Employee & Labor Relations Specialist

About the position The Employee and Labor Relations Specialist supports employee relations, compliance, and People & Culture initiatives by managing workplace concerns, ensuring adherence to employment laws, and maintaining effective policies, programs, and documentation. This role partners closely with leadership and Learning & Development to address employee relations matters, mitigate risk, and drive a positive, compliant, and high-performing workplace.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the initial point of contact for employee relations matters, including intake, documentation, and support of workplace concerns; partner with leadership and escalate complex issues as appropriate.
• Conduct interviews, gather information, and maintain thorough documentation related to employee complaints, investigations, and labor relations matters.
• Partner closely with the Learning & Development Specialist to identify trends in employee relations issues and translate insights into proactive training, coaching, and development initiatives.
• Support the administration and documentation of the performance management process, ensuring consistency, compliance and alignment with organizational policies and development goals.
• Maintain knowledge of and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including EEO, affirmative action, wage and hour, and labor regulations.
• Monitor and interpret changes in employment legislation; communicate impacts and support updates to policies, procedures, and practices.
• Partner with organizational leadership to develop, implement, and continuously improve compliance programs and processes.
• Support and manage core People & Culture compliance activities, including recordkeeping (e.g., hiring, termination, leave, promotion), I-9/E-Verify, EEO-1 reporting, background checks, onboarding, and audit readiness.
• Draft, update, and maintain People & Culture policies, handbooks, procedures, and compliance-related documentation to ensure accuracy, in partnership with leadership and/or legal as appropriate.
• Partner with Learning & Development to ensure policies are effectively translated into training and accessible resources.
• Conduct audits, surveys, and research to assess effectiveness of People & Culture programs and compliance initiatives; provide insights and support continuous improvement efforts.
• Co-develop and support delivery of training programs related to compliance, policies, employee relations, performance management and workplace conduct.
• Maintain organized documentation, case files, and tracking systems to support compliance reporting, audits, and operational efficiency.
• Assist with contract lifecycle management, including drafting, reviewing, and maintaining agreements (e.g., NDAs, vendor contracts), in coordination with legal and/or leadership as appropriate, ensuring compliance with internal policies and legal standards.
• Coordinate contract administration activities, including tracking obligations, deadlines, insurance requirements, and document retention.
• Collaborate with leadership on contract review and negotiation support.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives, including implementation of systems, automation, and tools to enhance compliance, contract management, and People & Culture operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Support the coordination and administration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, programs, and activities.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and mission-aligned workplace culture through day-to-day interactions, communication, and partnership with leaders and employees.
• Monitor People & Culture shared inboxes and communication channels, ensuring timely, accurate, and professional responses.
• Process and maintain HR transactions within HRIS systems, ensuring data integrity and compliance with established procedures.
• Generate routine reports and basic analytics to support People & Culture operations and leadership decision making.
• Support cyclical HR processes (e.g., audits, policy updates, review cycles) through effective use of HRIS and related systems.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve data management, and enhance service delivery through technology and process improvements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Paralegal Studies, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in Human Resources, Employee Relations, Compliance, Legal, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience supporting employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, discrimination claims, and response to agency charges (e.g., EEOC).
• Working knowledge of employment laws and regulations, including FMLA, FLSA, EEO, ADA, and applicable state and local laws.
• Experience supporting HR compliance programs and audits.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel) and experience working within HRIS and document management systems.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive conversations professionally and effectively.
• High level of discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive employee and organizational information.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to interpret policies, regulations, and legal guidance and apply them in practical workplace situations.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build effective working relationships across teams and leaders.
• Self-motivated with a proactive, solution-oriented approach and strong ethical judgment.
• Comfortable leveraging technology and systems to improve workflows, reporting, and overall service delivery.
• Prolonged sitting at a desk.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 20 lbs.
• Must be comfortable with the emotional aspect of work in an animal shelter environment, including the use of humane euthanasia.
• Reliable transportation required.
• Position is required to work onsite at least two days per week and is eligible to work remotely based upon agreement with the role’s manager.
• Regular, predictable attendance, punctuality, and availability to work during operational hours.
• Attend and participate in regular team meetings and 1:1 meeting with direct leader.
• May be required to work at a different site based on department needs.
• May be required to attend occasional off-site meetings and events.
• Engage in mission-related activities as appropriate.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience drafting, reviewing, or supporting contracts (e.g., NDAs, vendor agreements) preferred.
• Experience generating reports and supporting data-driven decision-making preferred.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR, or compliance/program management certifications) preferred.

Benefits

• 15 Days Paid Time Off in your first year
• 4 Floating Holidays (per full calendar year) and 9 Paid Holidays
• 401k Retirement Plan with a 4% company match
• Health insurance coverage for full time staff includes the following: medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account for health care expenses and dependent care, voluntary accident insurance; critical illness insurance; hospital indemnity insurance; employee- paid supplemental life; employee-paid accidental death & dismemberment; and long term disability insurance.
• Employer-paid benefits for full time staff includes the following: basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• Support for student loans: we are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer
• Mental Health and Counseling Support: all employees have access to our Employee Assistance Program with 3 free counseling sessions per year
• 401k with 4% company match for part-time and full-time staff
• Nine paid holidays for full-time staff
• Paid floating holidays for part-time and full-time staff (up to 4 days per year based on start date)
• Paid Time Off for part time and full time staff (amount is based on hours worked and FTE status)
• Paid parent leave for full-time staff
• Unique animal adoption benefits and discounts on veterinary care and pet supplies

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