Employee Relations Specialist

Purpose:

This position will address employee concerns and proactively manage workplace issues and help to mitigate potential legal and reputational risks for the organization. The Employee Relations Specialist will ensure compliance with employee laws and regulations to prevent and address any issues that may arise. The Employee Relations Specialist will also serve as an advocate for employees, ensuring that their rights are protected, and their concerns are addressed.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Managing employee relations matters, such as conflict resolutions, disciplinary actions, and grievances.
2. Assisting in the development and implementation of university policies and procedures related to employee relations.
3. Facilitating effective communication between the university administration and employees.
4. Coordinating and delivering training programs to enhance employee relations and foster a positive work environment.
5. Developing and implementing initiatives to promote employee engagement and satisfaction.
6. Ensuring compliance with employment laws and regulations.
7. Maintaining accurate records and documentation related to employee relations matters.
8. Acting as a mediator or negotiator in cases of disputes or conflicts.
9. Staying updated on best practices and trends in employee relations and recommending improvements to policies and procedures.
10. Unemployment disputes/hearings.
11. Work directly with the Executive Director and CHRO on various projects.
12. Assist with other duties as assigned.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Excellent communication skills to effectively communicate with employees, management, and other stakeholders. This includes written and verbal communication, as well as active listening skills.
2. Skilled in identifying and resolving workplace conflicts and employee issues. Can analyze complex situations, find solutions, and facilitate effective communication between parties.
3. Able to negotiate and mediate between employees and management is important.
4. Excellent at handling sensitive and confidential information.

Required Qualifications:

Education, Training, and/or Experience

1. A bachelor's degree in human resources, Employee Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.
2. At least two years of previous experience in employee relations or a related field. This could include work experience in labor relations, conflict resolution, or employee engagement.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Personal Characteristics:

1. Able to perform duties independently under limited supervision.
2. Ability to deal with difficult situations involving sensitive and confidential employee issues.
3. Ability to communicate with all levels of employees and strong attention to details.
4. Able to organize work, engage in a variety of tasks simultaneously and consistently meet deadlines in a high stress environment.
5. Strong Microsoft office skills.
6. Ability to operate standard office equipment and follow office procedures.

Physical Demands:

1. Nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment.
2. Requires ability to communicate and exchange information, collects, compiles, compares, and prepares work documents, set-up and maintain work files.
3. May spend significant time concentrating on CRT identifying and updating information and performing data entry input.
4. Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs., retrieving and placing materials on high shelves and on floor-level shelves; standing, walking, carrying, grasping, hearing, seeing, sitting, kneeling, climbing, balancing, stooping, crouching, and reaching.

Working Conditions:

1. Work performed in a general office environment.
2. May require availability for overtime hours during peak periods.
3. Requires periodic participation and attendance at recruiting events.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Lincoln University. Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

Current Openings for Employee Relations Specialist Jobs at Lincoln University of Missouri