DSHS Employee Relations Administrator
The Employee Relations Administrator is a senior-level position and works with the Employee Relations Office Chief and HR Leadership Team. You will be responsible and accountable for the development, oversight, and leadership to advise and guide the agency to establish best practices, create and promote an inclusive and equitable culture and work environment, and you're accountable to produce results-driven data to mitigate risk, exposure, and liability for employment and personnel related matters.
The purpose of the position is to monitor, oversee, and guide the day-to-day operations of the employee misconduct investigation process and associated torts.
We are looking for a strong leader who demonstrates skill and ability to influence others while using courageous and tactful communication. To be successful, you will need to partner and collaborate closely with several internal partner including the HR Business Partner Office Chief, Senior HR Business Partners, Enterprise Risk Management Office, Assistant Secretaries across the department and others outside of the department including the Assistant Attorney General’s Office, external attorney firms, the Executive Ethics Board, the Office of Financial Management.
This opportunity offers flexible hybrid remote work, may have to travel occasionally to the headquarters in Olympia, WA based on the business needs.
Some of What You’ll Do
Employee Misconduct Investigations Program:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the employee misconduct investigation process, and associated tools, resources, and training. Create new tools and resources or adjust existing tools or resources that keep the misconduct investigation process current with employment and labor laws.
- Recommend strategies and processes to ensure the department has a defensible process, policies, and practices that are consistent and improve the workplace culture and work environment.
- Partner with department senior leadership to influence agency policy, decisions, and support strategic issues for misconduct investigations.
- Manage, triage, direct, and coordinate employee investigation responsibilities on behalf of the department for all misconduct, attendance, and performance issues.
- Review investigation reports completed by investigators for thoroughness, fairness, impartialness, and provide recommendations before reports are finalized.
- Conduct data and legal analysis related to industry best-practices, policy development on issues related to employee misconduct investigations. Stay abreast of new and changing rules, laws, and precedent setting cases.
Torts:
- Manage and track all HR-related torts, the status, timeframes, from initial filing to completion. Provide periodic updates to HRD Leadership Team on complex and/or high-profile torts.
- Collaborate with the Enterprise Risk Management Office, Chief Risk Officer and Senior Risk Manager to use tort data to identify trends and make recommendations for improvement and preventative measures.
Investigations:
- Conduct high-profile and/or complex investigations of alleged administrative policy violations, rules, regulations, procedures, attendance, and/or performance independently.
Who we are seeking for this role:
Professionals with the following:
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, public administration, business administration, or closely related field; AND five or more years of human resource management experience.
- A master’s degree or greater can substitute for two years of experience AND a minimum of three years of experience in employment investigations or conducting employment investigations.
- Minimum of one year of continuous experience supervising investigators or specialist who conducts investigations.
- Knowledge of Washington state and Federal employment laws.
- Proven and successful experience delivering innovative HR programs within a fast-paced, evolving, and wide organizational setting. Success managing a human resource team through broad scope projects to completion and attainment of objectives. Experience in formulating, developing and implementing key HR strategies and procedures.
OR
- 10 years’ experience in human resources management, three of which must be experience in employment investigations or conducting employment investigations, one of which must be supervising investigators or specialist who conducts investigations.
Preferred / desired education, experience, and competencies:
- SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR preferred/desired.
Experience with Federal and Washington State leave laws is highly desired. - Ability to review documents for accuracy, completeness, and compliance, compile data and information for reports, compose letters and other documentation, interpret, synthesize, and apply administrative policies and procedures accurately.
- Ability to compose clear, concise, professionally written investigation reports, which often contain confidential information.
- Knowledge of just cause principles, Garrity, and Weingarten rights.
- Knowledge of RCWs, WACs, Federal Laws, Title VII, Administrative Policies, and CBAs.
- Ability to collaboratively and professionally work with others.
Competencies we're seeking:
To Apply:
Please provide the following:
- Completed online application
- Chronological resume
- Cover letter describing how your unique skills and experience align with this opportunity.
Questions? Please contact
jourdan.kovacs@dshs.wa.gov and reference 02978.
The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
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