EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Location: Springfield, IL 62704

Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $7,000 - $8,500 monthly

Full-time, salaried position with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Position Overview

Join the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) as an Employee Relations Specialist (Human Resources Specialist), where you'll play a key role in fostering a positive, compliant, and high-performing workplace. In this dynamic position, you'll partner with agency leadership to resolve complex employee and labor relations matters, conduct workplace investigations, support employee engagement initiatives, and develop impactful training programs that strengthen organizational culture and drive workforce success.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Employee Relations Specialist for DCEO, performing complex and specialized duties in human resources functions focused on employee and labor relations under the general direction of the Employee Relations Manager.
• Assist in the management of the Agency’s Labor Relations Function.
• Support the Assistant Deputy Director of Human Resources on agency-wide employee engagement initiatives.
• Assist in the creation and delivery of professional development training content to employees.
• Review and evaluate internal policies and procedures for consistency with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) contract; identify and propose changes to maintain consistency between contract, personnel rules, and Agency policy/procedures.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Requirements

• Knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with courses in public administration, labor relations, or human resources.
• Two (2) years of professional human resources experience.
• Completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Ability to work overtime, including evenings and weekends, as required or mandated.
• Ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of professional experience in labor relations or employee relations.
• Two (2) years of experience working with collective bargaining agreements, grievance procedures, disciplinary processes, and labor relations principles.
• Two (2) years of experience researching, analyzing, and interpreting policies, rules, procedures, collective bargaining contracts, and employment-related laws or regulations.
• Two (2) years of experience preparing and conducting/coordinating training courses designed to engage adult learners to meet organizational objectives.
• Two (2) years of experience conducting workplace investigations.

About The Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is to create equitable economic opportunities across the State of Illinois. By attracting and supporting major job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ world-class workforce, fostering innovation, and ushering in the new clean energy economy, DCEO works to fortify Illinois’ reputation as a global economic powerhouse while ensuring Illinois is the best state to live, work, and do business.

Schedule

• Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
• Headquarter Location: 1011 S 2nd St, Springfield, Illinois, 62704