03869 - Employee Relations Manager

Job Description
Manage VDOT's employee relations program and team of statewide Employee Relations Specialists who provide advanced-level professional policy guidance and consultation to local HR, leadership and employees on complex employee relations issues, agency representation in employee grievance cases, and access to training, investigative and alternative dispute resolution resources in all nine of VDOT's districts and Central Office. Manage a variety of complex statewide Human Resources programs that impact all employees throughout the agency.

How You Will Contribute

• Employee Relations Operations : Through resources, provide advanced-level guidance, investigations, and recommendations to Human Resources partners, agency leaders and employees regarding employee relations topics (e.g., employee conduct, corrective action, performance management, resolution of complaints and conflicts, and internal personnel investigations). Review employee relations products completed by others and handle escalated cases. Ensure advice is well-researched, timely and demonstrates accurate and situationally appropriate application of state and VDOT policies and employment laws to varying and complex situations. Ensure solutions to workplace issues are designed to meet business goals, maximize employee productivity, manage organizational risk, and achieve optimum health of the work unit. Liase with the Office of the Attorney General as needed to procure counsel and guidance with regard to cases involving high risk legal issues and/or litigation.
• Information Requests : Through resources, coordinate responses to requests for Human Resources records made under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Commonwealth's Grievance Procedure and via subpoena.
• Program Administration and Policy Development : Manage VDOT's Employee Relations Program. Develop processes and best practices to foster equitable, respectful and situationally appropriate handling of employee relations issues. Perform program analysis to determine effectiveness, identify areas of risk and make recommendations for enhancements to address gaps and better align program to agency mission and business needs. Communicate with leadership, managers and employees on employee relations-related matters, environmental (e.g., legal or policy change) impacts, and observed trends. Approve invoices for grievance, mediation and related expenses for payment and make annual budgetary recommendations. Develop and revise instructional memoranda, standard operating procedures (SOPs), newsletters, and employee communications designed to ensure effective administration of VDOT's Employee Relations Program and the Commonwealth's Grievance Procedure, as well as employee knowledge and consistent application of policy within the Agency. Ensure changes to program documentation and creation of new policies and procedures are effectively communicated to the appropriate audiences.
• Training: Assess agency learning needs both within the employee relations community of practice within the Human Resources Division and broadly across the organization. Through resources and in partnership with Workforce Development, develop and deliver training for the HR Community and for local HR delivery to supervisors to meet the needs of the agency on identified topics.

What Will Make You Successful

• Ability to anticipate and balance the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to apply knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations and provide guidance and recommendations to HR professionals and leaders on complex cases.
• Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Ability to develop strategies to improve customer service, program efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ability to effectively handle conflict situations.
• Ability to effectively manage and develop staff, delegate and distribute work, manage projects and lead teams.
• Ability to effectively solve complex problems.
• Ability to instill trust, maintain confidentiality and safeguard employee information.
• Ability to maneuver through complex policy, process and people-related organizational dynamics to achieve program goals.
• Knowledge of Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA and the Virginia Human Rights Act.
• Knowledge of human resource functional areas including compensation, classification, benefits, talent acquisition, and workforce development.
• Skill communicating effectively orally and in writing.
• Skill in administering or implementing an employee grievance procedure or conflict resolution process.
• Skill in conducting and coaching others to conduct complex investigations into employee misconduct.
• Skill in developing and delivering presentations and training on employee relations topics.
• Skill in drafting investigative reports and communicating findings and recommendations to executive-level leaders.
• Skill using Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to anticipate and balance the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to apply knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations and provide guidance and recommendations to HR professionals and leaders on complex cases.
• Ability to build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Ability to develop strategies to improve customer service, program efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ability to effectively handle conflict situations.
• Ability to effectively manage and develop staff, delegate and distribute work, manage projects and lead teams.
• Ability to effectively solve complex problems.
• Ability to instill trust, maintain confidentiality and safeguard employee information.
• Ability to maneuver through complex policy, process and people-related organizational dynamics to achieve program goals.
• Knowledge of Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA and the Virginia Human Rights Act.
• Knowledge of human resource functional areas including compensation, classification, benefits, talent acquisition, and workforce development.
• Skill communicating effectively orally and in writing.
• Skill in administering or implementing an employee grievance procedure or conflict resolution process.
• Skill in conducting and coaching others to conduct complex investigations into employee misconduct.
• Skill in developing and delivering presentations and training on employee relations topics.
• Skill in drafting investigative reports and communicating findings and recommendations to executive-level leaders.
• Skill using Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.

Additional Considerations

• A combination of training, experience, or education in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, law or related field desired.
• Experience drafting and revising workplace policies desired.
• Experience working in a high volume, large matrix reporting environment desired.
• Management experience desired.
• Specialized experience managing an Employee Relations Program on behalf of a public employer desired.

Click below to learn more about the Competency Model associated with this Position:
Competency Model

Physical Requirements

VDOT employees must abide by VDOTs Code of Ethics and the Commonwealths Standards of Conduct.
VDOT Code of Ethics

Standards of Conduct

Qualifications
Physical Requirements

About Us
VDOT utilizes a market based pay program, which has been approved by DHRM. Therefore, advertised rates of pay may or may not align with the Commonwealth pay bands.

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at , or DBVI at

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force.
Equal Opportunity Employer.
Please be aware all VDOT positions require pre-employment screenings. These screenings may include the following:

• Fingerprint based Criminal History Background Check
• DMV Record Check
• Work History Verification
• References
• Pre-employment physical
• Drug screen