Employee Relations Specialist

“Every person deserves compassion, dignity, and the safety of a place to call home.”

Homelessness is the largest social and public health crisis in California. Illumination Foundation (IF) is a growing non‑profit organization dedicated towards disrupting the cycle of homelessness by providing targeted, interdisciplinary services in our recuperative care centers, emergency shelters, housing services and children’s and family programs. IF currently has 13+ facilities with 22+ micro‑communities scattered across Orange County, Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire.

Role

The Employee Relations Specialist serves as the organization’s subject matter expert on employee relations, employment law compliance, and culture. This position partners with leaders across corporate and field locations to resolve workplace concerns fairly and strengthen a culture in which employees feel safe, supported, and able to do their best work in service of the mission. The role balances investigative rigor, psychological safety, and empowerment with hands‑on coaching that builds leadership capability at every level of the organization.

The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $85,000 annually, depending on experience.

Responsibilities

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Conduct prompt, impartial, and thoroughly documented investigations into employee relations matters, including complaints of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and policy violations; deliver written findings and recommended outcomes.
• Provide on‑the‑spot coaching to leaders on performance concerns, corrective action, and conflict resolution, building their capability to address issues directly, consistently, and with confidence.
• Maintain the Employee Relations Tracker with current and accurate case data; deliver a weekly summary to the Direct Supervisor and Senior VP of People, and surface trends, root causes, and recommended interventions.
• Conduct regular site visits to all locations to maintain a visible People & Culture presence, address employee questions and concerns, and identify issues before they escalated.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure People & Culture policies, procedures, and practices comply with federal, state, local, and site contract requirements — including California wage and hour, leave, and accommodation law — so the organization operates within the legal framework and limits exposure.
• Monitor regulatory and legislative changes affecting employment practices; analyze organizational impact and update policies, practices, and systems accordingly.
• Research and interpret changes in employment law and prepare findings and recommendations for executive leadership and, as directed, the Board of Directors.
• Draft, revise, and maintain policies, procedures, and SOPs that strengthen the organization’s compliance posture and make expectations clear to employees and leaders.
• Partner with Legal, Risk, and Compliance to translate regulatory requirements into practical HR practice and required training.

Training & Communication

• Oversee the development and implementation of compliance training programs including assignment, tracking, and completion reporting through the learning management system.
• Prepare and deliver compliance‑based communications and training that are clear, accessible, and relevant to all levels of the organization (e.g., corporate and frontline workforce).

Collaboration

• Work closely with People & Culture team members on leave administration, accommodations, performance management, and offboarding to ensure consistent and equitable application of policy.
• Perform other duties assigned by manager as needed.

Expectations

• Judgment and risk management. Identify, manage, and resolve risk situations and implement policies or processes that prevent recurrence. Partner with the Direct Supervisor and Senior VP of People to evaluate risk, develop SOPs, and communicate protocols across the organization.
• Adaptability. Adjust to continuous change in the work environment and to schedules driven by site compliance needs, including constant communication with a wide range of personality and communication styles.
• Mission alignment. Work in strong alignment with the goals, mission, and values of the organization, making decisions that serve both compliance obligations and the people we serve at every site.
• Emotional intelligence. Demonstrate a high level of emotional intelligence and composure when handling conflict, sensitive matters, and time‑critical decisions under strict deadlines.
• Confidentiality and integrity. Handle highly sensitive employee, medical, and investigative information with discretion, and protect the neutrality and credibility of the investigative process.
• Self‑management. Continuously self‑manage priorities and time across multiple sites to complete onsite projects successfully and on schedule with minimal oversight.

Preferred Experience/Minimum Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or a related field. Master’s degree is a plus.
• 5–7 years of progressive Human Resources experience with a substantial employee relations and compliance focus.
• 5–7 years of demonstrated, applied experience with California employment law, including leaves of absence, accommodations, and wage and hour requirements.
• Proven experience independently conducting and documenting workplace investigations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) including the ability to track and summarize data in Excel spreadsheets and MS PowerPoint presentation slides. Experience working HRIS and LMS platforms is a plus.
• Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel regularly to sites across the Southern CA region.

Preferred

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• HR certification (PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP) or workplace investigation certification.
• Experience in healthcare, social services, or nonprofits serving vulnerable populations.
• Experience supporting a multi‑site workforce spanning corporate and 24/7 field operations.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance funded up to 91% by Illumination Foundation (Kaiser and Blue Shield), depending on the plan
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life, AD&D and LTD Insurance funded 100% by Illumination Foundation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development Reimbursement
• 401K with Company Matching
• 10days vacation PTO/year
• 6 days sick PTO/year
• 10 days holiday PTO/year
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSFL) for federally qualified loans