Employee Relations Specialist

Class SummaryAs part of a newly established team within the Human Resources department, the Employee Relations Specialist is responsible for managing employee relations inquiries and investigations within the County. This includes handling employee grievances and investigations, ADA reasonable accommodations requests and the interactive process, mediating conflicts between employees and/or management, delivering training on performance management and unlawful harassment, and resolving complex issues within departments. This role will have the unique opportunity to shape the sections future, contribute to the development of best practices and play a vital role in enhancing employee engagement and retention across the organization.Essential DutiesMeeting and engaging with employees to discuss inquiries, grievances, investigations, ADA accommodations and other employee relations issues ensuring a responsive and supportive HR presence.• Logging and recording details of all investigations and ADA accommodation requests.• Compiling detailed reports and memorandums that document findings from inquiries and investigations outlining recommendations, next steps, and resolutions.• Mediate conflicts between employees and management to foster a positive work environment and resolve disputes effectively.• Delivering training sessions focused on preventing unlawful harassment in the workplace, promoting awareness, and ensuring compliance with legal standards.• Leading the interactive process for ADA accommodation requests, working closely with employees to understand their needs and ensure legal compliance.• Serve as the subject matter expert on federal and state discrimination laws, including but not limited to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the ADA. Provide guidance to employees and management regarding these regulations and related policies ensuring consistent application and understanding across the organization.• Reviewing HR and departmental policies and procedures and providing recommendations to leadership to ensure policies and procedures reflect current laws, regulations, and County practices.• Foster strong collaborative relationships with HR colleagues and other departmental stakeholders to ensure a unified approach to Employee Relations and HR initiatives.• *Participate in HR projects and initiatives that impact employee relations, contributing to the overall improvement of HR services and the employee experience.Public Speaking RequirementsEmployee Relations Specialists will be required to:• Present findings from investigations to HR leadership and other relevant parties.• Lead training sessions on topics such as unlawful harassment and performance management.• Represent the Employee Relations team in departmental meetings, sharing insights, updates, and best practices.Minimum Qualifications• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, finance, or a closely related field (psychology, legal studies or labor relations degree preferred);• three years of specialized human resources experience or one year of general human resources experience;• Or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.Preferred Qualifications• SHRM/PHR• One year of employee or labor relations experience• One year of mediation experienceNote: The class specifications listed on this website are not the official class specifications for Gwinnett County and are subject to change.Additional InformationWelcome to Gwinnett County — one of America's fastest-growing counties for the past 20 years. Our dynamic and exciting county combines the best of big-city living with the comforts of the suburbs.The county's population in 2000 was about 588,448 and we’ve only continued to grow since then, with the population expected to reach one million by the year 2022.Gwinnett has many advantages, beginning with its location and road system. The county is just 45 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta. Thanks to this location, 80 percent of the U.S. population is within a two-hour flight. Georgia Highway 316 has been extended to Athens, reducing travel time to the University of Georgia to 25 minutes. Gwinnett's infrastructure includes more than 2,750 miles of roadways to provide excellent mobility for our residents.The County Administrator and County Attorney are appointed by the Board of Commissioners and serve at its pleasure. To implement the Board's policy directives, the County Administrator uses a management team consisting of members of his immediate staff and 14 department directors. The 14 departments that make up the executive side are Police Services, Fire and Emergency Services, Corrections, Communications, Support Services, Financial Services, Community Services, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Law, Planning and Development, Water Resources, Child Advocacy & Juvenile Services, and Transportation. Each department is run by a director who is charged with managing operations in a manner which stresses the County’s values.In addition to the executive side of County government, certain services are provided through Constitutional officers and independent elected officials. These external offices are created by the Georgia Constitution or through state law. In Gwinnett, they include the Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, District Attorney, Solicitor, Probate Court Judge, and Chief Magistrate.VisionGwinnett is the preferred community where everyone thrives!MissionGwinnett proudly supports our vibrantly connected community by delivering superior services.ValuesIntegrity: We believe in being honest, building trust, and having strong moral principles.Accountability: We believe in stewardship, transparency, and sustainability.Equity: We believe in fairness and respect for all.Inclusivity: We believe in engaging, embracing, and unifying our communities.Innovation: We believe in continual adaptation of technology, process, and experience.Hiring Process• Hiring Process• FAQs