Sr. Employee Relations Analyst

Salary : $71,304.00 - $110,531.00 Annually
Location : 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC
Job Type: Full time with benefits
Job Number: 26-05966
Department: Human Resources
Opening Date: 06/03/2026
Closing Date: 6/17/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Position Description
Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $81,110 - $100,724
Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm

***A RESUME IS REQUIRED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE JOB APPLICATION***

The City of Durham's is an accomplished, diverse, energetic team embracing and inspiring the joy of public service. We aggressively challenge assumptions of what is possible, moving towards a future that is more just, productive and rewarding for all employees. Join us if you're ready to share your talents, learn new skills and build relationships in service to the City of Durham!

Reporting within the Employee Relations team and working under the direction of the Employee Relations Manager, this position handles day-to-day employee relations matters, supports investigations and grievances, assists with the reasonable accommodation process, and helps maintain the documentation, case records, and training materials that keep the function running. It applies established policy and follows guidance from team leadership and the City Attorney's Office on sensitive matters.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Handles day-to-day employee relations matters and inquiries, escalating complex or sensitive issues to the Employee Relations Manager or Administrator.
• Supports and conducts workplace investigations, grievances, and mediations under the direction of team leadership; gathers facts, documents findings, and prepares recommendations for review.
• Assists managers and supervisors with conflict resolution and routine performance and discipline questions, consistent with City policy and established guidance.
• Supports the reasonable accommodation process under the ADA - intake of requests, scheduling and documenting the interactive process, and gathering information on essential job functions and work-related limitations for review by the Manager, Administrator, and City Attorney's Office.
• Maintains the employee relations case management system: enters and updates cases, tracks matters from intake through resolution, and prepares caseload and trend reports.
• Maintains documentation standards, templates, and standard operating procedures so records across ER matters are thorough, consistent, and defensible.
• Supports the rollout of new and revised HR policies - preparing communications and manager guidance and helping ensure consistent application - under the direction of team leadership.
• Assists in developing and delivering training for managers and supervisors on documentation, progressive discipline, conflict resolution, and the accommodation process.
• Prepares documentation and gathers records to support unemployment hearings and agency charge responses.
• Maintains current knowledge of employment laws and City policies as they apply to employee relations.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in human resources or directly related field.
• Five years of professional human resources experience.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Employee relations experience, including support of investigations and conflict resolution.
• Experience conducting investigations, mediations and conferences with managers and employees.
• Experience with HR case management systems and maintaining accurate, detailed records.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.

Benefits - General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

01


Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

• City of Durham Website
• Walk in
• Job fair
• Employee referral
• Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***
• Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***
• Craig's List
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• GlassDoor
• governmentjobs.com
• Monster.com
• Indeed.com
• Employment Security Commission
• Magazine/Newspaper
• Other

02


If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.
03


Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

• Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED)
• High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• PhD or Juris Doctorate

04


How many years of related professional human resources experience do you have?

• No related experience
• Less than 1 year of related experience
• 1 year but less than 3 years related experience
• 3 years but less than 5 years related experience
• 5 or more years related experience

05


Do you have experience conducting investigations, mediations, and conferences with managers and employees?

• Yes
• No

Required Question