Employee Relations Specialist

FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Employee Relations Specialist
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: Director of Human Resources
Work Location: Mission Plaza
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Employment Status: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Employee Relations Specialist supports a fair, consistent, and respectful workplace across Foundation Communities. This role partners with HR leadership, managers, and employees to address workplace concerns, performance management, investigations, policy questions, corrective action, and conflict resolution. The position requires sound judgment, confidentiality, professionalism, and the ability to balance employee support with organizational expectations while promoting accountability and a mission-centered workplace culture.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary HR resource by partnering with managers, and employees to address workplace concerns, performance issues, policy questions, communication challenges, conflict resolution, corrective action, documentation, accountability, and next steps.
• Conduct and/or support workplace investigations and employee complaints in a fair, objective, and timely manner.
• Assess employee relations concerns and recommend appropriate resolution, follow-up, escalation, corrective action, performance management, or termination recommendations.
• Prepare clear, factual documentation, including investigation summaries, corrective action, performance documentation, and related records.
• Provide guidance on HR policies, workplace expectations, employment practices, and applicable employment laws.
• Identify employee relations trends, training needs, policy gaps, and process improvement opportunities.
• Assist with employee relations tools, templates, tracking systems, manager resources, reporting, audits, HR projects, and other duties as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, sound judgment, and a respectful, accountable, mission-centered workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 4 years of HR experience, must include employee relations, investigations, performance management, corrective action, and manager support.
• Working knowledge of employment laws, HR policies, compliance practices, and employee relations best practices.
• Strong communication, documentation, coaching, problem-solving, conflict resolution, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and sensitive matters with sound judgment, confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Outlook, Teams, and HRIS systems; ADP Workforce Now preferred.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, respect, and Foundation Communities' mission; HR certification, bilingual English/Spanish skills, and relevant nonprofit, affordable housing, property management, social services, mission-driven, or multi-site experience preferred.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

This position primarily works in an office environment with occasional travel to Foundation Communities properties or work locations. The employee must be able to perform standard office duties, use a computer for extended periods, participate in meetings, and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds. As a non-exempt employee, all hours worked must be accurately recorded and overtime must be approved in advance.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Foundation Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under applicable law.

Acknowledgment

This job description describes the general nature of the role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Other duties may be assigned as needed.