SENIOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SPECIALIST
We tailor your resume to this role and apply for you in seconds.
Apply to SENIOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS SPECIALIST at City of HoustonJob details
- Location
- Houston, Texas
- Work type
- Onsite
- Compensation
- $63,812 - $71,176/yr
- Posted
- 2 days ago
- Apply on
- governmentjobs.com
About this role
About the Department
Division: Employee Relations
Reporting Location: 611 Walker Street & IAH (16922 John F. Kennedy Blvd) Multiple locations
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
As a Senior Employee Relations Specialist, you will play a key role in fostering a positive, productive work environment for employees across the organization. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor, problem-solver, and subject-matter expert on employee relations matters—helping leaders navigate complex situations while ensuring compliance, consistency, and care.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building relationships, resolving challenges with empathy and professionalism, and strengthening organizational culture through thoughtful HR practices.
You will lead and support a wide range of employee relations activities, including:
· Build strong working relationships across departments to promote collaboration, trust, and open communication.
· Coach and advise managers on positive corrective action strategies that support employee success.
· Review and process corrective action recommendations to ensure fairness, consistency, and compliance.
· Prepare and refine HR documentation including reports, correspondence, and case summaries.
· Manage grievances and employee concerns while ensuring adherence to established rules, timelines, and procedures.
· Conduct thorough investigations into allegations of misconduct and recommend appropriate outcomes.
· Participate in Indefinite Suspension and Medical Separation meetings.
· Represent the department in Civil Service Commission Appeals and Unemployment Hearings.
· Develop and interpret HR procedures to support operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
· Deliver training to departments on HR policies, updates, and best practices.
· Coordinate responses to EEOC complaints and ensure timely, accurate submissions.
· Assist with ADA accommodations, supporting employees’ access to equitable workplace solutions.
· Perform additional HR duties as needed to support departmental goals.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort in a normal office environment.
Position Duties
EDUCATION REOUIREMENTS
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Social Science, Liberal Arts, or a closely related field.
EXPERIENCE REOUIREMENTS
Three years of related professional experience in human resources are required. Pertinent experience at the professional level may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
LICENSE REOUIREMENTS
None
Minimum Qualifications
**Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary For competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied For, such persons are among the most qualified candidates For the position, and all other Factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.** Experience Assisting in ADA Accommodation is highly Preferred.
Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience managing ADA interactive processes, evaluating accommodation requests, and applying ADAAA requirements in employee relations contexts.
Other Qualifications
SAFETY IMPACT POSITION YES
SALARY INFORMATION
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
Benefits
The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Wellness
- Supplemental Insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability
- Retirement pension
- 457 deferred compensation plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- 10 days of vacation each year
- 13 city holidays, plus one floating holiday
- Compensable Sick Leave
- Personal Leave
- Flexible schedules
- Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions
- Professional development opportunities
- Transportation/parking plan
- Section 125 pretax deductions
- Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
- Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
Supplemental Questions
- Yes
- No
- High School Diploma/GED
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree or higher
- None of the above
- Human Resources
- Business Administration
- Social Science
- Liberal Arts
- Other closely related field
- I have no degree
- Seven (7) or more years' experience
- Six (6) years' experience
- Five (5) years' experience
- Four (4) years' experience
- Three (3) years' experience
- Less than three (3) years' experience
- No experience in this area
- Provide general, high-level guidance without reviewing documentation or applying policy standards
- Collaborate with managers to shape corrective action plans and assist in reviewing basic documentation
- Independently review supporting documents, interpret and apply relevant policies, and guide managers through the corrective action process including providing various options and risks associated with each.
- No Experience
- Less than 31years
- 1 years to less than 3 years
- 3-5 years
- 5+years
- No experience
- Limited experience with basic HR documents
- Regularly prepare case-specific documentation
- Prepare complex or legally sensitive documentation
- Develop high-stakes reports for executive review or legal proceedings
- No experience in this area
- Provide general, high-level guidance without reviewing documentation or applying policy standards
- Collaborate with managers to shape corrective action plans and assist in reviewing basic documentation.
- Independently review supporting documents, interpret and apply relevant policies, and guide managers through the corrective action process including providing various options and risks associated with each.
- No experience
- Limited experience (assisted but did not lead)
- Moderate experience (led several investigations with guidance)
- Extensive experience (independently led multiple investigations)
- Expert experience (led complex, multi-party or high-risk investigations)
- No direct experience managing grievances
- Basic experience assisting or observing the process, with limited exposure to timelines
- Independently handled straightforward grievances and met standard timelines with minimal support
- Managed a wide range of grievance cases, and met standard timelines with minimal to no support
- I have no experience with ADA or workplace accommodations
- I have basic familiarity with ADA requirements but have not led cases
- I have participated in ADA interactive process discussions
- I have independently managed ADA accommodation cases from intake through resolution
- I have extensive experience leading complex ADA cases, including medical documentation review, undue hardship analysis, and collaboration with legal or disability management teams
- Fewer than 5 active cases at a time
- 5–10 active cases at a time
- 10–20 active cases at a time
- 20–35 active cases at a time
- More than 35 active cases at a time, including complex and high-risk matter
- I rely heavily on direction from others and do not typically propose solutions
- I can identify basic issues but need guidance to develop solutions
- I independently analyze situations and provide practical recommendations for routine ER matters
- I consistently use critical thinking to solve complex ER issues and propose effective, policy-aligned solutions
- I am considered a strategic problem-solver who anticipates risks, identifies root causes, and develops comprehensive, proactive solutions for high-risk or sensitive ER situations
Required Question
Agency Information
EmployerCity of HoustonAddress 901 Bagby StHouston, Texas, 77002 Website https://www.houstontx.gov/