DSHS OOS Employee Relations Unit Investigator

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is seeking an Employee Relations Unit Investigator within the Human Resources Division to conduct complex workplace investigations and guide leadership on compliance with laws, policies, and bargaining agreements.

The role includes leading investigations into discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, preparing findings, and supporting agency-wide risk mitigation with strong analytical and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Seven years of paid professional experience in human resources consultation and/or managing HR staff.
• Experience conducting investigations into employee misconduct and/or civil rights investigations.
• Strong analytical thinking and data analysis capabilities.
• Ability to author clear, concise, grammatically correct writings.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of employment civil rights laws related to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support routine and complex workplace investigations into policy violations concerning all forms of employee misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.
• Create investigation plans and schedule and conduct investigative interviews to present key findings of fact.
• Review, request, and analyze evidence from verbal and written statements, records, video, electronic data and other forensic documentation.
• Prepare clear, concise investigative reports outlining facts and providing analysis to support fair and legally compliant decision-making.

Skills

HR consulting

Investigations

Data analysis

Technical writing

Cross-functional collaboration

Employment civil rights laws

Job description

Picture yourself doing deeply meaningful work—using your investigative skills, sound judgment, and ability to navigate complex situations to ensure fairness, accountability, and equity across a large public service agency.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is seeking an Employee Relations Unit Investigator to join the Human Resources Division within the Office of the Secretary. In this role, you will conduct complex and routine workplace investigations and provide expert guidance to leadership to ensure compliance with laws, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.

You will lead and support investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other forms of employee misconduct. Your work ensures that such allegations are dealt with factually and helps ensure protection for the public, employees, and DSHS by creating a record of the facts and evidence found, and when appropriate, may also serve as a basis for discipline.

This position requires strong analytical thinking, independent judgment, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing with a wide range of stakeholders, including leadership, employees, legal partners, and external agencies.

This role is classified as a WMS1.

Some Of What You’ll Do

Conduct Investigations

• Lead and support routine and complex workplace investigations into policy violations concerning all forms of employee misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.
• Create investigation plans and schedule and conduct investigative interviews necessary to present key findings of fact.
• Review, request, and analyze evidence obtained through verbal and written statements, records, video, various electronic data and other available forensic documentation

Analyze & Report

• Collect and objectively analyze evidence as it relates to policies and procedures.
• Correlate alleged behavior with applicable policies
• Prepare clear, concise, well-organized investigative reports outlining facts and providing analysis to support consistent, fair, and legally compliant decision-making.

Support Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain confidential data and information as required by applicable laws and DSHS policies.
• Maintain timely records of investigation status using program approved software and systems.
• Provide information and analysis to support a determination of appropriate corrective action and/or agency wide risk-mitigation

Lead & Develop Others

• Provide training, coaching, and technical guidance when requested to programs and HRD partners.
• Adhere to and promote consistent and timely investigation practices.
• Provide input for continuous process improvement and protocols designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of employee relations investigations.
• Work collaboratively with team members, union partners, employee relations leadership and stakeholders

Who we want as our newest teammate

At least seven years of paid professional experience of the following:

• Providing human resources consultation and/or managing human resource staff.
• Conducting investigations into employee misconduct and/or civil rights investigations.

Equivalent education and/or experience may be substituted for the years of experience.

Skills And Abilities

• Experience in a legal or investigative setting requiring a high degree of knowledge of legal or investigative concepts, issues, and analysis.
• Professional experience and training in investigative/paralegal/law enforcement work.
• Professional experience and training in analysis of complex issues and data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to author clear concise, thorough and grammatically correct writings.
• Demonstrated ability working with multidisciplinary groups, securing cooperation across departments, and working collaboratively with diverse individuals and teams.
• Knowledge and clear understanding of employment civil rights laws pertaining to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Questions? Contact [e-mail] and reference job number 08497

Supplemental Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at [phone]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (NEpotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here . Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security