Employee Relations Specialist

The Iowa Clinic; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Iowa Clinic is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to make a meaningful impact on our people and culture. You will bring calm, clarity, and sound judgment to sensitive workplace situations, acting as a trusted HR resource for concerns, policy questions, and corrective actions.

In this role you will support fair investigations from fact gathering to recommendations, coach leaders on conversations and next steps, and coordinate FMLA, ADA, and leave matters with employees and partners.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of HR, employee relations, leave administration, HR operations, or related experience.
• Knowledge of employee relations, workplace investigations, policy interpretation, documentation, and corrective action processes.
• Familiarity with FMLA, ADA, short-term disability, and leave or accommodation coordination.
• Strong communication, organization, discretion, and judgment when handling sensitive matters.
• Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/OD or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Be a trusted HR resource for employee relations concerns, policy questions, performance issues, and corrective action support.
• Support fair, timely, and well-documented workplace investigations from fact-gathering through recommendations.
• Coach leaders on employee conversations, documentation, next steps, and risk-aware decision-making.
• Coordinate FMLA, short-term disability, and ADA accommodation matters with employees, leaders, HR partners, and vendors.
• Track cases, identify trends, and help strengthen consistency, follow-up, and proactive solutions across the organization.

Skills

Communication

Discretion

Judgment

Organization

Coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/OD or related field

Tools

HRIS

Case management

Leave platforms

Job description

Make a meaningful impact on employee experience and culture at The Iowa Clinic. We are looking for an Employee Relations Specialist who brings calm, clarity, and sound judgment to sensitive workplace situations.

What You'll Do

• Be a trusted HR resource for employee relations concerns, policy questions, performance issues, and corrective action support
• Support fair, timely, and well-documented workplace investigations from fact-gathering through recommendations
• Coach leaders on employee conversations, documentation, next steps, and risk-aware decision-making
• Coordinate FMLA, short-term disability, and ADA accommodation matters with employees, leaders, HR partners, and vendors
• Track cases, identify trends, and help strengthen consistency, follow-up, and proactive solutions across the organization

What You'll Bring

• 4–6 years of HR, employee relations, leave administration, HR operations, or related experience
• Knowledge of employee relations, workplace investigations, policy interpretation, documentation, and corrective action processes
• Familiarity with FMLA, ADA, short-term disability, and leave or accommodation coordination
• Strong communication, organization, discretion, and judgment when handling sensitive matters
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
• HR certification or experience with HRIS, case management, leave platforms, Legal, Compliance, or third-party administrators a plus

Why You'll Love This Role

This is a high-impact HR role for someone who enjoys variety, problem-solving, and building trust. You'll help create a workplace where employees feel heard, leaders feel supported, and decisions are thoughtful, consistent, and well-documented.