Senior Employee Relations Consultant Senior Employee Relations Consultant

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the “Hiring Process” section below to learn more.

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Employee Relations Consultant who will serve as a strategic advisor to assigned departments, staff, and other customers on HR matters and help further city initiatives and goals. The Senior Employee Relations Consultant will be one of three team members providing consultative support to the city’s 13 departments and a workforce of over 1800 employees. The position will collaborate with stakeholders to administer, apply, and integrate citywide approaches and policies to solve customer needs.

The Senior Employee Relations Consultant will manage employee relations and be the primary point of contact for department management and employees in providing support for addressing workplace concerns. A key component of this role will be to lead and conduct investigations into complaints raised, on performance-related issues, or to manage any investigations handled externally. The Senior Employee Relations Consultants collaborate, communicate and coordinate with other HR colleagues on a variety of HR issues given their role serving as a primary contact for city departments’ staff to include partnerships with the labor relations, recruitment & workforce planning, classification & compensation, benefits, leave management, and organizational training and development.

In the HR Department, you’ll be a part of an engaged, enthusiastic team, dedicated to providing exceptional services to the city’s managers and employees, and to job seekers and external partners. Bellevue employees embrace the values of innovation, integrity, stewardship, collaboration, accountability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and take pride in the work they do. The City Council’s vision is that Bellevue welcomes the world, our diversity is our strength, and we embrace the future while respecting our past.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

HR Consulting – Provide human resources support to department management and employees. Through a strategic and collaborative approach, work with others in the human resources department to address organizational needs, either leading or advising on communications, training, team building, needs assessments, or other organizational development focused activities to proactively address departmental needs. Familiar with using organizational data to aid leadership in strategic direction and identification of opportunities to increase overall performance. This position will also provide consultative support as needed to departments on workplace staffing strategies involving reorganizations, layoffs, creation of new positions, and realignment of existing positions.

Employee & Labor Relations – Serve as an advisor to managers on handling performance or disciplinary issues, complaints and grievances, inappropriate behavior, and other aspects of employee issues that may arise. Manage complex employee relations issues from coaching up to termination. Implement policies and procedures and provisions in the collective bargaining agreements to ensure consistent application, ensuring precedence and past practice are taken into consideration. Develop and maintain respectful labor relations.

Workplace Investigations – Oversee external or conduct internal investigations as required with an objective, impartial lens. Ensure that key stakeholders receive the necessary communications throughout the process until the conclusion of the investigation. Draft investigative documents (e.g., summary findings) and any related corrective actions as needed and maintain documentation of investigation in compliance with records retention guidelines.

Special Projects and Other Duties as Assigned – Coordinate and oversee special long-term and short-term projects as required or any other duties as assigned to further advance city initiatives and programs.

Work is performed in a hybrid environment, with two days in office days or as needed.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Works under the general supervision of the HR Manager.

No formal supervisory responsibilities but may act as lead to other staff and given responsibility for various HR related programs.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have a strong understanding of the human resources field, with experience advising managers on employment issues while utilizing their knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations to ensure that compliance and best practices are achieved. It is important that the individual understands HR business process systems, has great collaborative skills to build positive relationships with multi-disciplinary teams/departments, and be able to engage our customers in a way that provides the level of consultation needed to educate, inform, resolve, partner or provide the services or products requested. We are looking for a dynamic, highly motivated individual with great interpersonal skills, technical knowledge, and proven experience in the HR field, who wants to join a future-focused, diversity and equity driven, high performing collaborative city team.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Five or more years of professional related experiencein human resources in a business partner/generalist capacity with demonstrated experience and expertise in employee and labor relations, performance management, workplace investigations, employee engagement and development, workplace planning and staffing.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in human resources, psychology, communications, business, public administration or related field highly desired but not required.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience,and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be taken into consideration.
• Relevant education credentials including HR certifications (IPMA-HR, HRCI, or SHRM) highly desired but not required.

Supplemental Information

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work involves getting to and from locations, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 20 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.

HIRING PROCESS

The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

• Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
• We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage, unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.
• Some positions may require completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment
• Some positions may require obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue, you’ll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service, Stewardship, Commitment to Employees, Integrity, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. You’ll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. It’s what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838 or recruiting@bellevuewa.gov. If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/IER_RightToWorkPoster.pdf (Download PDF reader)

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPosterES.pdf (Download PDF reader)

For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.

• Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.**

The City of Bellevue offers employees a comprehensive benefits package providing choice, flexibility, and value!

Please Note: Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees are not eligible for the below benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT 2) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan and any other benefits as required by law.

The following summary applies to fully benefited positions:

Medical

Employees are offered a choice of medical coverage through the City’s self-insured Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or Kaiser Permanente (HMO).

Dental

Employees are offered a choice of two dental carriers with plans that offer regular checkups, x-rays, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontia is available through one of the carriers.

Vision

Employees are offered a choice of vision coverage through an annual exam-only plan or a buy-up plan which includes an annual eye exam and hardware coverage.

Retirement Plans – Employees are offered three retirement plans:

• Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS): Mandatory participation (PERS, LEOFF or PSERS), depending upon eligibility.
• City of Bellevue Municipal Employee’s Benefit Trust (MEBT): Optional participation in this 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match contributions that vest on a 3-year schedule.
• Deferred Compensation Program (457 DCP): Optional participation in the supplemental Deferred Compensation Program also administered by DRS that allows tax-deferred savings into a variety of investments options.

Other benefits include:

More detailed information about our employee benefits is available at https://c2mb.ajg.com/cityofbellevue

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Survivor Income
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 11 observed holidays per year plus 2 additional personal holidays, vacation (standard accrual of 12 days a year), and sick leave (accumulated at the rate of one day per month)
• An ORCA Card bus pass
• On-site fitness center, and self service food/coffee options
• Career development and training programs
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Paydays – The City of Bellevue pays employees on the 8th and the 23rd of each month (24 pay periods per year).

Please note that the City does not participate in the Social Security Administration (SSA) program, and employees do not earn social security credits. The mandatory DRS retirement pension plan provides the required social security replacement plan. Any social security benefits earned at other places of employment may be reduced because they are subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision or the Government Pension Offset.

NOTE: This is a brief summary of the benefit programs for the City’s non-represented employees. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Benefits for employees represented by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) may have different benefits. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a CBA, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.

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