Senior Employee Relations Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Employee Relations Specialist serves as the Chief Personnel Officer's primary professional Human Resources partner and provides day-to-day support in the administration of employee relations, labor relations, recruitment, compliance, and strategic Human Resources initiatives.

Working under the direction of the Chief Personnel Officer, this position provides responsive consultation and coaching to district administrators, conducts workplace investigations, assists with labor contract administration, supports recruitment and retention initiatives, and promotes the consistent application of district policies, collective bargaining agreements, and employment laws.

The Senior Employee Relations Specialist expands the district's Human Resources capacity by providing day-to-day operational leadership and professional Human Resources support while allowing the Chief Personnel Officer to focus on executive leadership, strategic workforce planning, collective bargaining, organizational development, and Board and Superintendent priorities.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Employee Relations

• Serve as the day-to-day Human Resources partner for principals, supervisors, and district administrators regarding routine employee relations matters.
• Conduct workplace investigations involving employee complaints, misconduct, policy violations, harassment, discrimination, and other personnel matters under the direction of the Chief Personnel Officer.
• Prepare investigative reports, findings, and recommendations.
• Coach administrators regarding performance management, attendance concerns, documentation, conflict resolution, and progressive discipline.
• Draft disciplinary correspondence, counseling memoranda, performance improvement plans, and settlement documentation.
• Assist administrators in resolving workplace conflict while promoting positive employee relations.
• Escalate complex, high-risk, or legally sensitive matters to the Chief Personnel Officer.

Labor Relations

• Assist the Chief Personnel Officer in administering collective bargaining agreements.
• Interpret labor contracts and provide day-to-day guidance to administrators regarding contract language.
• Assist in responding to grievances and preparing supporting documentation.
• Participate in grievance meetings and labor-management meetings.
• Support collective bargaining preparation through research, costing, data collection, and implementation of negotiated agreements.
• Monitor compliance with collective bargaining agreements.

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

• Partner with administrators throughout the recruitment and selection process.
• Coordinate recruitment efforts for instructional, administrative, and exempt staff positions.
• Participate in interviews and selection processes.
• Develop recruitment strategies to address hard-to-fill positions.
• Support executive-level recruitment.
• Coordinate onboarding for new employees in collaboration with the HR Coordinator.
• Evaluate recruitment effectiveness and recommend process improvements.

Workforce Planning & Retention

• Analyze workforce trends including vacancies, turnover, retirements, and staffing patterns.
• Conduct exit interview analysis and identify retention opportunities.
• Assist in developing recruitment and retention strategies.
• Support succession planning initiatives.
• Prepare workforce analytics and reports for district leadership.
• Assist with employee engagement and recognition initiatives.

Leadership Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor to principals and department leaders on routine Human Resources matters.
• Provide day-to-day guidance regarding employment practices, district policies, and personnel procedures.
• Assist in developing and delivering administrator training related to employee relations, investigations, documentation, supervision, and labor contract administration.
• Partner with district leaders to proactively identify and resolve employee concerns.