Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Serves as the Chief Personnel Officer's primary professional Human Resources partner, providing day-to-day support in employee relations, labor relations, recruitment, compliance, and strategic HR initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Employee Relations
  • Serve as the day-to-day HR partner for principals, supervisors, and district administrators regarding routine employee relations matters.
  • Conduct workplace investigations involving employee complaints, misconduct, policy violations, harassment, discrimination, and other personnel matters under the direction of the Chief Personnel Officer.
  • Prepare investigative reports, findings, and recommendations.
  • Coach administrators regarding performance management, attendance concerns, documentation, conflict resolution, and progressive discipline.
  • Draft disciplinary correspondence, counseling memoranda, performance improvement plans, and settlement documentation.
  • Assist administrators in resolving workplace conflict while promoting positive employee relations.
  • Escalate complex, high-risk, or legally sensitive matters to the Chief Personnel Officer.
• Labor Relations
  • Assist the Chief Personnel Officer in administering collective bargaining agreements.
  • Interpret labor contracts and provide day-to-day guidance to administrators regarding contract language.
  • Assist in responding to grievances and preparing supporting documentation.
  • Participate in grievance meetings and labor-management meetings.
  • Support collective bargaining preparation through research, costing, data collection, and implementation of negotiated agreements.
  • Monitor compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
• Recruitment & Talent Acquisition
  • Partner with administrators throughout the recruitment and selection process.
  • Coordinate recruitment efforts for instructional, administrative, and exempt staff positions.
  • Participate in interviews and selection processes.
  • Develop recruitment strategies to address hard-to-fill positions.
  • Support executive-level recruitment.
  • Coordinate onboarding for new employees in collaboration with the HR Coordinator.
  • Evaluate recruitment effectiveness and recommend process improvements.
• Workforce Planning & Retention
  • Analyze workforce trends including vacancies, turnover, retirements, and staffing patterns.
  • Conduct exit interview analysis and identify retention opportunities.
  • Assist in developing recruitment and retention strategies.
  • Support succession planning initiatives.
  • Prepare workforce analytics and reports for district leadership.
  • Assist with employee engagement and recognition initiatives.
• Leadership Support
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to principals and department leaders on routine HR matters.
  • Provide day-to-day guidance regarding employment practices, district policies, and personnel procedures.
  • Assist in developing and delivering administrator training related to employee relations, investigations, documentation, supervision, and labor contract administration.
  • Partner with district leaders to proactively identify and resolve employee concerns.
• Compliance & Risk Management
  • Assist in the administration of ADA accommodations and the interactive process.
  • Coordinate FMLA, Workers' Compensation, and other employee leave programs.
  • Monitor compliance with employment laws, Board policy, administrative guidelines, and district procedures.
  • Maintain confidential personnel records and employment documentation.
  • Assist with state reporting and compliance requirements.
• Strategic Human Resources
  • Prepare HR reports, Board reports, staffing analyses, and workforce metrics.
  • Assist with implementation of HR initiatives aligned with the district Strategic Plan.
  • Participate in policy review and development.
  • Recommend improvements to HR processes, procedures, and systems.
  • Participate in special projects assigned by the Chief Personnel Officer.
• Department Operations
  • Prepare HR Board reports, staffing reports, and required state reports.
  • Track administrator certifications and district compliance requirements.
  • Coordinate executive and administrative hiring processes.
  • Oversee implementation of HRIS contract changes and assist with system troubleshooting.
  • Coordinate special HR initiatives and grant-related personnel projects.
  • Support onboarding of instructional and administrative staff.
  • Collaborate with Payroll, Business Services, and district leadership regarding personnel actions.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Personnel Officer.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible professional Human Resources experience.
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations.
• Experience providing employee relations guidance and coaching to supervisors.
• Experience interpreting and administering collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience in a unionized environment.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain strict confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree.
• Legal coursework.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Public school Human Resources experience.
• Collective bargaining experience.

Schedule

12-month position, 261 days. Some evening work required for Board meetings, grievance meetings, negotiations, or special district events.

Pay

$49,970.88 - $74,174.40 hiring range.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• Membership in the Michigan Public Schools Employee Retirement System (www.michigan.gov/ors).