Senior Specialist - Employee Relations

Company Description

About Covista

Covista is America's largest healthcare educator, serving more than 97,000 students and supported by a community of 385,000 alumni across five accredited institutions. Through personalized, tech-enabled education powered by 10,000 faculty and colleagues, Covista expands access to healthcare careers and addresses the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage at scale. Covista is the parent company of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and Walden University.

Our colleagues come from a wide range of backgrounds, business, academia, healthcare, government and nonprofits, and are part of a culture where doing exceptional work and making a meaningful difference for students and society aren't separate goals—they're one and the same. This means creating an environment where colleagues can develop new skills, build careers that match their ambitions and see the tangible impact of their work on healthcare education and workforce development. Colleagues who deliver results and embrace new tools to work smarter are valued for their contributions. But what makes working at Covista distinctive is our impact. Our faculty and colleagues don't just support healthcare education—they shape it. This isn't abstract purpose work. It's solving real problems for real people in real communities while advancing careers.

We operate on a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week (Monday–Thursday). This approach enhances creativity, innovation, communication, and relationship-building, fostering a dynamic and collaborative work environment.

For more information, visit covista.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram and YouTube .

Job Description

Opportunity at a Glance
Under the direction of the Employee Relations Director, the Sr. Specialist – Employee Relations (CRC) role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders and colleagues, managing a portfolio of complex and highly sensitive employee relations matters. This role provides expert consultation and case management related to employee conduct, performance concerns, workplace investigations, accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), leave of absence (LOA) administration, and policy interpretation. Under the leadership of CRC Director, the Sr. Specialist – Employee Relations (CRC) conducts investigations, evaluates and assesses organizational risk, develops recommendations, and partners with business leaders to resolve workplace concerns in a legally compliant and employee-centered manner. This position plays a key role in fostering a positive workplace culture while mitigating risk and ensuring consistent application of employment laws, company policies, and HR practices. Success in this role requires strong judgment, investigative expertise, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to influence outcomes across all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex employee relations cases, including workplace investigations, performance concerns, conduct issues, ADA accommodations, FMLA, and leave administration.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders and HR partners, providing strategic guidance on complex employee relations matters while balancing business objectives, employee experience, and legal compliance. Partner with Legal, Compliance, Benefits, Risk Management, and HR Business Partners to assess risk, resolve sensitive employment issues, and support organizational goals.

• Lead and support investigations involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, and workplace misconduct; develop findings and resolution recommendations.

• Provide guidance on performance management, corrective action, coaching, performance improvement plans, employment decisions, accommodations, and leave programs.

• Analyze employee relations trends, maintain compliant case documentation, and support leader capability through training, coaching, and mentoring on employee relations best practices.

• Review and draft employment-related documentation, including disciplinary actions, written warnings, performance improvement plans, investigation summaries, and separation recommendations.

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Complies with all policies and standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required and Master's Degree preferred.
• 4+ years of demonstrated experience managing employee relations investigations, ADA accommodations, FMLA/leave administration, and employment compliance matters required and Employee law coursework or training preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Expert investigation, interviewing, documentation, and fact-finding skills.
• Strong conflict resolution, mediation, consultation capabilities using sound judgment in ambiguous or high-risk situations.
• Excellent communication, training, writing ability, and interpersonal skills and influencing skills.
• Strong facilitation, mediation, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Good business acumen and writing skills.
• Skill in analyzing human resource and management problems and devising effective solutions.
• Strong business acumen and ability to balance compliance, org culture, and operational needs.
• PHR or SHRM-CP Preferred or SPHR or SHRM-SCP Preferred

Additional Information

In support of the pay transparency laws enacted across the country, the expected salary range for this position is between $80,000 and $95,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; geographic location; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Our Talent Acquisition Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and we look forward to learning more about your salary requirements. The position qualifies for the below benefits.

Covista offers a robust suite of benefits including:

• Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match
• Participation in Covista’s Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy
• 12 Paid Holidays
  For more information related to our benefits please visit:
  

 

Equal Opportunity – Minority / Female / Disability / V / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation