engagement strategies.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Employee Relations (Senior Employee Relations Manager)
Newrez
09.2024 - Current
- Lead the enterprise Employee Relations function, overseeing investigations, policy interpretation, corrective action, and risk mitigation for a large, multi-state workforce.
- Modernize ER operations by implementing streamlined workflows, technology-enabled investigation tools, and documentation standards that improve consistency and reduce cycle time.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to senior executives, Legal, and Compliance on high-risk matters, ensuring defensible outcomes aligned with organizational values and regulatory requirements.
- Build ER capability by coaching HR partners and leaders on investigation quality, documentation rigor, and effective decision-making.
- Drive culture-strengthening initiatives that reduce repeat disputes, increase leadership accountability, and enhance employee trust.
Senior Employee Relations Investigator
Choctaw Nation Casino and Health Care
11.2022 - 09.2024
- Led full-cycle investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, workplace misconduct, and regulatory violations across a diverse tribal enterprise.
- Partnered with Legal and Compliance to assess risk, ensure adherence to federal and tribal regulations, and deliver clear, defensible findings.
- Improved investigation methodology, reducing case resolution time and elevating documentation quality.
- Delivered concise, actionable reports that informed leadership decisions and reduced escalation risk.
- Strengthening organizational integrity by identifying trends and recommending proactive interventions.
Senior HR Business Partner and Employee Relations Manager
BJ Equity Group Corporation
03.2016 - 11.2022
- Directed complex ER investigations and conflict-resolution strategies across multiple business units.
- Advised senior leaders on coaching, discipline, workforce planning, and policy interpretation, improving leadership effectiveness and consistency.
- Designed and facilitated training programs on compliance, DEI, leadership, and policy adherence.
- Enhanced workplace climate through proactive ER interventions, trend analysis, and early-risk identification.
- Partnered with executives to align people strategy with organizational goals.
District Loss Prevention and Safety Manager
Office Depot Inc.
05.2011 - 03.2016
- Led asset protection and safety strategies across multiple states, significantly reducing operational risk and incident rates.
- Reduced job-site accidents by 96 percent through targeted safety protocols, training, and leadership engagement.
- Delivered compliance and safety training to 800+ employees, strengthening regulatory adherence and operational integrity.
- Investigated internal theft, policy violations, and safety incidents, ensuring consistent and defensible outcomes.
Education
M.S. - Human Resources Management
Western Governors University
05-2026
B.S. - Business Administration and Management
Bishop College
Dallas, TXSkills
- Employee Relations Strategy
- Complex Investigations
- Organizational Culture
- Risk Mitigation
- Executive Advisory
- Policy Governance
- EEOC Response Strategy
- Conflict Resolution
- Corrective Action
- Ethics and Compliance (CCEP)
- Leadership Coaching
- Change Management
- HR Technology
- Case-Management Optimization
- SAP SuccessFactors, UKG, ADP, Workday, Microsoft 365
Websites
Certification
- Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), 2025-2027
- Certified Human Resource Manager
- Organizational Leadership Certification
- Wicklander-Zulawski: Advanced Interview and Interrogation
Technology
SAP SuccessFactors, UKG, ADP, Workday, Microsoft 365, Case-Management Systems, AI-Enabled ER Tools
Timeline
Head of Employee Relations (Senior Employee Relations Manager)
Newrez
09.2024 - Current
Senior Employee Relations Investigator
Choctaw Nation Casino and Health Care
11.2022 - 09.2024
Senior HR Business Partner and Employee Relations Manager
BJ Equity Group Corporation
03.2016 - 11.2022
District Loss Prevention and Safety Manager
Office Depot Inc.
05.2011 - 03.2016
B.S. - Business Administration and Management
Bishop College
M.S. - Human Resources Management
Western Governors University