EMPLOYEE RELATIONS OFFICER HR OFFICER II

Location: DJS Headquarters, Office of Human Resources, Baltimore, MD

About the Role

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is dedicated to transforming young lives, creating safer communities, and fostering equitable systems. As the Employee Relations Officer (HR Officer II), you will serve as a Human Resources generalist specializing in employee relations and HR administration. You will provide expert guidance to agency leaders and employees on FMLA administration, employee grievances and disciplinary appeals, health benefits, the Undocumented Sick Leave Program, and the Managed Return to Work (MRTW) program. You will apply personnel laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and agreements to help ensure fair, consistent, and effective HR practices across the agency.

Responsibilities

• Lead Employee Relations and Workplace Resolution:
  • Serve as a DJS hearing officer for employee disciplinary appeals and grievances.
  • Represent the agency at Department of Budget and Management (DBM) settlement conferences and the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
  • Interpret and apply personnel-related laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
  • Provide recommendations to supervisors and agency leadership on employee-related matters.
• Manage FMLA Administration:
  • Provide guidance to employees, supervisors, program managers, and agency officials on FMLA and sick leave.
  • Conduct training on FMLA-related topics.
  • Review and process FMLA requests and certifications.
  • Maintain required documentation and tracking systems.
  • Ensure consistent and equitable application of State and Federal requirements.
• Support Health Benefits Administration:
  • Advise employees on health care options.
  • Research and resolve coverage concerns.
  • Coordinate with the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits (OPSB) and benefits vendors.
  • Review enrollment and change documentation.
  • Maintain health benefits records.
• Administer the Undocumented Sick Leave Program:
  • Provide guidance to supervisors and managers on policy implementation.
  • Coordinate and manage the program.
  • Monitor adherence to established policies and procedures.
• Support Agency Operations:
  • Complete required audits, reports, and other projects.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned to support agency operations.

Requirements

Experience: Six (6) years and six months of experience, including two (2) years and six (6) months of professional HR experience in areas such as recruitment and employment services, classification and compensation, employee relations, test development and validation, job analysis, job evaluation, salary administration, HR program evaluation, or HR policy formulation, plus an additional four (4) years of professional HR management work experience in the same areas or as a generalist.

Qualifications

• Candidates may substitute paraprofessional personnel work experience on a year-for-year basis for up to four (4) years of the required experience. Paraprofessional personnel work involves applying public sector personnel procedures, policies, rules, and regulations to specific employment actions, including:
  • Preparing and maintaining employment records.
  • Calculating salaries.
  • Applying personnel-related rules and policies.
  • Preparing personnel-related reports.
  • Conducting employee orientation.
  • Counseling employees regarding benefits and obligations.
  • Responding to inquiries concerning employment procedures.
• Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two (2) years and six (6) months of professional HR experience in the specified areas for the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute thirty (30) graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in HR/personnel administration, human resources management, business administration, public administration, statistics, tests and measurements, psychology, or a related field for up to six (6) years of the required experience. Transcripts must be submitted with the completed application as a single PDF by the closing date.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in human resources management classifications or specialty codes in the human resources management field on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing consultation and guidance to management on complex employee and labor relations matters, including investigations, disciplinary actions, grievances, and workplace concerns.
• Experience administering employee leave programs, including FMLA, disability accommodations, and return-to-work processes.
• Experience interpreting and applying employment laws, regulations, policies, and procedures within a public sector, unionized, or highly regulated environment.
• Experience developing and delivering training or guidance on human resources policies, procedures, or workplace practices.
• Familiarity with the State of Maryland’s State Personnel Management System (SPMS) and State Personnel Policy (SPP), or comparable public-sector human resources policies, systems, and procedures.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certifications

• Employees in this classification are required to obtain certification in State Personnel Management System policies and procedures and in the functionality of the Statewide Personnel System from the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits, Maryland Department of Budget and Management within six months of appointment and recertification every six months thereafter.
• Employees may be assigned duties requiring the operation of a motor vehicle and must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license in the State of Maryland.

Benefits

State of Maryland benefits provided.