Alexandria City Public Schools
Senior Human Resources Specialist - Employee Relations
Alexandria City Public Schools, Alexandria, Virginia, us, 22350
Job DescriptionThe Senior Human Resources Specialist-Employee Relations supports the Director of Employee Engagement and Relations by providing guidance to leaders, leveraging deep knowledge of the Division to evaluate what is needed to support the Division's objectives and accelerate employee success and career growth. This position will provide strategic support and partner with principals, senior managers, teachers, classified staff, and external customers in resolving workplace conflict, performance management, workplace accommodations, and engagement initiatives. This position will also support and provide guidance to the HR Specialist - Employee Relations and HR Generalist I.This job reports to the Director of Employee Engagement and Relations.This position works on-site.QualificationsEducation : Bachelor's degree, preferably in human resource management or a related field orequivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Master's degree preferred.Certificates & Licenses:
PHR, PHR/SHRM or SPHR/SHRM-CP, or similar human resources related certification preferred. Current Title IX Coordinator training or willingness to complete within the first 90 days of employment.Required Experience:At least three (3) years of direct human resources experience, with a minimum of one (1) year handling employee relations issues.At least one (1) year of consulting with various stakeholders on performance/disciplinary concerns.
Preferred Experience:Prior guidance writing policies, conducting workplace investigations, and overseeing due process meetings.Prior experience in primary/secondary education or higher education.Training in conflict resolution and/or mediation
Essential FunctionsConduct internal investigations on behalf of the district concerning violations of district policy, discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and other employee relations matters in the most complex cases with a high degree of autonomy.Conduct Title IX investigations under the supervision of the Director of Employee Relations related to students and employees.Serves as Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and may temporarily assume some Title IX Coordinator responsibilities as required by the needs of the Division, providing cross-team support to update and inform Human Resources and Student Services and Equity teams on Title IX mattersConduct investigations under the supervision of the Director of Employee Relations related to personnel matters, formal complaints and grievances.Uses appropriate and accepted standards/methods of investigative process to complete a thorough investigationWrites and presents Investigative Reports to appropriate partiesProvide written summaries and associated letters (administrative leave, reprimands, letters of concern) associated with workplace grievances for review by the Director of Employee RelationsUnderstand and execute end-to-end HR business processes across the employee lifecycleParticipate in all levels of coordination to support the Director, including but not limited to:
Education-specific talent development efforts, such as coordinating performance management processesEmployee relations assistance, such as training, investigating, and documentingEntering and managing cases using the case management systemAdvising and guiding principals and administrators through the non-renewal process in accordance with Division procedures and legal requirementsManaging the exit interview process, conducting pulse surveys, and other engagement activitiesCreating documentation for HR systems and process enhancementsWorking collaboratively to improve efficiency and consistently execute all HR business processesProvide thoughtful, accurate, and timely responses to HR colleagues and employees, managers, and school leadersResearching, investigating, and making recommendations related to workplace grievancesProviding inquiry-related data and insights on themes to improve the employee experience
Key Competencies (Knowledge, Skill, Abilities):Knowledge of federal and state employment law.Knowledge of rules, regulations, principles, and practices related to employee conduct, performance, and dispute resolution.High level of integrity; ability to manage conflict, deal with controversy, and handle confidential information ethically, professionally, and appropriatelyThrives while working under pressure in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency for all requestsAbility to defuse and manage volatile and potentially stressful situationsProven ability to provide excellent customer service with strong attention to detail, accuracy, thoroughnessStrong collaboration skills, effective at gathering and synthesizing information from multiple partiesAbility to multi-task, organize, and prioritize while meeting rigorous deadlinesStrong critical evaluation skills - ability to apply sound judgment and identify the root causes of problems through an expanded, holistic view vs. looking at smaller, discrete parts or symptoms in isolationExcellent verbal and written communication skills to include a demonstrated ability to write technical documents highly sensitive in nature related to confidential issues, disciplinary matters and employee grievancesHighly professional manner, with the ability to interact with employees of all levels of experience and seniority, across the organizationAbility to learn quickly; demonstrates an aptitude for learning employment practicesExhibits intellectual curiosity and resourcefulness to find additional information to better understand issues and topics at hand and uses this information to present thoughtful new ideasOperate general office equipment such as copier, computer, scanner, telephone, and fax machine
Clearances:Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.Tuberculosis Skin Test.
Public Health ComplianceMust follow safety and health protocols.
WP
PHR, PHR/SHRM or SPHR/SHRM-CP, or similar human resources related certification preferred. Current Title IX Coordinator training or willingness to complete within the first 90 days of employment.Required Experience:At least three (3) years of direct human resources experience, with a minimum of one (1) year handling employee relations issues.At least one (1) year of consulting with various stakeholders on performance/disciplinary concerns.
Preferred Experience:Prior guidance writing policies, conducting workplace investigations, and overseeing due process meetings.Prior experience in primary/secondary education or higher education.Training in conflict resolution and/or mediation
Essential FunctionsConduct internal investigations on behalf of the district concerning violations of district policy, discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and other employee relations matters in the most complex cases with a high degree of autonomy.Conduct Title IX investigations under the supervision of the Director of Employee Relations related to students and employees.Serves as Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and may temporarily assume some Title IX Coordinator responsibilities as required by the needs of the Division, providing cross-team support to update and inform Human Resources and Student Services and Equity teams on Title IX mattersConduct investigations under the supervision of the Director of Employee Relations related to personnel matters, formal complaints and grievances.Uses appropriate and accepted standards/methods of investigative process to complete a thorough investigationWrites and presents Investigative Reports to appropriate partiesProvide written summaries and associated letters (administrative leave, reprimands, letters of concern) associated with workplace grievances for review by the Director of Employee RelationsUnderstand and execute end-to-end HR business processes across the employee lifecycleParticipate in all levels of coordination to support the Director, including but not limited to:
Education-specific talent development efforts, such as coordinating performance management processesEmployee relations assistance, such as training, investigating, and documentingEntering and managing cases using the case management systemAdvising and guiding principals and administrators through the non-renewal process in accordance with Division procedures and legal requirementsManaging the exit interview process, conducting pulse surveys, and other engagement activitiesCreating documentation for HR systems and process enhancementsWorking collaboratively to improve efficiency and consistently execute all HR business processesProvide thoughtful, accurate, and timely responses to HR colleagues and employees, managers, and school leadersResearching, investigating, and making recommendations related to workplace grievancesProviding inquiry-related data and insights on themes to improve the employee experience
Key Competencies (Knowledge, Skill, Abilities):Knowledge of federal and state employment law.Knowledge of rules, regulations, principles, and practices related to employee conduct, performance, and dispute resolution.High level of integrity; ability to manage conflict, deal with controversy, and handle confidential information ethically, professionally, and appropriatelyThrives while working under pressure in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency for all requestsAbility to defuse and manage volatile and potentially stressful situationsProven ability to provide excellent customer service with strong attention to detail, accuracy, thoroughnessStrong collaboration skills, effective at gathering and synthesizing information from multiple partiesAbility to multi-task, organize, and prioritize while meeting rigorous deadlinesStrong critical evaluation skills - ability to apply sound judgment and identify the root causes of problems through an expanded, holistic view vs. looking at smaller, discrete parts or symptoms in isolationExcellent verbal and written communication skills to include a demonstrated ability to write technical documents highly sensitive in nature related to confidential issues, disciplinary matters and employee grievancesHighly professional manner, with the ability to interact with employees of all levels of experience and seniority, across the organizationAbility to learn quickly; demonstrates an aptitude for learning employment practicesExhibits intellectual curiosity and resourcefulness to find additional information to better understand issues and topics at hand and uses this information to present thoughtful new ideasOperate general office equipment such as copier, computer, scanner, telephone, and fax machine
Clearances:Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.Tuberculosis Skin Test.
Public Health ComplianceMust follow safety and health protocols.
WP