Administrator- Employee Relations & Internal Investigations (Public Service Administrator, Option 1)

State of Illinois•Springfield, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is seeking to hire qualified candidates for the position of Administrator of Employee Relations & Internal Investigations. This role oversees DoIT’s administrative investigative process from intake through resolution, ensuring conclusions are fact-based, defensible, and aligned with organizational standards, policies, rules, administrative directives, and agreements. The position conducts end-to-end workplace administrative investigations involving employee misconduct, policy violations, workplace disputes, leadership escalations, and other sensitive Employee Relations matters. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the center of workforce strategy, workplace administrative investigations, employee relations, and leadership advisory within one of the largest technology organizations in Illinois state government. Reporting to the Manager of Employee Relations, this position plays a critical operational role in resolving complex workplace matters across a large statewide IT workforce. The Employee Relations & Internal Investigations administrator leads workplace investigations, partners with leadership on Employee Relations strategy, and supports the resolution of labor and workforce issues that impact organizational effectiveness. Through disciplined fact-finding, evidence evaluation, and investigative analysis, the position develops defensible findings that inform leadership decision-making and help ensure consistent workplace accountability across the organization. In addition to investigations, the role partners with managers, supervisors, and executive leadership to address complex workforce issues including employee conduct concerns, disciplinary governance, grievance matters, and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements. By combining investigative expertise with sound employee relations judgment, this position helps leaders navigate challenging workplace situations while maintaining alignment with organizational standards and contractual obligations. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical judgment, investigative discipline, and the ability to navigate complex Employee Relations matters in a fast-moving operational environment. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to assess workplace issues objectively, synthesize investigative findings into clear recommendations, and partner with leadership to resolve workforce matters in a consistent, defensible, and solutions-focused manner.

Requirements

Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business or public administration, employee or labor relations, or a related field.
Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in employee or labor relations.
Requires three (3) years of professional experience participating in grievance procedures on behalf of management.
Requires three (3) years of professional experience conducting administrative or criminal investigations.
Requires the ability to verify identity.
Requires employment authorization to accept full-time position with State of Illinois.
Requires the ability to pass a position specific, agency required background check and requires self-disclosure of criminal history.
Requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel, including occasional overnight stays.
Requires the ability to serve in an on-call capacity and respond to urgent workforce matters outside of standard business hours when necessary.
Requires the ability to use agency supplied equipment such as laptop, personal computer, work cell phone, etc.
Requires the ability to work outside normal hours to meet deadlines.
Requires the ability to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, short notice, evening, weekends, and holidays.
Requires the ability to lift and carry objects or equipment weighing up to 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Three (3) years of professional experience conducting end-to-end workplace or administrative investigations, including intake, witness interviews, evidence collection, credibility assessment, and development of fact-based investigative findings and reports.
Three (3) years of experience producing defensible investigative documentation, including detailed reports, case summaries, and evidentiary analysis suitable for grievance proceedings, arbitration, or legal review.
Three (3) years of professional experience advising management on complex Employee Relations matters, including employee misconduct, workplace conflicts, and performance concerns in union and non-union environments.
Three (3) years of experience in the administration of interpreting and applying Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) principals, personnel rules, and organizational policies, including advising leadership and preparing grievance responses and disciplinary documentation.
Three (3) years of experience supporting grievance and dispute resolution processes, including case analysis, documentation preparation, leadership briefing, and participation in grievance meetings or hearings.
Three (3) years of experience conducting workplace risk assessment and ensuring compliance, including evaluating Employee Relations actions for consistency, legal/contractual risk, and alignment with organizational standards.
Three (3) years of experience developing disciplinary actions and corrective measures, including drafting charges, case narratives, and recommendations aligned with precedent, policy, and collective bargaining agreements.
Three (3) years of experience managing Employee Relations cases using case management systems, including tracking timelines, maintaining documentation, ensuring data integrity, and meeting audit and compliance requirements.
Working knowledge analyzing workforce trends, case data, and organizational patterns to identify risks, inform leadership decisions, and develop proactive Employee Relations strategies.
Developed communication skills (written and verbal), including the ability to prepare clear, concise, and persuasive investigative reports, grievance responses, and executive summaries, as well as effectively present findings, conduct interviews, advise leadership, and facilitate discussions on complex and sensitive Employee Relations matters.

Responsibilities

Serves as an Administrator of Employee Relations & Internal Investigations for the Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) participating in the oversight of DoIT’s administrative investigative process from intake through resolution, verifying that conclusions are fact-based, defensible, and aligned with organizational standards, policies, rules, administrative directives, and agreements, including conducting end-to-end workplace administrative investigations involving employee misconduct, policy violations, workplace disputes, policy violations, leadership escalations, and other sensitive Employee Relations matters.
Partners with leadership across the organization to evaluate Employee Relations matters and determine appropriate responses within both a non-union and unionized enterprise workforce environment.
Supports the organization’s employee relations efforts by preparing grievance cases and assisting leadership during dispute resolution processes, including conducting case reviews and fact-finding to support the development of informed effective management responses to grievances.
Partners with leaders across the organization, providing guidance on Employee Relations matters and workplace decision-making, including collaborating with supervisors and leadership teams to address complex Employee Relations matters.
Participates in the support of enterprise workforce governance by reviewing Employee Relations decisions and maintaining alignment with applicable policies, collective bargaining agreements, and regulatory frameworks, including evaluating workforce actions for potential contractual, compliance, or Employee Relations risk.
Maintains operational discipline within the Employee Relations function to ensure workplace matters are managed efficiently and consistently, including managing Employee Relations cases from intake through resolution, utilizing established case management processes.
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Benefits

Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
Flexible work schedules (when available and dependent upon position).
10 -25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment).
12 days of paid sick time annually which carry over year to year.
3 paid personal business days per year.
13-14 paid holidays per year dependent on election years.
12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System.
Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan.
Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP).
Tuition Reimbursement Program and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility.