Specialist, Employee Relations & Talent Strategy

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

At Uncommon Schools, we believe that a strong employee experience helps create the conditions for students to thrive. As the Specialist, Employee Relations & Talent Strategy, you will play an important role in supporting employees and managers by responding to employee relations questions, managing key employment processes, and helping ensure our policies and practices are applied consistently. Working closely with colleagues across Talent Strategy, Human Resources, school teams, and Home Office departments, you'll help maintain critical systems, improve operational processes, and support learning and development initiatives. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving problems, providing excellent customer service, and managing multiple operational workstreams with accuracy and care.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations Case Management

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations inquiries and cases, responding to questions and determining appropriate next steps.
• Manage Tier 1 employee relations cases from initial intake through resolution, ensuring timely follow-up and documentation.
• Review and respond to internal transfer requests and background screening escalations.
• Manage employment authorization escalations and support visa sponsorship processes from initial request through legal filing while helping ensure compliance with employment requirements.
• Conduct exit interviews with departing employees, summarize findings, and share insights with internal stakeholders.

Employee Relations Operations & Compliance

• Manage unemployment claims administration, monitor trends, identify potential financial risks, and recommend process improvements.
• Maintain accurate employee relations data across employee relations and talent systems, including data entry, audits, reporting, and analytics.
• Help ensure employee relations processes are completed accurately and consistently while maintaining confidential records.
• Support reporting that enables the Talent Strategy team to monitor employee relations trends and outcomes.

Talent Strategy Operations

• Manage Talent Strategy and Employee Relations Zendesk queues by responding to staff and manager inquiries within established service expectations and routing requests as appropriate.
• Maintain and update internal knowledge bases to ensure employees and managers have access to current policies, resources, and learning materials.
• Support departmental administrative operations, including invoice processing, credit card reconciliation, and reimbursement requests.
• Prepare and summarize employee relations data to support ongoing reporting and decision-making.

Learning & Development Support

• Provide operational support for learning and development initiatives.
• Coordinate communications, organize training materials, prepare printed resources, and assist with room reservations and logistics for learning events.

Required Qualifications

• 3–4 years of relevant experience in human resources, employee relations, talent operations, people operations, or a related field.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Experience communicating professionally with a variety of stakeholders through email, ticketing systems, or similar customer support channels.
• Experience managing multiple workstreams while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and build positive working relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Zendesk or a similar ticket management platform.
• Experience working with HR systems, case management systems, or employee data (such as HR Acuity and Workday). 
• Experience supporting employee relations, HR operations, or compliance-related processes.

Physical Requirements

• Moderate physical activity, including standing or walking for extended periods, setting up materials, and carrying objects weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Minimal travel, including occasional local travel or quarterly school visits.

Not sure you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply—we're excited to learn what you bring.

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent. 

Compensation:The full compensation range for this role is $70,100-$82,500. Typically, new hires who fully meet all qualifications listed in the job description will start at $74,300. Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed. Compensation determinations consider relevant professional experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Work Environment:

This role is based at Uncommon Schools’ Home Office located at 100 Church St, New York, NY. Team members are expected to work in person at least 3 days per week. Minimal local travel may occasionally be required.

Benefit Highlights: 

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].