Senior Human Resources Specialist - Recovery Services Bureau

Boston Public Health Commission; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Boston Public Health Commission is seeking an experienced HR Manager to lead staff relations and policy compliance within the Recovery Services Bureau. You will conduct investigations, coordinate with HR and Office of Labor and Employment, and ensure adherence to anti-racism policy while supporting workforce development.

This role requires a Bachelor's degree and 4–6 years of managerial HR experience, strong communication, and ability to work with diverse populations in an urban public

Qualifications

• Knowledge of public health role in addressing racism and health equity.
• Bachelor's degree and 4–6 years of managerial HR experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in unionized environments and understanding of CBAs.
• Experience with HR investigations to review policy violations.
• Ability to interact with diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Ability to develop and manage administrative policies for direct service programs.
• Experience working in urban environments with diverse populations.
• Prior government experience or familiarity is a plus.
• Knowledge of Boston communities is desirable.
• Follow directions and work harmoniously with staff.
• Bilingual/bicultural skills are desirable.
• Crisis management is a plus.
• Strong analytic skills; familiarity with Microsoft Office and HRIS.

Responsibilities

• Advance as an antiracist organization by meeting/exceeding policy standards.
• Collaborate with HR and Office of Labor and Employment to ensure policy compliance.
• Investigate policy violations with fact-finding and written recommendations.
• Communicate policy requirements, including vaccination and residency verification.
• Coordinate with HR Recruiting and payroll on RSB matters.
• Represent RSB at internal employee hearings and unemployment hearings.
• Support reasonable accommodations and HR processes.
• Serve as RSB information officer and liaison to HR and OLE.
• Conduct training and development and participate in New Employee Orientation.
• Participate in labor-management committees and special projects as assigned.

Skills

HR management

Policy compliance

Investigations

Communication

Diversity & equity

Bilingual (desirable)

Education

Bachelor's degree + 4-6 years managerial experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS database

Job description

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION:

The Recovery Services Bureau (RSB) provides comprehensive programs and resources designed to reduce the harms associated with substance use, support recovery, and prevent substance use among youth. RSB operates across the continuum of care, offering outreach and engagement, harm reduction and drug user health services, overdose prevention and naloxone distribution, treatment navigation and referrals, residential treatment, recovery support services, community prevention, and other supports for individuals and families.

With 150 staff working across over 10 programs, RSB serves individuals at different stages of substance use and recovery throughout Boston. The Mattapan Campus is home to several residential substance use disorder treatment programs that provide structured treatment and support to individuals and families.

Harm reduction principles and practices are integrated throughout RSB’s programs and levels of care, recognizing that people may enter services with different needs, goals, and experiences. Through its programs, partnerships, and services, RSB works to reduce overdose and other substance-related harms, improve access to care, strengthen pathways to recovery, and reinforce the message that recovery is possible.

Duties

Works to help BPHC advance as an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the Boston Public Health Commission’s Anti-Racism Policy.

Human Resources

• Works closely with the Boston Public Health Commission’s (BPHC) Human Resources (HR) department and Office of Labor and Employment (OLE) to ensure RSB staff are in compliance with BPHC policies.
• Investigates reports of policy violations involving RSB staff and management. This includes conducting fact-finding witness interviews, collecting supporting evidence, and providing a written summary with recommendations.
• Communicates with staff regarding compliance with policy requirements, including but not limited, to annual influenza vaccination requirement, annual residency verification requirement, annual policy distributions, and other matters involving personnel administration.
• Works with HR Recruiting team and payroll team as needed regarding RSB matters.
• Represents assigned Bureaus at internal employee hearings and external unemployment hearings.
• Supports Human Resources in reviewing and responding to requests for reasonable accommodations.
• Serves as the RSB information officer and liaison to HR and OLE.

Office of Labor and Employment

• Conduct investigations of alleged violations of BPHC policy, including the Anti-Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation policy, when assigned.
• Ensures RSB compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Assists the Labor and Employment and General Counsel offices in gathering information related to internal investigations.
• Serves as a management representative on labor-management committees as assigned.
• Attends grievance and arbitration hearings, and represents management in grievance and arbitration process, including but not limited to hearing and adjustment of employee grievances.

Staff Training /Professional Development

• Works with RSB directors and managers to identify and provide training for program staff.
• Partners with HR to oversee staff compliance and tracking of required trainings.
• Develop system for monitoring up-to-date records of required licenses and certifications.
• Trains, assists, or ensures training RSB staff on applicable BPHC policies and procedures as needed including the BPHC’s Anti-Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation and Sexual Harassment Policies.
• Participates and helps coordinate RSB New Employee Orientation with RSB Leadership.

Other

• Expected to exercise sound judgment and professional discretion to support RSB management and staff.
• Participates in committees and in special projects regarding RSB personnel, as assigned.Make and recommend management and personnel decisions for, including but not limited to promotion, transfer and assignment of staff, and imposition of discipline.
• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
• Bachelor's degree and 4 -6 years of relevant managerial experience or a Master's degree in human resources, MBA, MPA may be substituted for 2 years of experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in unionized work environments and proficient understanding of collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience with HR investigations to review violations of internal policies and procedures.
• Ability to interact sensitively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socio-economic, educational and professional backgrounds.
• Ability to develop and manage administrative policies and procedures that maximize effectiveness and efficiency of direct service programs.
• Demonstrated experience working in urban environments and with diverse client and provider populations.
• Prior experience working with local, state and/or federal government.
• Knowledge of Boston community and neighborhoods is desirable.
• Able to follow directions and work harmoniously with staff.
• Bilingual and bicultural skills are desirable.
• Experience in crisis management a plus.
• Strong analytic skills.Previous experience in Microsoft Office and HRIS database.

Additional Information

• City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.

Shift

35 hours/week, Monday – Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM

This position is not dependent on grants / external funding sources.