HR Specialist - Employee Relations & Recruitment

JSerra Catholic High School; San Juan Capistrano (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

PTO and holidays

401(k) with school match

Tuition reimbursement

Tuition discount of 50% for dependents

Job summary

JSerra Catholic High School is seeking an HR Specialist for Employee Relations and Recruitment to foster a fair, compliant work environment and support managers on performance and policy issues.

The role reports to the Director of Human Resources and covers investigations, coaching, and full-cycle recruitment. It is a 12-month, full-time, onsite position with a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 4+ years HR experience with employee relations exposure
• Experience in a highly regulated environment (education, healthcare, public sector) preferred
• Excellent communication and organizational skills

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employees and managers on employee relations questions and complaints
• Manage and resolve employee relations issues including performance, conduct, and policy concerns
• Conduct investigations; prepare findings and recommendations
• Provide guidance on corrective action, documentation, and performance improvement plans
• Interpret and apply employment laws and policies; ensure compliance
• Support development and communication of HR policies and handbooks
• Partner with HR and leaders on engagement and retention initiatives
• Track confidential records of employee relations cases and investigations
• Assist with training design for managers and employees
• Collaborate on onboarding, exit interviews, workforce planning, and change management
• Prepare reports on ER trends and inform leadership decisions
• Represent HR in meetings or mediations as needed
• Full-cycle Recruitment

Skills

Employee relations

Investigations

Coaching

Recruitment

HR policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Tools

Paycom

Job description

HR Specialist - Employee Relations & Recruitment

Reports To: Director of Human Resources

Temp-to-HIre | 12-month | Full-Time | 40 Hours | Exempt | Monday-Friday | Onsite Only

Salary Information: Salary will be commensurate with experience, with a range of $75,000 - $85,000. This position is eligible for benefits (medical, dental, vision), generous PTO and holiday schedule, 401(k) savings plan with school match, higher education tuition reimbursement, and JSerra tuition discount of 50% off base tuition for each dependent child or legal guardian designated child who attends JSerra.

Special Qualities & Characteristics

• Passionate for the mission of JSerra (i.e. the integral formation of students’ faith, intellect, and character)
• Deep appreciation for the Catholic faith and a commitment to the teachings of the Church
• Strong initiative and desire to work in a highly collaborative environment
• Superior rapport with parents, students, and staff

Description: The HR Specialist – Employee Relations and Recruitment is responsible for fostering a fair, respectful, and compliant work environment by managing employee relations matters, advising managers, and supporting the consistent application of policies and procedures. This role conducts workplace investigations, coaches leaders on performance and conduct issues, and partners with HR colleagues to support engagement, retention, and legal compliance. In addition, this role is also responsible for full-cycle recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employees and managers on employee relations questions, concerns, and complaints, ensuring timely and professional follow-up.
• Manage and resolve employee relations issues, including performance, conduct, interpersonal conflict, and policy concerns, escalating complex matters as appropriate.
• Conduct fair, thorough, and well-documented workplace investigations related to misconduct, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other policy violations; prepare findings and recommendations.
• Provide guidance and coaching to supervisors and managers on corrective action, documentation, performance improvement plans, and termination decisions to ensure consistency and risk mitigation.
• Interpret and apply employment laws, regulations, and organization policies; help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Support the development, implementation, and communication of HR policies, procedures, and employee handbooks; recommend updates based on practice and legal changes.
• Partner with HR and leaders on engagement, retention, and culture initiatives, including recognition, feedback mechanisms, and action planning from employee surveys.
• Track and maintain confidential records related to employee relations cases, investigations, corrective action, and appeals in accordance with recordkeeping standards.
• Assist with training design and delivery for managers and employees on topics such as respectful workplace, anti-harassment, performance management, and effective communication.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues on related areas such as onboarding, exit interviews, workforce planning, and change management to support a positive employee experience across the lifecycle.
• Prepare reports and analyze employee relations trends to identify risks, recommend preventive strategies, and inform leadership decisions.
• Represent HR in meetings, hearings, or mediations as needed, and support responses to regulatory agencies or legal inquiries related to employee relations matters.
• Full-cycle Recruitment.
• Additional responsibilities as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• 4+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 2 years focused primarily on employee relations, investigations, or HR generalist work with strong ER exposure.
• Demonstrated knowledge of employment law and HR best practices; experience in a highly regulated environment (education, healthcare, public sector, etc.) preferred.
• Strong skills in conflict resolution, mediation, and coaching with the ability to build trust at all levels of the school.
• Proven ability to conduct objective, thorough investigations and produce clear, well-supported documentation and recommendations.
• High level of discretion and judgment in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Full-cycle recruitment preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex or sensitive concepts in a practical, empathetic way.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Paycom preferred.
• Professional HR certification (e.g., PHR, SHRM-CP) preferred.

Working Conditions

• Full-time, exempt position – Onsite Only Mon - Fri
• Occasional extended hours may be required to support investigations, meetings, or urgent employee relations issues.
• Role may require limited travel between neighboring schools or to hearings, trainings, or external meetings.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties or responsibilities.

JSerra Catholic High School is a religious 501(c)(3) organization.