Employee Relations Specialist Job Opening

Employee Relations Specialist

Columbia Southern University

• Orange Beach, Alabama
Category: Business Development Specialist
Columbia Southern University
Job Description
Job Title: Employee Relations Specialist
Department: Human Resources
Reports to: Human Resources Manager
FLSA: Exempt
Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (extended hours when requested)
Location: Orange Beach, AL

Job Summary
The Employee Relations Specialist supports the initiatives of the Employee Relations area, and other functional areas, of the Human Resources department. The position holds responsibility and assists with the following aspects of Human Resources to include, but not limited to employee relations, policy development, performance management, new hire orientation, compensation, benefits, and employment terminations; in addition to supportive consulting role for all HR-related questions.
Essential Job Tasks Additional duties may be assigned.
  • Provides guidance for employees, and leaders in all employee-related concerns, and ensures consistency in the application of institutional policies and procedures.
  • Serve as liaison between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
  • Manages employee relations database to assure consistency in decisions regarding employment and discipline, management practices, and policies.
  • Conduct initial investigation of all employee relations issues, claims of harassment, and makes recommendations to determine next steps to be taken.
  • Provides guidance to employees seeking FMLA; Tracks and monitors FMLA for Columbia Southern University, CSEG, and Waldorf University (Orange Beach) employees.
  • Work collaboratively with the HR Manager to coach/consult/counsel with all CSU leaders related to interactions with employees to promote positive approach and outcomes.
  • Assist with new hire orientation and presents CSU's Employee Handbook policies and procedures.
  • Research and respond to unemployment claims.
  • Promotes, maintains and enhances workplace culture within the Human Resource department and the university.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Knowledge
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, employee relations and HR information systems.
  • Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Skills
  • Critical Thinking - Uses logic and reasoning to look at different types of information in order to make conclusions and work through problems.
  • Active Listening - Gives full attention to what other people are saying and taking time to understand the points being made.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Interpersonal Skills - Communicates and interacts with people effectively while being aware of social perceptions.
  • Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Abilities
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions.
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Education & Experience
  • Requires a bachelor’s degree specializing in HR, or business, or relevant HR experience as a Generalist or Employee Relations Specialist equal to five (5) years in the HR field.
  • Three (3) to five (5) years of employee relations experience required.
  • SPHR, PHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.
Equipment Used
  • Office equipment including computers, telephones, printers, faxes, and copiers.
  • Software use include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Blackboard, and internal database software.
Work Environment
Works primarily within a climate controlled environment within an office setting mostly sedentary with frequent sitting, occasional walking and lifting, and frequent near vision use for reading and computer use. Noise level is generally moderate.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.