Employee Relations Consultant III

Georgia State University; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Georgia State University is seeking an Employee Relations Consultant III to provide advanced consultation and lead high-risk employee relations matters across the university. The role requires exercising a high degree of independent judgment, guiding investigations, and advising senior leadership on policy interpretation.

The position focuses on fair employment practices, risk reduction, and collaboration with campus partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of progressively responsible related experience.
• Preferred: degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience in higher education or similarly complex organizations.

Responsibilities

• Manages complex, sensitive employee relations matters and advises university leadership and stakeholders.
• Leads formal investigations from intake to resolution and provides findings and recommendations.
• Oversees grievance, hearing, and unemployment-related matters requiring advanced preparation and coordination.
• Develops and interprets employee relations policies and guidance materials.
• Analyzes data and trends to identify risk and recommend proactive solutions.
• Designs and facilitates advanced training for leaders and HR professionals, mentoring peers.

Skills

Consulting

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Handling sensitive information

Lead and mentor peers

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business Administration

Experience in higher education

Job description

Human Resource Administration: Georgia State University

Are you passionate about creating and delivering people practices which develop and maintain positive working relationships between an organization and its people? If you are, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

We hire great people from a wide variety of educational, career, and personal backgrounds, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes us a stronger team.

Our mission is to develop partnerships that have a positive impact on the university community by offering consultations, facilitation and conflict resolution strategies for workplace issues. We encourage fair employment practice, provide counsel and advice to supervisors about employment-related inquiries, and revise and implement university policies and procedures that are fair and consistent.

What makes GSU a great place?

• Generous benefits, including health, dental, vision, tuition assistance, retirement, etc.
• A knowledge-sharing organization that works collaboratively with diverse partners.
• Professional development opportunity and mentorship.
• A rapidly growing center within an academic setting.

Position Summary

This Employee Relations Consultant III is intended to provide advanced consultation and subject matter expertise for the most complex, sensitive, and high-risk employee relations matters and is expected to exercise a higher degree of independent judgment, manage significant institutional risk, lead formal investigations and grievance-related processes, develop and revise policy guidance, identify workplace and organizational risk trends, and serve as a lead resource or mentor to other consultants.

The intent is to fill multiple vacancies from this posting, primarily recruiting for the Employee Relations Consultant III. Based on the selected candidate’s relevant work experience, education, and/or credentials, the role may be filled at the Employee Relations Consultant II level.

Key Responsibilities

• Manages the most complex, sensitive, and high-risk employee relations matters and provides advanced consultation to university leadership, HR partners, and other key stakeholders regarding discipline, separations, workplace climate concerns, conflict resolution, organizational risk, and policy interpretation.
• Leads formal investigations from intake through resolution, including planning the investigative approach, interviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence, assessing credibility, preparing findings and recommendations, and advising leadership regarding appropriate next steps.
• Oversees grievance, hearing, appeal, and unemployment-related matters requiring advanced preparation, process management, quality assurance, and coordination with appropriate campus and external stakeholders.
• Develops, revises, and interprets employee relations policies, procedures, templates, and guidance materials in response to legal updates, institutional priorities, case trends, and operational need; serves as a subject matter expert on employee relations policy and practice.
• Analyzes employee relations data, recurring workplace concerns, and organizational trends to identify areas of risk and recommend proactive solutions, preventive strategies, and process improvements.
• Designs and facilitates advanced training for leaders, HR professionals, and campus stakeholders on investigations, documentation, retaliation prevention, grievance processes, difficult conversations, and consistent policy application; mentors lower-level consultants and serves as a lead resource on projects and initiatives.

Skills And Competencies

• Excellent consulting, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work with sensitive information
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and collaborate effectively with leaders at all levels.
• Significant independent action and judgment are required, subject to university-wide policies.

Salary offers will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications in relation to the Minimum Hiring Standards. Candidates earlier in their careers are typically offered salaries closer to the minimum of the hiring range, while those with more advanced or relevant experience may be considered for compensation at or above the hiring range.

Minimum Hiring Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and five years of progressively responsible related experience, or a combination of education and related experience.

Preferred Hiring Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience in higher education or a similarly complex organizational environment.

Location: Atlanta Campus

Shift: 8:30AM - 5:15PM

Salary: $60,600 - $91,700

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Type: Full Time (Benefits Eligible)

Georgia State University Values

COMMUNITY: Fostering a distinctive shared identity and common purpose across our multi-campus university, IDENTITY, PLACEMAKING & BELONGING: Respecting the dignity and value of all people and perspectives through honorable conduct based on engagement, fairness, access, and civility, TRANSFORMATION: Intentionally pursuing knowledge, practice, and scholarly rigor to inspire lifelong learning, and to make our community and the world a better place

Equal Employment Opportunity

Georgia State University is an equal opportunity employer with regard to veterans and individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability,, genetic information, or protected veteran status. Georgia State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status.