Employee Relations Specialist

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VISION

El Paso County will be a trusted regional leader known for excellence in county service delivery. 

PURPOSE

We provide essential public services to the Pikes Peak Region in support of our residents, businesses, and communities, enhancing the freedom for all to thrive. 

VALUES

Service Focused • Collaborative • Accountable • Trustworthy • Transparent

Are you an HR professional who can navigate complex people matters with objectivity, sound judgment, and professionalism?  El Paso County is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to handle sensitive employee relations issues and support a workplace rooted in our vision, purpose, and core values.

In this role, you will manage complex employee relations matters, including discharges, medical separations, and disciplinary actions arising from investigations. You will guide these cases from development through delivery, partnering closely with HR staff, department and office leaders, HR Business Partners, and the County Attorney’s Office to ensure timely, well-supported, and consistent outcomes. You will prepare documentation that is clear, defensible, and aligned with investigative findings, County policy, prior practice, and legal requirements, while assessing risk and supporting sound decision-making.

• Serves as the primary point of contact for discharges, medical separations, and disciplinary actions arising from investigations; manages these matters from development through delivery in partnership with HR staff, department/office leaders, and the County Attorney’s Office to ensure timely, well-supported outcomes. Prepares documentation that is accurate, defensible, consistent with prior practice, and aligned with investigative findings, County policy, and legal requirements. Assesses risk and serves as backup to HR Business Partners on non-investigatory disciplinary actions, as needed.
• Drafts, reviews, and edits discharge, medical separation, and disciplinary documents; advises leadership on content and ensures documentation is supported by credible evidence/information and aligned with County policy and legal requirements.
• Maintains, updates, audits, and safeguards confidential employee relations files, spreadsheets, records, and related documentation, ensuring accurate recordkeeping of sensitive ER matters and outcomes.
• Coordinates employee placements on administrative leave related to investigations, disciplinary matters, or operational needs.
• Audits and processes back pay reconciliations in collaboration with Payroll to ensure accuracy of retroactive payments.
• Coordinates with employees and departments for the timely retrieval of County-issued assets following employee separations, discharges, or placement on administrative leave.
• Prepares employee relations-related payroll documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
• Manages the County’s unemployment insurance (UI) claims process, including timely responses, documentation submission, appeal hearing representation, claim validation, invoice reconciliation, and trend monitoring to support compliance and reduce liability.
• Works collaboratively with the County Attorney’s Office to respond to charges of discrimination received from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD), and other agencies, as applicable.
• Processes file preservation notices in collaboration with the County Attorney’s Office, ensuring timely compliance and documentation integrity.
• Participates in compiling and responding to requests for information, such as subpoenas, CORA requests, litigation, and other legal affairs, as directed. 
• Maintains in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to the management of employees, reducing legal risks, and ensuring regulatory and policy compliance. Stays abreast of employment law changes and requirements; disseminates this information and takes action to implement as applicable. Partners with the Office of the County Attorney as needed/required.
• Provides consultation and interpretation to County staff related to County policies and procedures; promotes and ensures compliance with County-wide and departmental policies, federal, state, and local laws.
• Works with HR staff to prepare and timely submit the EEO-4 report of workforce demographic data.
• Serves as the HR point of contact for employment law posting compliance across County worksites; monitors and updates postings in accordance with federal and state requirements.

• Monitors, gathers, consolidates, and analyzes metrics and employee-related data to identify trends, develop solutions, and prepare reports for HR leadership in support of proactive planning and continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and local employment-related law, including Title VII, Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and other federal, state, and local employment laws. Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Strong investigative, interview, and analytical skills, with attention to detail, objectivity, and the ability to interpret, evaluate, and analyze various methodologies and associated data.
• Ability to manage numerous, complex employee relations matters simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be an excellent communicator with the ability to effectively communicate with persuasion, tact, courtesy, and diplomacy, both verbally and in writing, even in difficult situations, including the ability to prepare comprehensive reports.
• Must possess excellent writing, note-taking, report writing, and proofreading skills; ability to write clearly and concisely with proper regard to spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Must possess strong attention to detail and initiative, with the ability to determine appropriate workflow and to complete all tasks within deadlines.
• Must be customer service oriented and possess strong organizational and time management skills.
• Must be honest, truthful, trustworthy, and possess a high degree of personal integrity. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook) Software and HRIS systems.
• Ability to deal effectively with pressure and ambiguity.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment with minimal supervision.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, County staff, elected officials, and the public.
• Ability to analyze problems, complex data, and information, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals. 
• Ability to handle difficult situations in a respectful and professional manner.
• Must be open to change and new information and able to adapt behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

• High school diploma or equivalent education.
• Three years of experience in employee relations, HR compliance, or a related area.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, human resources, or a related field.
• Employee relations experience in a public sector environment.
• Experience responding to EEOC or CCRD charges of discrimination.
• Experience responding to unemployment insurance (UI) claims and attending UI appeal hearings.

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification preferred.
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential preferred.

• Must pass conditional post-offer background investigation, motor vehicle record check, and drug screen.

Duties are primarily performed in an office and remote work environment dependent upon Department discretion and business needs; some local travel is required.
 
The classification specification above is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities and minimum qualifications; specific job assignments, duties, education, experience, licenses/certifications, and environmental conditions will vary depending on the needs of the department/office and the particular assignment. Changes to this document may only be made by a member of the Human Resources Department.

El Paso County is an E-Verify and Equal Opportunity Employer.

El Paso County adheres to Federal drug screening guidelines and requires a pre-employment drug screen.