HR Specialist - Employee Relations

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process. HR Specialist - Employee Relations Full Time | North Hills, CA, US | 4 days ago | Requisition ID: 2109 Hope Mission Statement The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long‑term solutions. Position Purpose and Summary Hope the Mission serves thousands of people across Los Angeles County. Doing that well requires a workforce that is treated fairly, supported consistently, and managed in compliance with the law. The HR Specialist, Employee Relations is the person responsible for making sure that happens when things get complicated. This position investigates workplace concerns, handles employee relations matters, and guides managers through corrective action, performance issues and separations. The HR Specialist conducts formal investigations into grievances, policy violations, harassment allegations and other workplace complaints, documents findings, makes recommendations to HR leadership, and ensures every step reflects organizational policy and California employment law. Beyond investigations the role supports onboarding, HRIS data entry, benefits inquiries, leave of absence coordination and compliance reporting, partnering directly with the Director of Human Resources and working closely with managers and directors across the organization. Responsibilities Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations concerns and escalating to HR leadership as needed. Review incidents and grievances, prepare detailed investigation plans within HTM HR guidelines. Conduct in‑person, virtual and telephonic interviews to gather relevant information and documentation. Collect, review and analyze evidence, statements, records and supporting documentation. Prepare comprehensive investigation summaries, findings, recommendations and documentation for HR leadership review. Maintain accurate, objective and confidential investigation case files. Provide coaching and guidance to supervisors and managers on performance, conduct and corrective action. Provide guidance and oversight on performance management and corrective action processes through to separation. Prepare required documentation and meet with employees regarding terminations, resignations, furloughs and layoffs in compliance with applicable law and HTM policy. Conduct exit interviews and report trends to HR leadership. Support applicant and candidate communications during the hiring process in coordination with hiring managers. Conduct new hire orientations and communicate expectations and compliance requirements. Support orientation logistics, materials preparation and badge creation. Process onboarding paperwork including background checks, employment eligibility verification and personnel file creation. Enter employee changes, separations, pay updates into ADP Workforce Now and other HRIS systems accurately and on time. Maintain accurate digital and physical employee records in compliance with confidentiality requirements. Maintain HR forms and administrative tracking systems. Assist with data reporting, audits and compliance checks across programs. Collaborate on leave of absence processes, workers’ compensation claims and related compliance tracking. Respond to routine employee questions regarding payroll, timekeeping and benefits. Assist with benefit enrollment and basic benefits inquiries. Support HR policy implementation, communication and training rollouts across departments. Assist in analyzing HR data to identify trends and recommend organizational improvements. Provide guidance and mentorship to HR staff on foundational HR tasks. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications High school diploma or GED required; bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field preferred. Minimum 3 to 5 years of progressive HR experience. Strong working knowledge of employee relations, investigations and corrective action processes. Strong working knowledge of California labor law and HR compliance requirements. Experience with HRIS systems required; ADP Workforce Now experience preferred. PHR, SHRM‑CP or equivalent HR certification preferred. Skills Conduct thorough, objective and well‑documented workplace investigations. Apply California employment law and HTM policy accurately in employee relations matters. Communicate clearly and professionally in writing and verbally across all levels of the organization. Handle sensitive, confidential and high‑stakes matters with professionalism and discretion. Guide and coach managers through performance management, corrective action and separation processes. Manage multiple concurrent cases and priorities with strong organization and attention to detail. Enter and maintain accurate data in HRIS and HR recordkeeping systems. Analyze HR data and identify trends to support organizational decision‑making. Exercise sound judgment and independent decision‑making in ambiguous or high‑risk situations. Work collaboratively across departments and build trust with staff, managers and leadership. Proficient in Microsoft Office and HR‑related software and platforms. Mandatory Requirements Background screening – Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background checks as required. Drug and alcohol testing – Candidates must pass pre‑employment and ongoing screenings in accordance with company policy. Motor vehicle record (MVR) check – For roles requiring driving, employment is contingent upon an acceptable driving record. Legal eligibility to work – Candidates must provide proof of legal authorization to work in the US. Compliance with company policies and HIPAA standards – All employees must comply with company policies, including safety, confidentiality and conduct standards. Must have reliable transportation. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The employee is required to: walk and climb stairs; stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis; grasp, push, pull objects such as files or drawer furniture, and reach overhead; handle, finger, grasp and feel objects and equipment; reach with hands and arms; be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; repeat various motions with the wrists, hands and fingers; be able to perform visual activities for administrative and clerical tasks; lift up to 25 lbs; communicate, receive and exchange ideas and information by means of the spoken and written word; drive vehicles in and around Los Angeles County; be able to enter various buildings that may require climbing stairs; be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. The employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals; use a desktop and/or laptop computer; various office machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing. Work Environment The employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using alcohol and drugs, and may not be attentive to basic personal hygiene, health and safety practices. The employee may experience a number of unpleasant sensory demands associated with participants’ use of alcohol and drugs and lack of personal hygiene. The employee must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to many types of situations, including crisis and potentially hostile situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in an office setting. Sometimes work may become stressful when working under pressure or in crisis intervention. EEO HTM (Hope the Mission) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, HTM complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, placement, promotion, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. HTM will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After a conditional offer and a background check, if HTM is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Full‑time position; Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm #J-18808-Ljbffr Hope the Mission