Employee Relations Analyst I

Employee Relations Analyst

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. In support of over 225,000 residents, regional neighbors, and visitors from all over the world, the City of Norfolk employs over five thousand hard-working, agile, and accountable individuals who each play a vital role in making Norfolk the unique and authentic city of the future that its citizens deserve and demand. Norfolk's Human Resources Team is seeking an Employee Relations Analyst that provides a broad range of professional employee relations activities including but not limited to: employee consulting, training, conflict resolution, complaint investigation, policy interpretation and the preparation and delivery of related summary reports and recommendations. Interacts with all levels of leadership regarding legal compliance, discipline, grievances, terminations, and negotiated separations. Works with a great deal of independent discretion in decision-making and execution of responsibilities. Partners with departmental HR Business Partners to ensure service delivery is aligned with the City's Guiding Principles

Essential Functions

• Provides guidance to employees to resolve various workplace issues; Acts as liaison between employees, or between employee and supervisor, to resolve conflict.
• Provides policy clarification/guidance to employees, supervisors and management.
• Works in close partnership with managers to deliver an effective and consistent employee experience in matters relating to performance management, misconduct, and separations.
• As needed, develops and/or leverages processes and tools to support delivery of services, identify training opportunities, and identify, create or recommend process improvements for making Human Resources services, including employee relations, efficient and effective within the assigned departments.
• Ensures policies, procedures and practices are in compliance with applicable Federal, State, and County employment laws and policies including EEO, FMLA, Workers Compensation, ADA, FLSA. Develops and maintains key relationships and alliances with relevant City staff and HR personnel.
• Advises supervisors on performance management; orients new supervisors to the City's performance management process.
• Delivers training on HR Compliance and Employee Relations topics; develops training content for workshops and/or online training.
• Serves as lead investigator for various workforce issues including harassment, discrimination, and misconduct.
• Tracks and compiles Employee Relations data; Identifies workforce trends using data analytics; makes recommendations to address identified employee relations issues based on findings.
• Actively supports all efforts to increase cooperation, communication and collaboration between and among co-workers, departments, and City officials, officials from other jurisdictions, the business community and the general public.
• Demonstrates sound time-management skills by effectively or efficiently organizing, prioritizing, and completing multiple assignments in a timely manner. Safeguards confidential information and uses it or discloses it only as expressly authorized or specifically required in the course of performing specific job duties.
• Responds positively to a work environment that will change day-to-day, requiring quick departure from and re-organization of one's schedule.
• Displays integrity, dependability and respect at all times.
• Utilizes a high level of conflict resolution skills with staff, supervisors, and department directors alike.

Education/Experience

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. The Employee Relations Analyst should possess the following knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Ability to maintain impartiality and objectivity in all Employee Relations matters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of Federal, State and Local regulations, codes, laws and regulations: Title VII of Civil Rights Act, Equal Pay Act, FLSA, ADA, FMLA, EEOC.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Desired qualifications include:

• Experience with Oracle based HRIS systems and DocuSign are a plus.
• Local government experience is a plus
• SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), or other relevant certification credential preferred.

Additional Information & Requirements

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
• Retirement
• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.