Employee Relations Specialist

University of Kansas
United States, Kansas, Lawrence
1450 Jayhawk Boulevard (Show on map)
Mar 13, 2025
Position Overview The Employee Relations Specialist provides entry level professional expertise in Human Resources and Employee Relations administration in consultation with Employee Relations Specialist Seniors, and supervised by the Director of Employee Relations. Areas of focus include unemployment, drug screening administration, monitoring and updating Employee Relations matters in a case management system, system and best practice support of the MyTalent goals and evaluation system, assisting with Employee Relations programs as assigned, and assisting supervisor and employees with employee relations matters in consultation with the Employee Relations Team. About the University of Kansas: The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with approximately 30,000 students across five campuses and 10,000 employees. The main campus is in Lawrence, a vibrant community of more than 90,000, located 40 miles west of Greater Kansas City and 20 miles from the state capital. The Human Resources Office emphasizes high-quality customer service and engagement through cross-collaborative activities within its seven Centers of Excellence: Talent Acquisition, People Support, Total Rewards, Employee Relations, Learning and Organizational Effectiveness, HR Systems, and HR Partners. The University of Kansas HR organization is also a critical office in the One KU initiative whereby looking at operations, policies, processes, and systems synergistically across all campus locations. The Employee Relations Center of Excellence is and active partner with the Office of the General Counsel, the Office Civil Rights and Title IX, University Ombuds, Faculty Development, and other campus units. This position is hybrid at the Lawrence Campus Office. Job Description 20% - Performance Management System and Best Practice Support Advises managers/supervisors on best practices, processes, and corrective steps to manage employee performance issues. Consults with supervisor in more complex situations. Serves as functional resource for the University's performance management system and processes. Maintains in-depth knowledge of module business processes and best practices, and assists with updating resources and preparing for system upgrades. Provides system and process training, develops training materials, addresses user system problems and concerns, and provides knowledgeable and timely customer service. Launches monthly probationary evaluations and Quality Assurance Inspections (QAIs). Participates in research, planning, and implementation of system enhancements. 30% - Case Management System Administration and Support Assists Employee Relations staff in responding to employees or supervisors needs for HR guidance. Ensures that the Case Management system is updated for entire ER Team. Assists with ensuring documentation is filed accurately and case files are updated. 20% Employee Relations Programs: In consultation with supervisor, manages processes for Unemployment programs, drug screening, exit interviews, bulletin boards, and other support and oversight of Employee Relations programs as assigned. Works closely with the Human Resources Office Manager to ensure timely and efficient integration of administrative support functions required by the Employee Relations section program activities. 15% - Employee Relations Consultation Works with supervisors and colleagues to address routine personnel situations for University employees. Assists with counseling and advising managers and employees on policies, best practices, and personnel processes to address performance, conduct, and/or work related issues as assigned. Prepares drafts of counseling and disciplinary action documents. Assists with due diligence of Employee Relations matters as assigned. Assists in drafting letters regarding employee matters for review. 10% - Investigation and Reporting Participates as a team member to conduct necessary investigation related to working climate, personnel, and or claims of policy/procedure violations. Participates in the development of an investigation plan and timeline. Participates in investigation interviews and collects relevant documentation. Keeps accurate and thorough records and notes of the investigatory process. Participates in development of comprehensive report for the appropriate University administrators in order to make recommendations to address identified problems. 5% - Other duties as assigned Assist the Employee Relations team in programs or employee/supervisor support as assigned. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of one year of HR experience, OR a high school diploma/GED plus a minimum of five years of related HR experience. Demonstrated effective written communication skills from previous experience, application materials, and references. Experience working collaboratively in a team environment. Experience serving in a customer-oriented position requiring strong interpersonal, active listening, and organizational skills as evidenced by application materials. Preferred Qualifications Experience in Employee Relations, program management, performance management, progressive discipline, and/or case investigations. Minimum of one year of experience in higher education. Experience investigating policy violations, managing grievances, and writing comprehensive reports and disciplinary documents. Experience in performance management related activities or systems. Experience in developing or delivering training. Additional Candidate Instructions In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position: Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications. Resume/CV. List of three (3) professional references. Only complete applications will be considered. Review of applications will begin Monday, March 24th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified. Contact Information to Applicants Katie Varner kdvarner@ku.edu 785-864-8374 Advertised Salary Range Starting at $50,000 Work Schedule M-F 8-5 Application Review Begins Monday March 24, 2025 Anticipated Start Date Monday April 28, 2025