Senior Employee Relations Specialist

As the Sr. Employee (People) Relations Specialist, you will partner collaboratively with the HR Business Partner in support of their business unit(s). You will be responsible for facilitating and managing employee relations on behalf of the designated Group. You will lead investigations and address complaints, as well as mediate and resolve issues between employees in compliance with ICF policies and procedures. The Sr. People Relations Specialist provides guidance to employees and managers in both performance and discipline-based issues.  
 
This role will report to the Senior Manager, People Relations and will be a direct partner to the group’s HRBP, the group’s HR Generalist, and other corporate organizations such as the ICF legal team.  

The ideal candidate will be working during core business hours - eastern standard time. Preference to applicants local to our Headquarters in Reston, VA.
 
Key Responsibilities:  

• Serves as a resource and liaison for employee relations matters demonstrating a knowledgeable and comprehensive approach. Inspire trust and confidence with employees and leaders with the HR partnership.  
• Conducts investigations using appropriate fact-finding methods to gather information and obtain pertinent facts of employee relation concerns.  
• Provides guidance and interpretation on policies, procedures, and best practices, to ensure the core principles of ICF are upheld through consistency, fairness and according to our vision and values.  
• Develops and maintains systemic and proactive approaches to conflict resolution between supervisors and employees.  
• Uses surveys, interviews, and other studies to conduct research regarding human resource policies and other employment issues. After analyzing the information, make recommendations on trends policy, program, or process changes.  
• Advises managers and supervisors in best employee relations practices and strategies for managing for both manager and employee concerns.  
• Proactively communicate elevated behavior incidents, patterns, and trends to HRBP leads.  
• Draft, proof and finalize documents ensuring accuracy and compliance with policy/legal requirements.  
• Partner up with the group’s HR Generalist to respond to questions from employees and management regarding ADA compliance and accommodation requests. Evaluates, researches, and administers employee requests for workplace accommodations. Facilitates and participates in the interactive process to identify and assess options for providing reasonable accommodations and access to eligible employees in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability laws.  
• Refer employees to performance management resources so that they may be successful in addressing performance gaps and/or working with their manager and others.  
• Facilitates employee relations meetings and manages employee issues, conflict resolution, performance concerns and corrective action.  
• Work in partnership with managers/leaders to help administer involuntary terminations.  
• Stays abreast of changes in regulations and laws that may impact ICF’s policy or processes.  
• Engage appropriate involvement of internal partners such as internal and external Legal Counsel, Risk Management, and Compliance to proactively ensure risk management and workplace safety.  
• Recommends implementation of team-building strategies to the HRBP.  
• Provide HR Business Partner and leaders reporting data that provides high level review of number of cases and type of cases on a quarterly and yearly basis. Analyze trends and assist in solving/development of action plans.  
• Promote ICF's Core Values through HR programs and practices, model personal integrity, drive the importance of ethics and compliance throughout the business, and address related issues in a timely and effective manner.  
• Performs other duties as assigned or deemed necessary.   

Basic Qualifications: 

• 3+ years of demonstrated success in human resources with experience that includes the following:  managing employee relations, facilitating investigations, and/or administering conflict management and resolution with senior level executives to include those in the C Suite. 
• 3+ years of experience successfully support, coach, and influence internal clients to include with clients in varying geographic locations. 

Preferred Skills/Experience:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education, professional training, or work experience.  
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in Employee Relations, investigations, conflict management and supporting and coaching internal candidates to include senior level executives to include those in the C Suite.