HR Generalist - Employee Relations

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

14+ paid holidays

Annual leave

Sick leave

Job summary

Central State Hospital, part of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, is seeking an HR Generalist specialized in Employee Relations. You will handle employee relations, investigations, and performance management, ensuring fair, consistent practices across staff and departments.

This role administers unemployment claims, offboarding, and data in HR systems while maintaining compliance with state policies and laws.

Qualifications

• Experience in employee relations and progressive discipline.
• Ability to interpret HR policies and guide supervisors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with HR data tracking and reporting

Responsibilities

• Handle employee relations, progressive discipline, investigations, and grievance processes.
• Coordinate performance evaluations and improvement plans; maintain HR systems data.
• Manage employee separations, offboarding, and final pay processes.
• Administer unemployment claims and prepare responses/documents for hearings.
• Collaborate with departments to coordinate meetings and provide HR support.
• Ensure compliance with hospital policies and state/federal requirements

Skills

Employee relations

Discipline investigations

Policy guidance

Communication

Tools

Cardinal

PageUp

Job description

Title

HR Generalist - Employee Relations

State Role Title

19091

Hiring Range

58,437 - $71,556

Pay Band

4

Agency

Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location

Central State Hospital

Agency Website

https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/

Recruitment Type

General Public - G

Join Our Team at Central State Hospital

Are you looking for a meaningful career where your work can make a lasting difference? Central State Hospital is seeking a skilled and compassionate HR Generalist - Employee Relations to join our team. In this role, you will have the opportunity to support fair and consistent employment practices through employee relations, performance management, employee separations, and unemployment claims administration.

About Central State Hospital

Central State Hospital (CSH), located in Petersburg, Virginia, is a state psychiatric hospital operated by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Since opening in 1870 as the nation’s first psychiatric hospital dedicated to treating African Americans, CSH has maintained a proud history of serving the citizens of the Commonwealth.

Today, CSH provides inpatient psychiatric treatment to individuals with diverse and complex behavioral health needs, including civil and forensic patients. Our interdisciplinary teams provide individualized, recovery-focused care that promotes safety, dignity, stability, and successful community reintegration.

This is an exciting time to join Central State Hospital as we prepare for the opening of a new, modern hospital facility designed to support high-quality care and an enhanced environment for patients and employees.

What You’ll Do

• Handling employee relations, progressive discipline, workplace investigations, and grievance processes; preparing Written Notices, due process correspondence, and investigation materials for Employee Relations staff review
• Coordinating performance evaluations and improvement plans, maintaining PageUp assignments and reporting relationships, monitoring completion, and assisting employees and supervisors with established procedures
• Coordinating employee separations and offboarding, processing transactions in Cardinal, tracking agency property returns, and notifying HR and Financial Services staff to support final pay, leave, and benefits processing
• Administering unemployment claims, gathering records, submitting timely responses to the Virginia Employment Commission, and preparing hearing and appeal documentation; attending proceedings to provide records and factual information as assigned
• Collaborating with Employee Relations staff, supervisors, managers, and other departments to coordinate meetings, resolve routine procedural questions, and provide responsive HR support
• Maintaining compliance with applicable hospital policies and state and federal requirements through accurate documentation, confidential records management, timely reporting, and consistent HR procedures

What We’re Looking For

• Experience with employee relations and progressive discipline, interpreting HR policies, and providing guidance to supervisors and managers
• Experience coordinating or supporting performance evaluations and performance improvement plans
• Experience administering unemployment compensation claims and preparing responses, processing employee separations, and coordinating offboarding
• Experience maintaining confidential personnel records and processing data in HR information systems; skill in Microsoft Office, data tracking, and reporting
• Working knowledge of HR principles and employment laws, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, and equal employment opportunity requirements; knowledge of employee relations, progressive discipline, performance management, grievance processes, separations, and unemployment procedures
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, customer service, and organizational skills; attention to detail and ability to meet competing deadlines
• Ability to explain HR requirements clearly, exercise sound judgment, and handle sensitive matters professionally and confidentially

Bonus points if you have

• Knowledge of Commonwealth of Virginia DHRM policies and grievance procedures
• Experience using Cardinal and PageUp
• Experience handling VEC claims, hearing documentation, and appeals
• HR experience in state government or healthcare
• SHRM-CP or PHR certification
• Please note that you may be required to demonstrate the skills and abilities necessary for satisfactory performance of the work.

Why Work at Central State Hospital?

At Central State Hospital, you can build a rewarding public-service career while contributing to the care and recovery of individuals with complex behavioral health needs. Employees benefit from a collaborative team environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the stability of employment with the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Eligible salaried employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Health insurance plan options
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employer-paid group life insurance
• Virginia Retirement System retirement benefits
• Voluntary deferred compensation savings
• Fourteen+ Paid holidays
• Annual leave
• Sick leave and family and personal leave
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Employee Assistance Program services
• Employee wellness programs
• Employee discount programs
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, based on individual circumstances

For additional information, visit the DHRM State Employee Resources webpage.

Benefits and eligibility vary based on employment status and are subject to applicable Commonwealth policies and plan requirements.

Background Investigation

All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.

Under Virginia Code

• 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at [phone] during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Equal Opportunity

The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.

Veteran Preference

DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We highly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply and respond accordingly on the state application.

Benefits

DBHDS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including your choice of health plans, paid life insurance, retirement plans, 13 paid holidays, annual leave, family personal leave, sick leave, employee discount programs, and more!

SOEI:

Per the Code of Virginia

• 2.2-3114, persons occupying positions of trust within state government or non-salaried citizens of policy and supervisory boards file a disclosure statement with the Commonwealth’s Ethics Advisory Council, as a condition to assuming office or employment, and thereafter shall file such a statement annually on or before February 1. Additionally, per Executive order, positions of trust include senior-level positions with responsibility affecting legislative policies and rule-making authority or substantive authorization and decision-making regarding policy, contracts and procurement, audits, licensure, inspections and investigations, and investments or other financial matters. Sections 2.2-3128 through 2.2-3131 of the Code of Virginia require that each employee within a position of trust complete COIA training within two months of their hire date and at least once every two years after the initial training. This position is identified as a position of trust within the agency.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.