Employee Relations Specialist

ESCAMBIA COUNTY; Pensacola (FL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

Retirement plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Job summary

Escambia County is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to conduct investigations, enforce policies, and support leave and accommodation programs in Pensacola, FL. The role emphasizes confidentiality, legal compliance, and collaboration with legal counsel.

The candidate will resolve employee grievances, provide guidance to managers, and help maintain ethical workplace standards through investigations, training, and updates to policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, HR, Psychology, Public Administration, or related field.
• Three years of ethics/conflict resolution and/or investigative experience.
• Current driver's license from state of residence.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification.
• EEO Investigator and Internal Affairs Investigator
• Strong knowledge of labor laws, employment regulations, and workplace compliance
• Excellent investigative and interviewing skills
• High level of confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical decision-making
• Strong conflict resolution and interpersonal skills; ability to handle sensitive issues with diplomacy and discretion
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with HRIS software
• Ability to write investigation reports and maintain confidential files and records
• Ability to analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, project consequences, and implement recommendations
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with management, employees, and the public

Responsibilities

• Conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into employee complaints.
• Gather, review, and analyze evidence; interview involved parties; document findings with confidentiality.
• Prepare investigation reports with findings and recommendations for corrective action.
• Ensure investigations comply with county policies and laws.
• Partner with legal counsel to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.
• Mediate workplace conflicts and guide managers on handling concerns.
• Assist in resolving grievances with fairness and consistency.
• Recommend corrective actions, including coaching and disciplinary measures.
• Provide complex information and policy interpretation to employees and departments.
• Review and revise county policies through HR trend research.
• Support FMLA and ADA programs, tracking and training.
• Oversee ADA reasonable accommodation process and maintain records.
• Coordinate Disciplinary Policy/program with management and County Attorney.
• Assist in mediations and MSPB hearings; maintain disciplinary files.
• Ensure compliance with USERRA and maintain required documentation.
• Create and deliver training materials; conduct sessions.
• Travel to other departments for investigations, mediations, or training.
• Participate in QA activities and mediations to resolve disputes.
• Provide information on counseling and available services.
• Investigate ethics-related allegations including discrimination, harassment, retaliation.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Investigations

Interviewing

Confidentiality

Policy enforcement

HR knowledge

Labor law knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

HRIS software

Job description

Escambia County is committed to a fair, compliant workplace where employees and managers have clear guidance and support. As the Employee Relations Specialist (onsite in Pensacola, FL), you will help protect organizational integrity through thorough workplace investigations, consistent policy enforcement, and practical conflict resolution. You will also support key leave and accommodation programs, helping employees navigate complex processes while maintaining confidentiality and legal compliance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into employee complaints, including harassment, discrimination, misconduct, policy violations, and other workplace concerns
• Gather, review, and analyze evidence; interview involved parties; and document findings while maintaining strict confidentiality
• Prepare investigation reports with findings and recommendations for appropriate corrective action
• Ensure investigations comply with county policies, employment laws, and best-practice standards
• Partner with legal counsel as needed to mitigate risk and maintain compliance
• Mediator workplace conflicts and provide guidance to managers on handling employee concerns
• Assist in resolving employee grievances and disputes with fairness and consistency
• Recommend and implement corrective actions, including coaching, progressive disciplinary measures, and performance improvement plans
• Provide complex and technical information and policy interpretation to employees, departments, and external customers within assigned areas of responsibility
• Review and revise county policies and procedures through research on evolving human resources trends
• Support the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Leave Program and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) program by maintaining tracking systems and employee files, staying current on U.S. Department of Labor changes, and training employees on program requirements
• Oversee the ADA reasonable accommodation process and maintain records and outcomes in accordance with policy and legal requirements
• Coordinate the County Disciplinary Policy and Program, including consultation with management and the County Attorney's Office to ensure legal sufficiency of proposed adverse actions
• Assist the County Attorney's Office at mediations and Merit System Protection Board Hearings; maintain disciplinary files; and provide training on the program
• Ensure compliance with USERRA by interpreting policy requirements, supporting timely reemployment actions, and maintaining required documentation
• Create and coordinate employee training by researching, designing, and developing training materials, then delivering sessions using multiple instructional techniques
• Travel to other departments for investigations, mediations, or training sessions
• Participate in quality assurance activities and conduct mediations to resolve department disputes
• Provide information to employees on counseling, programs, and other available services
• Investigate allegations involving ethics concerns and issues such as discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
• Perform other duties as assigned or required

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Human Resources, Psychology, Public Administration, or a related field
• Three years of experience with an emphasis on ethics and conflict resolution and/or criminal or civil investigative experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Current driver's license from state of residence
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification
• EEO Investigator and Internal Affairs Investigator
• Strong knowledge of labor laws, employment regulations, and workplace compliance
• Excellent investigative and interviewing skills, including the ability to assess credibility and analyze information objectively
• High level of confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical decision-making
• Strong conflict resolution and interpersonal skills; ability to handle sensitive issues with diplomacy and discretion
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with HRIS software
• Ability to write investigation reports and maintain confidential files and records
• Ability to analyze problems, evaluate alternative solutions, project consequences, and implement recommendations aligned with organizational goals
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with management, employees, and the general public

Benefits

• Medical / Dental / Vision plans
• Prescription coverage
• Employee health clinic
• Employee fitness centers
• Employer-sponsored retirement plan or an investment plan
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Flexible Spending Account(s)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Annual/Sick Leave or Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Group Life Insurance

County-Wide Employee Responsibilities

• Serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity in full accord with the Employee Code of Ethics and gift and conflict of interest policies
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, elected and appointed officials, and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of protected characteristics

Emergency Management Responsibilities

• During emergency conditions, this position is automatically considered an emergency service worker
• Subject to being called to work during disasters, such as hurricanes, or other emergency situations to perform assigned emergency service duties

Physical Requirements

• Typically require sitting, standing, talking, hearing, seeing, finger and hand dexterity, and repetitive motions
• Sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally; sitting most of the time, with occasional walking and standing