Employee Relations Specialist

Under the supervision of the Director of Employee Relations, this position plays a critical role in supporting an organizational culture that promotes productive work behaviors and communications, facilitating effective dialogue between employees and management, resolves workplace conflict, and processing ADA workplace accommodations. 

Work responsibilities include: conduct employee investigations, provide employee case management, and reporting; provide investigative files, summaries and recommendations related to policy violations based on facts and evidence; facilitate ADA accommodation requests; collaborate with HR team members and provide day-to-day guidance on matters relating to performance management, disciplinary actions, and organizational policies & procedures. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Complaints and Investigations

• Conduct investigations in response to a range of employee relations concerns, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace violence, and other violations of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Communicate regularly regarding pending investigations and provides timely investigation reports with supporting documentation for all completed investigations
• Use effective interviewing and documentation techniques and utilize the designated online case management tool for tracking
• Assist with the presentation of cases before The Legal Aid Society Complaint Panel

Performance Management and Conflict Resolution

• Coach and advise managers and supervisors on the handling of performance issues, investigations, and disciplinary actions and provide guidance to performance improvement plans (PIPs)
• Provide guidance and resources to employees on organizational policies & procedures
• Assist managers and supervisors with adhering to the grievance procedure under the collective bargaining agreements

ADA Accommodation Requests and Resolution

• As needed, coordinate ADA accommodation request and resolution and provide general information to supervisors and employees
• Ensure timely communication to supervisors, employees and Matrix to facilitate resolution of the request
• As needed and approved, coordinate purchases and services for employee requests

Team Support

• Develop effective relationships with supervisors and staff to promote positive employee relations throughout the organization to ensure a high level of employee satisfaction and engagement
• Conduct weekly meetings with assigned business unit(s)
• Collaborate with the General Counsel’s office and HR Team Members to resolve employee relation matters
• May provide trainings, presentations, and facilitate group meetings to develop skills and knowledge within the organization

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development.
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and 2 years of work experience in employee relations, investigations, employment law, conflict resolution and disciplinary actions or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience

Preferred qualifications:  

• Degree in Human Resources Management or related field
• SHRM certification (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP)
• Experience with conducting EEO investigations
• Experience working with a unionized workforce
• Knowledge and use of inclusive employee engagement and restorative conflict resolution practices
• Training and/or experience in mediation and group facilitation

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers  
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships 
• Proficient computers skills, such as the Microsoft Office Suite   
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect 
• Commitment to live Legal Aid Society’s values and follow policies, and procedures 
• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws, statutes, which govern employment policies and practices
• Thorough understanding and application of internal and external HR principles, concepts, practices and standards
• Ability to build strong working relationships across all levels of the organization
• Excellent planning, organization and time management skills, attention to detail, ability to handle multiple tasks, and work in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; must be an articulate and persuasive communicator
• Ability to objectively coach employees and management through complex, difficult, and emotional issues using a DEI-informed lens

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers. 
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships.
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect.
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values.

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required: 

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video 
• May require travel within NYC, across the five borough region  
• Ability to lift 10 pounds on an occasional basis 

* For positions noted as essential, this will require either remote or in-person work during times of closure or otherwise non-typical business hours which may include evenings and weekends and during unforeseen events such as inclement weather or poor air quality conditions. 

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles. 

Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits. 

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness 

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.  

studentaid.gov 

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs 

WORK AUTHORIZATION 

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.) 

HOW TO APPLY 

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF: 

• Cover Letter
• Resume 

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.