Employee Relations Specialist

Job Description

The Employee Relations Specialist is responsible for managing employee relations inquiries and investigations within the County to include handling employee grievances and investigations, reasonable accommodations requests and the interactive process, mediating conflicts between employees and/or management, delivering training on performance management and unlawful harassment, and resolving complex issues within departments. This role contributes to the development of best practices and plays a vital role in enhancing the employee experience and retention across the organization.

Essential Duties

• Meeting and engaging with employees to discuss inquiries, grievances, investigations, accommodations and other employee relations issues ensuring a responsive and supportive HR presence.
• Logging and recording details of all investigations and accommodation requests.
• Compiling detailed reports and memorandums that document findings from inquiries and investigations outlining recommendations, next steps, and resolutions.
• Mediating conflicts between employees and management to foster a positive work environment and resolve disputes effectively.
• Delivering training sessions focused on preventing unlawful harassment in the workplace, promoting awareness, and ensuring compliance with legal standards.
• Leading the interactive process for accommodation requests, working closely with employees to understand their needs and ensure legal compliance.
• Serving as the subject matter expert on federal and state discrimination laws, including but not limited to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the ADA.
• Providing guidance to employees and management regarding these regulations and related policies ensuring consistent application and understanding across the organization.
• Reviewing HR and departmental policies and procedures and providing recommendations to leadership to ensure policies and procedures to reflect current laws, regulations, and County practices.
• Fostering strong collaborative relationships with HR colleagues and other departmental stakeholders to ensure a unified approach to Employee Relations and HR initiatives.
• Participating in HR projects and initiatives that impact employee relations, contributing to the overall improvement of HR services and the employee experience.

Public Speaking Duties

• Presenting findings from investigations to HR leadership and other relevant parties.
• Leading training sessions on topics such as unlawful harassment and performance management.
• Representing the Employee Relations team in departmental meetings, sharing insights, updates, and best practices.

Grade
The grade for this position isC421. Salary will be dependent on education and experience.
Effective 4/11/2023, this position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, finance, or a closely related field and
• Three (3) years of specialized human resources experience or one year of general human resources experience or
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above will also be considered.
• Additional requirements such as management/supervisory experience, licenses, and/or certifications

Preferred Qualifications in addition to the above minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, legal studies or labor relations preferred
• Two (2) years of employee or labor relations experience
• One (1) year of mediation experience
• Workplace Investigation certification
  

For information related to position-specific essential duties, knowledge and skills, and physical requirements, please click here.

Note:The class specifications listed on this website are not the official class specifications for Gwinnett County and are subject to change.

For more information about this department, please click here.About Gwinnett County

Welcome to Gwinnett County Government

Gwinnett County Government is an award-winning employer that believes in investing in its employees by providing corporate level benefits, a wellness program, professional development opportunities, career advancement, and more

Careers with impact

Gwinnett County sets the standard as a dynamic, vibrant community where all people can enjoy economic opportunities, safe neighborhoods, plentiful greenspace, and recreational facilities. We are committed to hiring those who share our dedication to making life better for our residents and business owners. The culture of superior service that our employees have created reflects that standard and helps staff, residents, and stakeholders remain vibrantly connected.

Exceptional benefits

Working for Gwinnett County comes with exceptional benefits, including health coverage, a robust wellness program (Spouses can participate, too!), onsite employee wellness center, longevity pay, tuition reimbursement, and more. The value of Gwinnett County benefits can be up to 49 percent of an individual’s total compensation.

World-class community

More than a million residents make up Gwinnett’s diverse community. The County is located just 45 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta. Georgia Highway 316 reduces travel time to the University of Georgia to 25 minutes.

Gwinnett County is an award-winning employer!

• Atlanta’s Healthiest Employer by Atlanta Business Chronicle
• Green Communities Platinum Certification for Gwinnett County from the Atlanta Regional Commission
• Top 100 Healthiest Workplaces in America by Springbuk and PR NewsWire and more!

Vision
Gwinnett is the preferred community where everyone thrives!

Mission
Gwinnett proudly supports our vibrantly connected community by delivering superior services.

Values
Integrity: We believe in being honest, building trust, and having strong moral principles.
Accountability: We believe in stewardship, transparency, and sustainability.
Equity: We believe in fairness and respect for all.
Inclusivity: We believe in engaging, embracing, and unifying our communities.
Innovation: We believe in continual adaptation of technology, process, and experience.

Hiring Process
Gwinnett County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information regarding our hiring process, please click the links below:

• Hiring Process
• FAQs

Gwinnett County is committed to creating a diverse workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information (including sex), race, color, national origin (including ancestry), gender (identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status (including pregnancy), disability, military or veteran status, religion, political affiliation, immigration status, homeless status, or any other category protected by law.