2023 Salary Range: $108,400 - $157,200 annually

Job Summary:

The Employee Relations Officer conducts complex, confidential internal investigations and makes recommendations resulting from policy violations, including harassment and discrimination. Responsible for the programmatic changes, ensure consistent interpretation and implementation of policies and procedures and provides advice to leadership regarding disciplinary actions.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related field from an accredited college or university.
• A minimum of 6 years’ experience in human resources, including 2 years’ experience managing employee relations issues/investigations

OR

• Any combination of related education, experience, certifications and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job
• Knowledge of the principles of human resource management; federal and state regulations applicable to human resources functions including affirmative action and
  

administration of personnel policies and procedures

• Ability to conduct objective investigation of grievances and complaints and to thoroughly document all investigative activities
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and objectivity and handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and citizens
• Make effective written and verbal presentations; establish and fulfill goals and objectives
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret federal regulation
• Ability to deal effectively with regulatory agencies
• Ability to analyze and evaluate data; prepare technical reports; prioritize work and meet deadlines
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and verbal and written communication skills; and,
• Strong report writing skills for a variety of audiences; and,
• Strong skills in the use of technology including words processing, database and spreadsheet applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and in oral communication; expresses oneself clearly in business writing; organizes ideas clearly and speaks logically so others can follow the reasoning; uses appropriate grammar and vocabulary that do not detract from credibility
• Ability to train on legal compliance subject matters and to adjust delivery of training and training materials to classroom situation including types of learners, special needs, and pace according to depth of subject and participant level
• Ability to listen attentively to people’s ideas and concerns; paraphrases to ensure understanding
• Ability to defer judgment on what someone is saying and, instead, focuses on finding out more; focuses on individual circumstances that are driving someone’s behavior and tailors responses accordingly
• Ability to build successful, collaborative, genial, and trusting relationships that contribute to personal effectiveness and the effectiveness of the work team
• Ability to perceive political relationships within the organization or with customers and demonstrate sensitivity to situations or language while integrating that knowledge in approaching problems and resolving conflict
• Ability to notice and accurately interpret what others are feeling, especially when they are not stating the issue explicitly, based on their choice of words, tone of voice, expressions, and other nonverbal behavior
• Ability to anticipate, but not stereotype or pre-judge, how others will react to a situation
• Ability to prepare for the implications and consequences of situations and takes appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies
• Ability to find nonthreatening ways to approach others about sensitive issues; makes others feel comfortable by responding in ways that convey interest in what they have to say; manages own behavior to prevent or reduce feelings of stress
• Ability to use initiative to take empowered action to solve routine problems within policy guidelines and seeks creative solutions for non-routine challenges; effectively handle several problems or tasks and remains calm in stressful situations
• Ability to think beyond the immediate issue to look at root cause of behavior/issue; uses good judgment in sharing information and maintaining confidentiality
• Ability to resolve problems in a systematic, step-by-step way; thinks about the chain of events that led to a problem; waits for all the information before evaluating options; thinks through a problem before offering a solution; uses past experiences to quickly evaluate situations where information may be incomplete or unclear
• Ability to work in stressful, fast-paced environment and effectively leverage employee relations situations or meet project deadlines
• Ability to develop recommendations and solutions with sensitivity to the issue, impact to organizational precedence, and desires of those affected by the recommendations
• Ability to handle multiple and parallel projects and to follow through on assignments
• Skilled in the use of a personal computer to include Microsoft Office programs and other software programs

Preferences:

• PHR or SPHR
• Bilingual in Spanish and English
• Experience working in a municipal environment
• Proficient in Microsoft applications
• Experience in a supervisory capacity, directly managing the work of others

Essential Functions:

• Investigates complaints including, but not limited to harassment, discrimination, ethics violations, and retaliation; analyzes findings and recommends action when necessary.
• Serves as a liaison to City legal staff to discuss and review human resources related issues requiring legal review and/or opinion.
• Leads the development and preparation of employee relation investigations and practices.
• Facilitates processing of litigation, unemployment, EEOC, as well as assists in development of education and facilitation programs. Works on various employee relations projects.
• Researches and stays abreast of current developments, amendments, and interpretational changes in laws affecting human resources and employer/employee relations; educates and trains staff accordingly; makes recommendations for changes to policies and procedures to ensure compliance with new developments.
• Advises and trains managers and supervisors in best employee relations practices and strategies for managing supervisor problems and employee grievances. Develops further training on human resource related laws and policies (e.g. wrongful termination, negligent hiring, ADEA, FLSA, ethics/fraud, harassment prevention, discrimination, etc.)
• Uses surveys, interviews, and other studies to conduct research regarding human resource policies other employment issues. After analyzing the information, makes recommendations on changes.
• Conducts or moderates employee surveys, focus groups, or exit interviews.
• Makes recommendations to leadership resulting from investigations.
• Recommends and coordinates outside investigators when needed.
• Administers ADA grievance procedures including investigating and resolving concerns and/or complaints.
• Represents the city and chairs meetings of various committees.
• Interprets and performs technical analysis of state and federal regulations.
• Meets with outside agencies and community groups as required.
• Makes recommendations regarding budget expenditures related to the City's employee relations office.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Frequent contact with employees and the public, both in person and on the telephone
• Requires ability to perform multiple tasks at one time with frequent interruptions
• Work is performed with extended periods of time at a fixed station
• Work is safe to having minimal hazards that are typically found in a general office environment where there is rarely little or no exposure to injury or accident
• Frequent sitting and talking or hearing customers
• Operate standard office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements
• Vision enough to interpret computer screens and documents to assist the public and complete work assignments; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• Manual dexterity enough to accurately input, retrieve and verify work assignments
• Use of hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms
• Occasional light to moderate physical effort that includes: stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling; frequent standing or walking; frequently lifting and/or moving up to 10 pounds and occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds; maintaining arms and hands in the same position for repetitive tasks and frequently working with light objects and light hand tools
• Extensive computer work primarily performed at a desk

Conditions of Employment: Candidates must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings and employment eligibility verification. Pre-employment screenings include a drug test, a background and national sex offender search, a motor vehicle record search, and for some positions, a physical demands evaluation. For more information about City policies and practices during the recruitment process, including but not limited to EOE, Reasonable Accommodation, and pre-employment screenings, please visit our career page HERE .