DONALD J. HARGER
Chicago
Summary
Strategic Employee Relations leader with expertise in guiding complex workplace matters while fostering trust, fairness, and organizational integrity. Experienced in building scalable, data driven ER programs, coaching managers, and partnering with HR, Legal, and executives to mitigate risk and drive ethical solutions. Skilled at designing policies, training, and frameworks that support compliance, conscious leadership, and a values aligned, thriving workforce.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Employee Relations
Isle Data
Chicago, IL
06.2024 - Current
- Own high sensitivity investigations from intake through resolution, leveraging AI assisted case analytics to ensure fairness, documentation integrity, and proactive risk mitigation.
- Coach managers through performance, conduct, and conflict situations using AI driven insights and predictive trend data to support consistent, legally sound decision making.
- Design and deliver ER training in partnership with Legal and L&D, incorporating AI enabled simulations and scenario analysis to strengthen leadership capability and workplace consistency.
- Use workforce data, AI powered dashboards, and narrative reporting to identify ER trends, predict potential risks, and recommend proactive interventions.
Employee Relations Manager
Rite Way Transport Group
Chicago, IL
07.2023 - 01.2024
- Partner with HR Business Partners, Legal, and executive leadership to deliver consistent, fair, and values aligned employee relations outcomes.
- Lead and scale a global Employee Relations function that balances organizational consistency with regional and cultural relevance.
- Develop ER workflows, playbooks, and collaboration models that enable scalable, transparent, and repeatable resolution practices.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, guiding complex employee matters with discretion, empathy, and sound judgment.
Chief Operating Officer
Exact Data
Chicago, IL
08.2013 - 12.2022
- Oversaw day to day operations across sales, marketing, and customer success, in a fast paced environment ensuring alignment with company strategy and operational excellence.
- Implemented scalable processes and data driven workflows that improved efficiency, productivity, and cross functional collaboration across a 130+ employee organization.
- Partnered with the CEO and executive team to develop growth strategies, optimize revenue operations, and drive long term business performance.
- Built, coached, and led high performing teams, establishing clear accountability frameworks, performance metrics, and leadership development programs.
People Strategy Director
Exact Data
Chicago, IL
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Strengthen employee advocacy by ensuring equitable, respectful, and high integrity experiences during ER processes.
- Influence cultural maturity by fostering open dialogue, accountability, and ethical clarity at critical leadership moments.
- Build and develop a high performing ER team, emphasizing sound judgment, empathy, and consistent execution.
- Promote a culture of conscious leadership, reinforcing trust, inclusion, and psychological safety across the organization.
Account Executive
Exact Data
Chicago, IL
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Drive net new and expansion revenue by aligning a work management platform to customer priorities, improving cross functional alignment, visibility, and execution speed.
- Lead consultative discovery with business and technical stakeholders to identify workflow inefficiencies and position solutions that deliver measurable productivity and collaboration gains.
- Partner with Customer Success, Solutions Engineering, and executive sponsors to ensure successful adoption, value realization, and long term account growth.
- Manage complex sales cycles across multiple stakeholders, building business cases and ROI narratives that secure executive buy in and accelerate decision making.
Education
Carroll University
Waukesha, WISkills
- Employee Relations Strategy & Global Program Leadership
- Employment Law, Compliance & Risk Mitigation
- Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
- Conflict Resolution & Performance Management Guidance
- Data Driven ER Insights & Workforce Trend Analysis
- Policy Development & Governance Frameworks
- Manager Enablement & ER Training Design
- Ethical Decision Making & Employee Advocacy
- Culture Stewardship & Conscious Leadership Alignment
Timeline
Head of Employee Relations
Isle Data
06.2024 - Current
Employee Relations Manager
Rite Way Transport Group
07.2023 - 01.2024
Chief Operating Officer
Exact Data
08.2013 - 12.2022
People Strategy Director
Exact Data
01.2011 - 01.2013
Account Executive
Exact Data
01.2010 - 01.2011
Carroll University
LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Led and scaled teams exceeding 130 employees across multiple growth phases
- Guided leaders through complex performance and conduct matters
- Built repeatable frameworks improving fairness, accountability, and trust
- Leveraged workforce data to identify risks and inform leadership strategy
- Strengthened organizational culture during rapid growth and remote transition