Human Resources Employee Relations Specialist (Confidential)

West Valley-Mission Community College District; Saratoga (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

West Valley-Mission Community College District seeks a Human Resources Employee Relations Specialist to support labor relations and employee engagement initiatives. This role involves managing investigations, training programs, and policy compliance in a fast-paced, unionized environment. Ideal candidates possess a strong HR background and sensitivity to diverse cultures.

Benefits

Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance

14 paid holidays annually

22 days vacation leave accrued annually

$1000 longevity award annually after 10 years

CalPERS retirement

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year of HR administrative support.
• Familiarity with ADA, FMLA, and employment law.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate employee investigations and grievance documentation.
• Support HR compliance tasks such as EEO reporting and training coordination.
• Maintain accurate records and manage HR databases.

Skills

Understanding of diverse backgrounds

Effective communication

Tact and discretion

Education

Associate’s degree in human resources management

Job description

Human Resources Employee Relations Specialist (Confidential)

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

• To be considered an applicant for a position at West Valley-Mission Community College District, all materials requested in the job announcement must be received no later than the deadline.
• Incomplete and/or late applications will not receive committee consideration.
• If transcripts are required, include copies of ALL college transcripts with your application to verify all degrees earned and college coursework taken. Certified copies are only required at time of hire.
• Copies of diplomas, grade reports, graduation petitions, transcript evaluations requests, or similar documents WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of transcripts.
• Foreign transcripts and degrees require official certification of equivalency to U.S. transcripts and degrees by a certified U.S. review service at the time of application.
• DO NOT SEND unrequested materials. Unrequested materials will not be used for consideration of employment.
• The employment application and supporting documents represent you; it is to your advantage to fill out the application form carefully and completely.
• The district does not provide visa sponsorship.

Position Information

Position Title

Position Title Human Resources Employee Relations Specialist (Confidential)

How many positions are you recruiting for?

How many positions are you recruiting for? 1

Campus

Campus WVMCCD District (All Campuses)

Position Summary Information

Definition

The Department of Human Resources is seeking a talented and highly motivated person to take on the Human Resources Employee Relations Specialist position.

The role serves as an essential part of the District’s functions related to labor relations and employee engagement alongside training and compliance responsibilities. This position will support employee investigations and grievance documentation in addition to accommodation and leave case management while organizing training logistics and policy compliance efforts and playing a role in personnel procedures within a fast-paced unionized environment. The position supports districtwide training programs which include harassment prevention, ADA compliance and equity modules.

Candidates with the understanding and expertise to meet diverse cultural and educational needs in both employee and student groups are encouraged to apply.

Assignment

100% of full time, 40 hours per week, 12 months per year, with an anticipated start date of August 2025. Schedule may change to include some evening or weekend hours, as needed. This position is a member of the Confidential Employee Unit.

Work Location: District Office, Human Resources Department, West Valley-Mission Community College District

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range:

• $9,144.50-$9,990.42 monthly (Confidential Employee Salary Schedule, Human Resources Specialist I – Confidential Classification, Range 48, Steps A-C).

Benefits include:

• Employer-contributed medical, dental and vision for employee, spouse and dependents.
• Employer-paid long term disability for employee.
• Employer-provided life insurance.
• 14 paid holidays, plus 1 floating holiday annually; paid non-workdays between Christmas and New Year.
• 22 days vacation leave accrued annually (24 days after 7 years)
• 12 days sick leave accrued annually.
• Personal necessity leave and personal business leave.
• Educational growth incentive program from $45 to $225 monthly.
• $1000 longevity award annually after 10 years of service and $1,500 longevity award annually after 15 years of service.
• CalPERS retirement.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Education: Equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college with major coursework in human resources management, general education, or a related field.
• Experience: One year of human resources administrative support experience is desirable.

AND

Understanding of, and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty and staff.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate the following desired qualification(s):

• Experience assisting workplace investigations and grievance procedures.
• Familiarity with ADA , FMLA / CFRA , workers’ compensation, and employment law.
• Ability to support HR compliance tasks such as EEO reporting and training coordination.
• Possess strong skills for effective communication within confidential settings.
• Experience using enterprise systems to manage cases, track training, and generate reports.
• Proficiency in understanding and executing the terms of collective bargaining agreements.
  
  

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of personnel policies and procedures.
• Principles and practices of educational organization and administration.

Ability to:

• Learn and perform technical and specialized duties in assigned human resources areas.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently review work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe, identify and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures; understand, interpret and explain department policies and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone, and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift or carry weight of 10 pounds or less.
• Read, interpret and explain pertinent rules, regulations, laws and bargaining unit contract language.
• Maintain detailed and accurate records.
• Perform basic mathematical operations; make arithmetic calculations quickly and accurately.
• Exercise discretion and tact in resolving confidential, difficult or sensitive issues or situations.
• Maintain and manage various human resources databases; train staff and faculty in use of on-line resources as needed.
• Use sound judgment in recognizing scope of authority.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including computers and applicable software.
• Maintain regular attendance and adhere to prescribed work schedule to conduct job responsibilities.
• Utilize appropriate safety procedures and practices for assigned duties.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Relate effectively with people of varied academic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds using tact, diplomacy and courtesy.
• Establish and maintain effective, cooperative and collaborative working relationships with others.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, prioritize, and coordinate the work of staff assigned to one human resources functional area; develop schedules and methods to accomplish assignments ensuring work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
• Read, process, provide and coordinate confidential information related to the District’s employer employee relations, collective bargaining negotiations, and/or employee grievances.
• May schedule collective bargaining negotiation meetings, attend negotiation meeting, provide input and/or take notes; print copies and upload final approved documents to the website.
• May support faculty who are being transferred and facilitate the interactive process to meet ADA accommodation requirements; may coordinate worker’s compensation and leave administration district wide; may perform investigations including interviewing and data collection.
• Interpret rules and regulations, contracts, policies and procedures, make recommendations for compliance and process improvements, and applies such interpretations and recommendations in the performance of assigned responsibilities.
• Provide technical assistance to employees and human resources management on issues related to assigned responsibilities.
• Conduct surveys and compile data; perform research and statistical analysis, coordinate programs or special functions or projects, and prepare related reports, manuals and policies.
• Coordinate with the finance department to maintain the district’s position control.
• Respond to requests for information from employees and/or the general public over the phone, in person and e-mail regarding a variety of human resources programs and services, may support multiple units.
• May act as the administrator for the department specialized software programs, including the human resources module of the payroll/Human Resources Information System ( HRIS ) software; assist in developing application of specialized software to improve employee access of employment data.
• Assist with, or coordinate, the day-to-day operations of the district’s employee benefit and insurance plans, including coordinating and monitoring paperwork related to COBRA , Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles pull notice and other programs, may be point person taking primary responsibilities for specific areas assigned; assist retirees with benefit plan issues and reconcile premium reimbursements.
• Verify personnel action documents related to employee status changes, including new hires, salary increases, promotions, transfers, separations, specialty pay and input data into the automated human resources system; audit data for accuracy.
• Coordinate, or assist with the coordination of, recruitments, which includes creating the job announcement, posting job announcements on-line, preparing advertisements and targeted outreach materials for mailings, scheduling and coordinating written exams and first level interviews, preparation of first level and other testing materials, creating eligibility lists and developing letters for the candidates.
• Assist with the pre- and postemployment processes for new hires, to include scheduling of preemployment medical examinations, scheduling of, or conducting, new hire orientations with higher level staff, preparing new employee benefit package and hire letters mailed to new employees.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other district employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Foster an environment that embraces diversity, integrity, trust and respect.
• Be an integral team player, which involves flexibility, cooperation and communication.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Working Conditions

Other Duties

Physical Demands

APPLICATION INFORMATION :

• Interested applicants must submit online all materials requested, including:
  • A completed online West Valley-Mission Community College District application;
  • Supplemental application questions, if requested;
  • Resume;
  • Unofficial copies of transcripts;
  • Cover letter and/or reference list, if requested; and
  • Any requested licenses or certificates, if applicable.
• All sections of the online application, including Education and Educational Work History, must be completed thoroughly.
• Supervisor(s) name(s) and telephone numbers must be included in the application.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Do NOT send unrequested materials. Unrequested materials will be removed from your application and will not be used for consideration of employment.
• The employment application and supporting documents represent you; it is to your advantage to fill out the application form carefully and completely.

ABOUT TRANSCRIPTS :

• If a minimum requirement is possession of a degree, then a copy of transcripts is required to be included with your application to verify the degree being awarded. If no transcripts are included, the application may be screened as not meeting minimum requirements.
• Should the minimum qualifications state “any combination equivalent to,” then additional relevant work experience may substitute for education. In this case, please upload a document stating such in the Required Transcripts document field.
• Degrees must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and/or the U.S. Department of Education.
• Candidates with degrees earned outside of the United States must provide official certification of equivalency to U. S. degrees by a certified U. S. credential review service, must have a U.S. evaluation (course by course of the transcripts) and must be submitted with this online application.
• If you do not have an electronic version of the transcript, you can get it scanned at an office supply or copy store; then attach the electronic version of your transcript to this online application.
• Copies of diplomas, grade reports, graduation petitions, transcript evaluations requests, or similar documents WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of transcripts.
• When uploading transcripts, please ensure they are NOT encrypted, secured, or password-protected or they will be rejected by the system.

For reasonable accommodations and assistance, contact:
Office of Human Resources, Attn: Recruitment
14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Selection Process

SELECTION PROCESS INFORMATION :

• After the deadline date, a committee will review and evaluate applications and supporting materials to select the applicants to be interviewed. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not assure the candidate an interview.
• All candidates will receive an e-notification to acknowledge receipt of their application materials. If not contacted within 3-6 weeks following the close of the recruitment, no suitable match was determined at this time.
• Travel expenses to attend first-level interview are the responsibility of the candidate.
• Application materials become the property of the District and will not be returned or duplicated.
• The district may choose to re-advertise or indefinitely delay filling a position. Some positions may include first and second level interviews.
• The district reserves the right to contact former, current, the most recent employers, and others to investigate past employment records of applicants.
• Any tentative verbal offer of employment is contingent upon formal approval of the college Governing Board.
• Upon hire the successful candidate must provide the required documents of identity and authorization to work and attest he/she is authorized to work in the United States.
• The district does not provide visa sponsorship.

EEO STATEMENT :

West Valley-Mission Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to employ a diverse workforce who will contribute to an inclusive and welcoming educational and employment environment. The District is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, physical disability, mental disability, genetic information, ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, language, accent, citizenship status, transgender status, parental status, marital status, economic status, military or veteran status, and medical condition consistent with applicable federal and state laws.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Posting Number

Posting Number FY22/23-280FT

Open Date

Open Date 05/29/2025

Close Date

Close Date 06/30/2025

Open Until Filled No

Requisition Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Share your background in human resources, including employee relations or labor relations functions, especially when working in confidential or unionized environments.

  (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter
• Transcripts
Optional Documents
• Additional Transcripts

West Valley-Mission Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer