HR Specialist - Employee Relations & Training

Job Description

Housing & Food Services has an outstanding opportunity for a HR Administrator for Employee Relations & Training in Human Resources to join their team.

About this Opportunity

This position serves as a Human Resources practitioner within Housing & Food Services with primary responsibility for employee relations consultation, performance management support, corrective action processes, workplace concern response, and HR subject-matter training for managers and supervisors.

The role supports HFS by helping managers address performance, conduct, attendance, communication, workplace climate, and policy concerns in a manner that is objective, respectful, appropriately documented, and aligned with UW policy, applicable collective bargaining agreements, civil service rules, employment law considerations, HFS expectations, and the HFS Belonging Framework and Communication Ground Rules.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations Consultation and Case Management: (40%)

• Serve as an HFS HR consultant to managers, supervisors, and leaders on employee relations matters involving performance, conduct, attendance, workplace communication, interpersonal conflict, workplace climate, policy application, and escalation needs.
• Conduct intake, gather relevant facts, review documentation, identify missing information, and recommend case strategies that are objective, equitable, and aligned with UW, HFS, and collective bargaining requirements.
• Coordinate and support fact-finding, workplace concern reviews, investigation referrals, and related follow-up in partnership with HR leadership and appropriate University offices.

Performance Management, Corrective Action, and Documentation: (25%)

• Serve as support for HFS performance management practices, in partnership with HR colleagues responsible for administrative tracking, records management, Workday reporting, and process coordination.
• Advise managers on proactive performance management, timely feedback, documented coaching, expectation setting, probationary concerns, performance improvement plans, letters of expectation, formal counseling, final counseling, and recommendations for dismissal.
• Draft, review, and edit employee relations and performance management documentation to ensure factual accuracy, objective language, consistency, equity, clarity, appropriate tone, and alignment with HFS communication and belonging expectations.

Training, HR Resources, and Capability Building (20%)

• Develop and deliver HR subject-matter training for managers and supervisors on employee relations, performance management, documentation, corrective action, respectful workplace communication, complaint pathways, union basics, represented employee processes, attendance management, and workplace concern response.
• Ensure employee relations training and resources reflect adult learning principles, accessibility, operational relevance, inclusive language, and the varied needs of frontline staff, student supervisors, managers, professional staff, and senior leaders.

Policy Application, and Risk Partnership: (10%)

• Interpret and apply UW policies, Administrative Policy Statements, civil service rules, applicable collective bargaining agreement provisions, and HFS expectations in partnership with HR leadership as appropriate.

HR Team Contribution, Values-Based Practice, and Professional Development: (5%)

• Model HFS HR expectations for consistency, transparency, belonging, timely service, confidentiality, professional judgment, documentation, and respectful communication.
• Maintain subject-matter currency through professional development related to employee relations, labor relations, workplace investigations, civil rights, public-sector HR, documentation, adult learning, and inclusive workplace practices.

The position works under general supervision and reports to Human Resources Director & DEIB Lead.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below.

Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager

Bachelor's degree in education, human resources or other related field; and 2 years relevant work experience that includes:

• Experience interpreting and applying HR policies, collective bargaining agreements, employment rules, or workplace procedures in a complex organization.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, or editing performance management, corrective action, employee relations, or workplace documentation using objective, factual, and legally defensible language.
• Experience coaching managers or supervisors on employee performance, conduct, attendance, conflict, workplace communication, or policy application.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment when handling sensitive personnel matters.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, respectfully, and empathetically with employees, managers, HR colleagues, union representatives, and campus partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from varied identities, lived experiences, roles, schedules, work environments, and communication styles.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and HR information systems such as Workday or comparable systems.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Experience providing employee relations support in higher education, public sector, unionized, residential, dining, hospitality, facilities, student services, or other high-volume operational environments.
• Experience supporting grievances, complaint procedures, investigations, corrective action meetings, performance improvement plans, probationary separations, or dismissal recommendations.
• Experience developing manager training, job aids, templates, documentation tools, or HR communication resources.
• Experience applying inclusive practices, equity impact review, anti-retaliation principles, trauma-informed communication, or belonging-centered workplace expectations to HR consultation.
• Experience using case tracking, metrics, spreadsheets, dashboards, or reporting tools to monitor trends, timeliness, recurring issues, and process effectiveness.
• Working knowledge of FMLA, PFML, ADA disability accommodation, pregnancy accommodation, workers compensation, protected leave, civil rights, and workplace conduct intersections as they relate to employee relations matters.

Working Conditions

Position works primarily weekday business hours, with occasional evening, weekend, or on-site support for employee relations meetings, corrective action meetings, grievance preparation, training, special events, urgent operational needs, or time-sensitive HR matters. Work is deadline-driven and requires the ability to manage competing priorities, maintain confidentiality, produce accurate written materials, and provide responsive consultation in a complex HR environment.

Role is eligible for limited remote work consistent with HFS HR expectations, business needs, confidentiality requirements, and approved work arrangements. On-site presence may be required for employee-facing support, sensitive meetings, records work, manager consultation, training delivery, or operational coverage.

This position performs essential services and may be required to work during any period of declared suspended operation.

About the Team

"Working together to enhance student life" is the Housing & Food Services mission statement. Housing & Food Services is a large and complex organization with a unified commitment to supporting student learning, growth, and success.

The position provides timely, consistent, equitable, and well-documented guidance to HFS leaders, managers, supervisors, and employees across a complex, unionized, student-centered auxiliary services environment.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$81,252.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$81,252.00 annual

Other Compensation:

• Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives - on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.