Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Positions Report to: Managing Director, Human Resources

Start: Immediate

Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm

Compensation: The salary range for this role is $92,292-$110,201. (At East Harlem Tutorial Program, we are deeply committed to fair and equitable compensation. We ensure that salaries reflect qualifications, credentials, years of experience, and measurable impact, both within the organization and externally. We take internal and external equity seriously. In addition to competitive pay, we offer a robust benefits package designed to support and empower our staff in all aspects of their professional and personal lives.)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Who We Are

East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) began in 1958 as a children's reading group and has since grown into a multi-site after-school program for traditional public school students and a network of public charter schools focused on significantly increasing the college graduation rate in East Harlem. We are on track to serve at least 25% of East Harlem students by 2025, with enrollment for this year at approximately 2200 students in our schools and after school programs. In 2020, 99% of our seniors were accepted to college, and our current scholars in college are on-track to graduate at eight times the national average of their peers.

At EHTP we also aim to serve as an agent of change and thoughtfully contribute to the national fight for racial equity. Through our organization-wide commitment to anti-racism work, we prepare our scholars to effect change, challenge the status quo, and thrive in the world around them. As staff members, we face our own racial identities and conscious and unconscious biases. With this in mind, all of our professional development, curriculum, organizational materials, and processes are designed with a goal of racial justice. Read our racial equity statement here.

We ground all of our work in racial equity, in our core values, and in our four guiding pursuits: the Revolutionary Pursuit of Love, the Radical Pursuit of Knowledge, the Responsive Pursuit of Healing, and in the Relentless Pursuit of Results. These pursuits inform and are reflected in our current four key strategic priorities: to increase high-impact, high-quality academic curriculum, programming content, staff capacity, and coaching; to embrace and advance our use of technology; to deepen our embodiment of ethical and equitable radical humanity; and to efficiently operationalize teaching, learning, community, and care.

About The Opportunity

The Employee Relations Specialist is a newly created role responsible for fostering a positive work environment by ensuring fair and consistent treatment of all employees and handling employee-related issues professionally and effectively. This role focuses on resolving workplace conflicts, conducting investigations, managing employee grievances, and ensuring compliance with company policies and legal regulations. The Employee Relations Specialist serves as a trusted advisor to both employees and management, helping to maintain a healthy, inclusive, and productive work culture.

We seek an outstanding, results-oriented Senior Employee Relations Specialist to be an essential leader within our progressive HR team. In this critical role, you will take charge of complex employee relations matters, craft and implement strategic HR policies, and spearhead initiatives that champion a positive, inclusive, and high-performance workplace. Your expertise in conflict resolution, policy development, and employment law will support organizational compliance and cultivate an engaged and resilient workforce. This is an exceptional opportunity to make an immediate, transformative, and long-lasting impact within a key leadership position that shapes the future of our organization.

What You Will Accomplish

Employee Relations Leadership

• Act as the go-to contact for all employee concerns and conflicts, applying consultation, coaching, and mediation expertise to facilitate fair and productive resolutions.
• Advise and coach managers on navigating employee relations issues, disciplinary actions, and performance management, empowering them to handle challenges effectively.
• Conduct thorough, unbiased investigations into grievances, complaints, or misconduct allegations, ensuring full compliance with company policies and all applicable labor laws.
• Based on investigation findings, make and implement corrective action recommendations, contributing to a culture of accountability, integrity, and respect.

Policy & Compliance Management

• Drive compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations (such as FMLA, ADA, EEO), ensuring that all HR practices uphold legal standards and organizational values.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on interpreting and consistently applying HR policies and procedures across the organization.
• Lead the review and updating of employee handbooks, policies, and procedures, aligning them with current legal requirements, industry standards, and organizational priorities.

Conflict Resolution & Mediation

• Actively mediate conflicts between employees or between employees and management, fostering effective communication and constructive problem-solving to maintain a harmonious work environment.
• Provide coaching and support to managers and employees in conflict resolution, nurturing a workplace culture that values collaboration, inclusion, and respect.

Performance Management & Improvement

• Support managers with managing employee performance issues by providing guidance on documentation, crafting performance improvement plans (PIPs), and managing terminations when necessary.
• Provide expertise on corrective action and disciplinary procedures, ensuring legal compliance and organizational policy adherence.
• Play a pivotal role in establishing clear performance expectations that align with organizational objectives and promote employee development.

Employee Engagement & Retention Initiatives

• Contribute to designing and implementing employee engagement strategies, promoting a positive work environment that enhances workplace satisfaction, productivity, and retention.
• Analyze trends in employee turnover and retention, using data-driven insights to make impactful recommendations for organizational improvement.
• Foster a workplace that values employee contributions, offering a supportive environment where employees feel motivated to perform at their best.

Training & Development Facilitation

• Deliver impactful training sessions on employee relations, conflict resolution, and compliance topics, empowering managers and employees with essential knowledge and skills.
• Provide one-on-one coaching to managers and employees on interpersonal skills, conflict management, and effective communication, strengthening team dynamics and fostering professional growth.
• Actively participate in developing new training programs that promote awareness and understanding of organizational policies and HR best practices.

Comprehensive Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain meticulous and confidential records of employee relations cases, investigations, and outcomes, ensuring data integrity and legal compliance.
• Generate detailed reports on employee relations trends, identifying potential risks and implementing preventive measures to foster a healthy and compliant workplace.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging best practices, and evolving labor laws, positioning the organization to address challenges in employee relations proactively.

A Breakdown of the Role

• Employee Relations Management: 40% – Oversee and manage employee relations cases, investigations, and conflict resolution.
• Policy & Compliance Oversight: 25% – Develop and enforce policies that ensure compliance with employment laws and promote a positive work culture.
• Conflict Resolution & Mediation: 20% – Provide guidance and mediation to resolve workplace disputes and support a constructive workplace.
• Training & Employee Engagement Initiatives: 15% – Lead training programs and initiatives that drive employee satisfaction and retention.

What Qualifies You

Please note that no one meets 100% of the desired qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to still apply.

• You have extensive experience in employee relations, including handling complex cases and conducting thorough investigations
• You hold yourself to high professional and ethical standards
• You have 6-9 years of experience in employee relations
• You have working Spanish language proficiency
• You have excellent analytical skills and attention to detail
• You have strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities
• You have exceptional problem solving and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and concisely
• You have demonstrated expertise in employment law and policy development
• You have a proven ability to mediate and resolve workplace conflicts effectively
• You have exceptional interpersonal skills with a talent for coaching and developing others
• You have advanced knowledge of federal, state, and local employment regulations
• You have previous experience in HR policy development and compliance
• You are proficient in handling high-stakes employee relations issues with tact and professionalism
• You have the ability to handle employee relations issues through an antiracist, equitable lens that honors the humanity of all employees involved

Key Leadership Areas

This role holds a leadership position within the organization. You will guide HR strategies that support a fair, inclusive, and compliant workplace. You will be instrumental in ensuring our organization fosters a high-performance culture where employees are motivated to excel and contribute to organizational success.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to apply.