Employee Relations and Leave Specialist, Office of Human Resources

University of Baltimore; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition remission

Paid leave

Retirement plans with employer contributions

Job summary

A public educational institution in Baltimore is seeking an Employee Relations and Leave Specialist to provide guidance on counseling and performance management while administering leave programs. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree and two years of HR experience. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package including health plans and paid leave.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience in Human Resources.
• Experience in employee relations, leave compliance, and/or higher education preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance on employee counseling and performance management.
• Administer employee leave programs ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Support investigations related to misconduct.
• Identify training needs and assist in training development.
• Administer unemployment insurance processes.
• Participate in engagement activities to support employee retention.

Skills

Excellent judgment

Working knowledge of FMLA

Conflict resolution skills

Excellent verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business, or related field

Job description

Overview

The University of Baltimore is seeking an Employee Relations and Leave Specialist in the Office of Human Resources. The role provides guidance to managers and employees on counseling, discipline, performance management, and policy interpretation. In addition, this position administers FMLA, ADA, Parental Leave, and Worker’s Compensation, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations as well as USM and UBalt policies. This is an entry professional‑level employee relations role expected to work independently under the guidance of a lead role.

Base pay range

Base pay range: $65,000.00/yr - $72,000.00/yr

Responsibilities

• Provides guidance to managers and employees on a wide range of issues including employee counseling, performance management, and policy interpretation.
• Reviews, updates, drafts, and operationalizes policies and policy priorities.
• Administers employee leave programs related to FMLA, ADA, Parental Leave, and Worker’s Compensation. Educates employees and managers on the provisions for each leave, collaborates with departments to find workable solutions for various related leave situations, and ensures compliance with regulatory and USM/UBalt requirements. May collaborate with OHR Operations on complex leave matters that are related to this position’s areas of responsibility.
• Supports complaint investigations related to discrimination, or sexual misconduct or other misconduct. This may include receiving complaints, providing employees with information about the process, conducting interviews, taking notes / observing interviews, and drafting reports. This work will be under the guidance of the Lead Employee Relations Specialist and the AVP for Human Resources.
• In collaboration and consultation with the Lead Employee Relations Specialist and the Manager of Training and Development, identifies training needs. Assists in the development of training content and delivers training as appropriate. Contributes to job aids, web site content, and knowledge boards.
• Administer unemployment insurance processes including claim responses, hearing representation, documentation management, and compliance with state and federal regulations to effectively manage unemployment costs.
• Supports employee retention through engagement and recognition activities. Participates in campus-wide committees, identifies opportunities for recognition, and supports existing recognition events and activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business, or related field.
• Experience: Two years of experience in Human Resources.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in employee relations, leave compliance, and/or higher education.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent judgment with the ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information. Working knowledge of FMLA, ADA, Parental Leave, Worker’s Compensation, and Unemployment Insurance.
• Working knowledge of principles and practices in the areas of conducting investigations, equal opportunity, harassment and discrimination, conflict resolution, problem solving techniques, interviewing, and data collection.
• Critical thinking skills demonstrated by the ability to analyze information, evaluate results, and facilitate resolution of difficult challenges, including the ability to handle issues of complex and extreme confidentiality and sensitivity.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional and productive working relationships with staff at all levels at the University.
• Working knowledge of current federal and state civil rights, equal employment opportunity, and nondiscrimination laws; and compliance regulations including, but not limited to, Title VI, Title VII and Title IX.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Benefits

We offer a competitive benefits package, including health, life, prescription, and dental plans; tuition remission benefits; paid leave (22 days of annual, 15 days of sick, 3 days of personal, and 14–15 holidays); and retirement plans with employer contributions. You can see more details on our benefits here.