Employee Relations Coordinator
Buncombe County is a caring community in harmony with its environment where citizens succeed, thrive, and realize their potential. Our mission is to promote a healthy, safe, well-educated, and thriving community with a sustainable quality of life; to provide effective and efficient government our citizens can trust; and to deliver needed service through a responsive work force committed to excellence, integrity, and teamwork.
Job Title: Employee Relations Coordinator
Buncombe County Government’s Human Resources Department is seeking a Human Resources team member who embraces the value of being yourself and is committed to the recognition of the rights of all individuals. This person will embrace the counties strategic values: Respect – Integrity – Collaboration - Honesty – Equity.
As an Employee Relations Coordinator, the successful candidate will advise both employees and management on employee relations issues, conduct investigations which includes creating defensible and well-balanced responses to employee and management concerns. The ideal candidate for this position will have held a position where employee relations and investigations were their primary duties for at least three years. Have advanced knowledge of employment law and human resources policies and practices, is highly skilled in project/case management, and is very detail oriented. Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
Purpose of the position:
The primary purpose of this position is to assist the Employee Relations Manager in investigating workplace concerns including unfair treatment, policy violations, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Serve as an impartial resource to resolve workplace conflicts. Strategically support County employees and leaders through performance management and workplace conflict issues to cultivate an innovative, high-performing, and inclusive culture.
Essential Functions of the position:
- Conduct HR investigations including, but not limited to: facilitating intake session from the complainant, Scheduling interviews for investigations, formulating investigative summaries and assisting in employee documentation notices. Provide recommendations and feedback to management to ensure appropriate action is taken where necessary.
- Utilize and maintain case management system to timely document details of concerns, findings, recommendations and resolutions of issues and consultations.
- Responsible to track, provide data analysis and reporting solutions based on business needs, highlighting key trends in employee relations to actively drive proactive solutions to minimize reactive work.
- Advise directors, managers and supervisors on a wide variety of topics including employee relations, conflict resolution, and performance management.
- Manage and/or support various employee relations activities, including but not limited to employee recognition programs, special projects, and other initiatives that support the mission of Human Resources.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, psychology or related field and a minimum of three (3) years of experience in an employee relations or investigator position, demonstrating experience in resolving human resource matters or complex employee relations issues is required.; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered in meeting the minimum qualifications.
Additional Training and Experience:Advanced computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Remain current, interpret and comply with all Federal, State rules and regulations pertaining to employment.
- Ability to apply employee and labor relations expertise to successfully identify trends, gaps, and challenges; execute solution-focused strategies and programs to mitigate risks.
- Demonstrated knowledge and application of Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, FLSA, harassment & retaliation.
- Ability to interface and build strong, trusting relationships across the organization.
- Ability to consult with all levels of staff using a multi-HR-faceted approach to problem solving.
- Display a balanced, objective approach and sound judgment when recommending a course of action or handling an investigation. Ability to listen with patience and respond to high level, controversial issues utilizing good judgement.
- Skill in the development of reports, guidelines and written summaries. Develop action plans and recommend interventions to effectively address issues, where appropriate.
- Ability to communicate effectively (verbal, written) both individually and within groups.
- Ability to work in stressful and sensitive situations. Strong bias for action with a demonstrated track record of delivering solutions with tact and diplomacy.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and Workday. Experience creating and maintaining a case management database. Self-motivated to research and master emerging computer technologies.
- Able to break complex projects into manageable tasks, identify and engage appropriate resources, and deliver accurate, on-time results. Critical thinker with strong problem-solving skills and a tendency to challenge the status quo.
- High tolerance for ambiguity, challenge, and change. Ability to show composure in difficult circumstances.
- Self-starter, able to drive work forward within an agile environment. Ability to look at the bigger picture within HR and the Organization.
Buncombe County is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity, so we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of individuals.
*Review of application materials will begin March 29, 2021.
** Cover letters are required for this position.