A relationship manager is a human resources professional responsible for the everyday management of basic and sometimes very complex human resources issues.
While good leadership and the right environment are fundamental, so are “the basics”—setting realistic expectations, giving timely feedback, having meaningful career discussions, delivering against the promises of learning opportunities and new experiences
The skilled relationship manager should first and foremost be a good listener and communicator. A successful candidate should have a background in human resources management and several years of experience working in recruiting, compensation or in a human resources generalist position before moving into a relationship manager role. Primarily, a relationship manager is a senior human resources executive, so the ability to meet many critical deadlines and deal with extremely difficult people is necessary. Hours can vary drastically, so having a flexible work and life balance is important since working nights and weekends and traveling out of town will be necessary. Prior experience in managing talent both internally and recruiting away from competitors is a plus. Performance management, compensation planning, headcount forecasting and managing large budgets are also important past experiences.
Most every business with an employee population, whether a small, mid-sized or large Fortune 500 company, requires a human resources relationship manager to be on call in some capacity. Therefore, job opportunities for these professionals are always on the horizon.
Qualitative Requirements
The qualified relationship manager should be a people person.
The qualified relationship manager should be a people person. It's important to be able to multitask, solve complex problems, be an effective communicator and have a strong sense of the company's culture and values. Some situations can be very tricky, requiring the utmost confidentiality and thick skin: People who take things personally might not make the best relationship managers.
Most often a bachelor's degree is required to gain employment as a relationship manager. Often times, certification from the Society of Human Resources Management or from the Human Resources Certification Institute will help successful candidates gain employment and take on more responsibility in the early stages of their careers. Many universities offer a master's of human resources administration. This degree program will ensure the qualified candidate will not only be a greater competitor in the marketplace, but will also receive a higher income than candidates without a graduate degree.
Jobs in this field are expected to increase.
According to Payscale.com, a human resources relationship manager with five to nine years of working experience in the United States earns an annual base salary of $55,000. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the industry as a whole should see an increase in its workforce of about 11 percent by 2016.
