Employee Relations Manager

Child Trends is looking for an Employee Relations Manager to add to its HR team. This position will assist employees and managers in navigating workplace issues while working to create a positive work environment focused on employee wellness. Ideal candidates will be effective communicators who are knowledgeable of employment laws and have experience conducting investigations, responding to grievances, and assisting managers and employees navigate performance issues and policy questions.

At Child Trends, we are working to put equity at the center of what we do and are constantly working to change our policies and practices as well as power dynamics and communications to be more equitable and human-centered. As such candidates with an interest or experience applying restorative justice and human-centric models to workplace conflicts and performance management concerns are encouraged to apply.

Our headquarters is located in Bethesda, MD however all positions are eligible for fully remote work inside the United States.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Stay current on employment laws and work with the HR team to ensure policies and practices are being updated to align with changes.
• Research and explain specific employment laws to employees or management staff as needed. Counsel and advise managers in interpreting and applying policies and procedures to resolve issues.
• Advise and train managers and supervisors in best employee relations practices and strategies for managing supervisor problems and employee grievances.
• Manage the organization’s promotion process, facilitating requests, feedback, and committee decisions. Help promote a culture of feedforward and recognition.
• Use surveys, focus groups, interviews, and other methods to gather employee feedback on policies and other employment issues. Analyze data then help share feedback with key stakeholders on what’s working well and provide suggestions to help address frustrations.
• Create training materials for employees and managers on relevant employment laws and employee relations topics.
• Monitor grievance trends, provide analysis to key stakeholders and proactively advise managers on possible resolutions to issues.
• Collaborate with leadership on matters of policies impacting employee relations and working conditions helping work within organizational constraints to find solutions.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Must be able to communicate precisely and alter tone appropriately to suit the situation and audience both verbally and in writing.
• Thorough understanding of state and federal laws concerning labor relations.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies.
• Thorough understanding of conflict resolution techniques and experience conducting workplace investigations.
• This position will handle confidential information and requires the exercise of discretion and sound judgment.
• Ability to remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial and/or confrontational situations.
• Ability to work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail to ensure information is provided to employees and maintained for record-keeping.
• Knowledge of a variety of computer software applications including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Intermediate to advanced experience with Excel is preferred.
• Analytical ability to gather and summarize data for reports, find solutions to various administrative problems, and prioritize work.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks under time-sensitive deadlines.
• Spanish language and writing proficiency preferred.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Employee Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, Pre-law, or another related field required.
• SHRM-CP or other HR credentials are strongly preferred.
• Four years of professional human resource administration, including two years in employee relations preferred OR its equivalent through training, education, and other experience.
• Experience working with Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion concepts and programs preferred.
• Direct experience working in a nonprofit setting, or a research or other professional business model is a plus.

How to Apply:

Please follow the “apply” link to submit your application. When asked by the system to upload a resume, please upload one document that includes your resume and cover letter. Materials must be combined into one document to be uploaded. If you have any difficulties with this process, please email the requested materials to recruitment (at) childtrends.org and make sure to reference the position in the subject line. No phone calls, please!

Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center headquartered in Bethesda, MD with more than 200 staff in over 28 states that provides valuable information and insights on the well-being of children, youth, and their families. For more than 40 years, policymakers, funders, educators, and service providers in the U.S. have relied on our data and analyses to make better decisions and policies on programs serving children, families, and youth. www.childtrends.org

Child Trends is committed to hiring, retaining, and promoting staff who bring a rich diversity of experience to support our mission of improving the lives and prospects of children and youth, especially those made most vulnerable by the effects of historical and ongoing systemic discrimination. Together, we envision a world in which a child’s race, ethnicity, family income, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other social identity does not determine how that child will fare in life. Therefore, we approach every aspect of our work with these ideals in mind and encourage professionals who share in our commitment to apply.

Child Trends is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.