Employee Relations Specialist job description template

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Employee Relations Specialist Job Description Template

An employee relations specialist is key to maintaining a positive work environment and fostering strong relationships between employees and management. This template offers a comprehensive guide to attracting qualified HR professionals skilled in conflict resolution, policy development, and effective communication. 

With this template, readers will learn the essentials of crafting a compelling job description, including core responsibilities, necessary qualifications, and ways to create an engaging job posting that resonates with potential hires. Use this guide to attract top talent who excel at managing employee relations issues, implementing HR policies, and enhancing employee engagement.

Job overview

Our company is searching for a dedicated employee relations specialist to join our HR team. This role focuses on supporting a positive work environment by addressing employee concerns, developing HR policies, and collaborating on employee engagement initiatives

The ideal candidate will possess strong communication and interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of employment laws, and experience with project management and HR consulting. This position requires handling sensitive matters, working closely with HR professionals, engaging in talent acquisition and retention strategies, and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure compliance and promote employee satisfaction.

Key responsibilities 

This employee relations specialist will:

  • Handle employee concerns and grievances. Provide guidance and support to ensure fair resolution while maintaining confidentiality.
  • Mediation and conflict resolution. Act as an impartial mediator between employees and management to foster a collaborative environment.
  • Develop and implement HR policies. Create policies aligned with employment laws and labor regulations to ensure compliance and fairness.
  • Manage performance management initiatives. Collaborate with HR and management on strategies to support employee growth and satisfaction.
  • Conduct workplace investigations. Investigate allegations of misconduct, harassment, and other issues with discretion and professionalism.
  • Promote employee engagement. Implement programs and practices that boost employee satisfaction and retention.
  • Provide training and development programs for managers. Create training programs for management on effective employee relations practices, disciplinary actions, and decision-making.
  • Collaborate on the recruitment process and onboarding. Assist in talent acquisition (staffing) — including onboarding new hires — and ensuring a smooth transition into the company culture.
  • Document employee relations activities. Maintain accurate records of employee relations issues, including exit interviews and disciplinary actions.

Qualifications and skills 

To qualify, candidates should have:

  • Education. Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field.
  • Experience. Sroven years of experience in HR management or as an employee relations specialist with a focus on problem-solving and conflict resolution.
  • Technical skills. Proficiency in Excel, SHRM standards, HR software, and familiarity with workflows and project management tools.
  • Interpersonal skills. Must have excellent communication skills and be able to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
  • Organizational skills. Effective time management skills, strong organizational abilities, and capacity to handle multiple HR initiatives.
  • Knowledge of employment laws. Deep understanding of labor laws, company policies, and employee rights to ensure compliance.
  • HR consulting experience. Ability to work on freelance HR projects or as part of a full-time HR team, depending on company needs.

About our company 

We are a forward-thinking company focused on creating a positive work environment where employee engagement and satisfaction are a priority. Our HR department values collaboration, effective communication, and compliance to ensure a thriving workplace. Join us to be a part of a dynamic team where talent acquisition and retention are at the core of our business.

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  • $80 hourly
    Carol G.
    • 5.0
    • (51 jobs)
    Auburn, CA
    Featured Skill Employee Relations
    Recruiting
    HR System Management
    Policy Development
    Training & Development
    Human Resources Consulting
    HR & Recruiting Software
    Human Resources Strategy
    Employee Engagement
    Resolves Conflict
    Management Development
    Performance Management
    Resume Writing
    Career Coaching
    Human Resources Compliance
    I am a strategist and problem solver who can quickly assess your pain points, identify and implement solutions. I am a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional - SHRM-CP with over 25 years of experience plus an MBA, in addition I hold the SHRM California Law Specialty Credential. I work across a wide variety of industries and states and with any size company. Talk with me about payroll and HR system evaluation and implementation, if you go through me, I can get you a discount with several commonly used systems such as Paychex, Gusto, Rippling, Eddy, TriNet/Zenefits, GoCo, the BLR Handbook Builder Tool, and JazzHR for recruiting. I can help with tricky HR issues and questions and be contract or part-time HR support. I am available and flexible to meet your needs. Key HR and Business Acumen Skills: Recruiting Compliance Compensation strategy Benefits administration Payroll Performance management Conflict resolution Strategy development Relationship management Leadership and coaching Training programs Team and culture development Mentoring and training Business process development Business process re-engineering HRIS systems selection, implementation and management
  • $165 hourly
    Nicole L.
    • 4.8
    • (15 jobs)
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Featured Skill Employee Relations
    Continuous Improvement
    Process Documentation
    Compensation & Benefits
    Business Operations
    Automated Workflow
    Project Management
    HR Policy
    Employment Handbook
    Human Resources Compliance
    Human Resource Information System
    Recruiting
    Human Resources
    HR & Business Services
    Performance Management
    Driving process improvement and streamlining workflows across HR, talent acquisition, sales, marketing, and business operations. Strong business and technical acumen with over 12-years experience working for organizations ranging from small startup environments to Big Tech. Fierce problem-solver who leverages modern technology to implement and deploy tools and automations that increase efficiency and productivity. Background & Experience Highlights: - Strong business acumen, communication, and presentation skills - Supports highly technical teams as well as senior leaders and executive stakeholders - Streamlines workflows, increases efficiency, automates tasks, and enhances productivity - Develops and leads HR programs end-to-end, including creating and implementing SOP's - Full life cycle recruiting in both corporate and agency settings - Recruits for one-to-one, evergreen, university, technical, healthcare, and executive level roles - Leverages data to drive decision-making, implement process improvement, and solve ambiguous challenges - Manages and mentors HR and recruiting teams, in both onsite and remote environments - Supports growth while maintaining company culture and employee experience during mergers & acquisitions - Collaborates with hiring managers and leadership teams to define hiring needs, build organizational structures, and support succession planning - HRMS & ATS Tools: Workday, ADP, SuccessFactors, Taleo, Beamery, Zoho, BambooHR, Greenhouse, Workable, Breezy, Bullhorn, Gusto, Paychex, and more Project Management & Process Improvement: - Leads projects end-to-end, including performing needs assessments to developing scopes of work, establishing project goals and objectives, managing budget and allocating resources, settling up tasks and milestones, communicating with stakeholders, generating progress reports, and delivering results - Proactively identifies true and potential business challenges and uses creativity and ingenuity to develop intelligent solutions - Consistently delivers custom process improvement solutions to enhance complex workflows across multiple functional areas - PM Tools: Asana, Clickup, Trello, Zoho, Monday.com, MS Project, and more Technical Project Highlights: - Designed, built roadmap, and project managed the development and deployment of a web application (MS Office AddIn), which automated document parsing and formatting - Collaborated with senior leadership at Facebook to evaluate metrics, identify gaps, and redesign a recruiting analytics report using complex functions and automations in Salesforce - Designed, developed, updated, and maintained multiple websites for clients across various industries - Developed a script to automate tedious capture/send compliance process, freeing up several hours per week per team member - Designed, managed, and deployed crowdsource recruiting platform, which managed open requisitions, applicants, and recruiter stats, including submissions and earnings - Helped client create and implement new revenue stream through publisher and affiliate marketing partnerships - Developed a strategic email marketing campaign for a product launch, integrating subscriber sign up forms and building a comprehensive sales funnel - Transitioned procurement and sales operation from paper-based filing system to electronic record keeping and filing with cloud storage and complete virtual access Marketing & CRM: - Proven experience driving revenue growth, customer engagement, and customer acquisition with strategic marketing techniques, attractive websites and landing pages, enticing email campaigns, application integration, and automated workflows. - Ability to configure, integrate, and pull meaningful insights from a variety of SaaS platforms, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, and more Career Development Coaching: - Creates career and job search materials, including resumes, cover letters, biographies, and LinkedIn profiles - Provides coaching on job search strategy, interview preparation, and offer negotiation - Develops and delivers training sessions on a variety of career development topics for candidates, coaches, and recruitment professionals Education & Training: - Bachelor’s degree Economics with a minor in Business - Bachelor's degree in Information Technology - Certifications in Human Resources and Data Analysis - Professional training and certificates in resume writing and personal branding - Google certified in Data Analytics Technical Skills: - Data Analytics - Excel Power BI / Macros - Tableau / BigQuery / Kaggle - SQL / MYSQL - HTML / CSS / Javascript - VB / VBA - Zapier / API Integrations - AI Tools: ChatGPT, Bing, Bard, Dall-E, Stable Diffusion - WordPress / Wix / Square / GoDaddy / HubSpot / Zoho
  • $120 hourly
    Nicolette V.
    • 5.0
    • (18 jobs)
    White Lake charter Township, MI
    Featured Skill Employee Relations
    Compensation Report
    Human Resource Information System
    Benefits
    Compensation
    Employee Training
    Performance Management
    Recruiting
    Payroll Accounting
    Human Resource Management
    Project Management
    As a consultant, I bring a proven track record of delivering results-oriented, customized solutions that empower organizations to manage their most valuable resource—their people. With an MBA and a strong foundation in HR strategy, talent optimization, and leadership coaching, I work closely with leaders to enhance executive presence, build high-performing teams, and foster people-centric cultures that drive sustainable business success. My experience spans start-ups to mid-size companies across industries, including tech, automotive, energy, retail, non-profit, and healthcare. I collaborate with U.S. and international clients to develop HR and leadership strategies that align with their mission, culture, and long-term growth objectives. 2024 accomplishments include: •Scaling a tech start-up from 20 to 200 employees in less than two years by implementing a strategic workforce plan and prioritizing leadership development. •Guiding an international company in aligning compensation and benefits structures across subsidiaries in seven countries, improving talent acquisition and retention by 20%. •Helping multiple organizations align HR strategies with their corporate mission and culture, ensuring continuity and sustainable growth. • Led creating a national workers’ compensation rehabilitation program, employee stock options, retirement plans, comprehensive training and compliance programs, customized compensation packages, and commission structures. •Working as a fractional HR director for five national companies, creating policies and procedures, ensuring compliance across multiple states, and managing employee engagement, payroll, and benefits administration. As the founder of VanBaalen Consulting, I am dedicated to empowering leaders to lead authentically with integrity, emotional intelligence, and purpose. I believe great leaders create great cultures that drive innovation, adaptability, and long-term success. My strategic and personalized approach equips leaders to thrive in an evolving business landscape while building inclusive, mission-aligned, high-performing teams. Beyond consulting, I am the founder and President of Creative Career Solutions, a non-profit organization that provides mentorship and strategic career guidance to underserved communities and underemployed workers. My passion lies in fostering career growth, developing exceptional leaders, and shaping the future of leadership by leveraging organizations’ greatest asset—their employees. Let’s work together to build the culture, strategy, and leadership to take your organization to the next level.
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