Employee Relations Business Partner

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Employee Relations Business Partner provides strategic and operational guidance to leaders and staff across the Arizona Department of Revenue. The role promotes positive employee relations by coaching managers, interpreting personnel policies, conducting fair and thorough workplace investigations, resolving workplace disputes, analyzing retention and engagement trends, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and agency policies. The position may offer remote work within Arizona based on business needs and continued performance. Remote work is a management option, not an entitlement, and work must be performed within Arizona unless an exception is authorized. The position also contributes to policy administration, cross-functional projects, agency compliance, and continuous improvement. It supports New Employee Orientation benefits sessions and serves as backup to the Benefits Specialist as needed. The role requires maintaining confidentiality, building effective stakeholder relationships, and applying lean principles within the Arizona Management System.

Requirements

Knowledge of human resources and personnel principles and practices.
In-depth knowledge of employment laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to personnel administration and employee relations, including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA, Title VII, ADEA, the Equal Pay Act, and state merit-system or civil-service rules.
Excellent verbal, written, and listening communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and professional demeanor.
Strong organization, time-management, and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and work in high-pressure situations.
Proficiency with PCs in a Windows environment, the Internet, Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Google Suite applications including Gmail, Sheets, Docs, and Drive.
Proficiency with HRIS applications.
Ability to pass a comprehensive background and clearance process, including Arizona tax compliance verification and an FBI criminal background check via Level One fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Ability to thrive in a service-centric organizational model.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Ability to handle confidential information and share it appropriately with internal and external individuals.
Ability to learn lean concepts, principles, and tools.
Ability to solve problems using intermediate analytical skills, including gathering, organizing, synthesizing, and analyzing information and identifying causes, outcomes, options, and solutions.
Willingness and ability to embody ADOR’s core values: Do the Right Thing, Commit to Excellence, and Care About One Another.
Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent on completion of the checks and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
Newly hired State employees must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, or a related field.
At least four years of previous human resources experience, specifically in employee relations.
Previous experience with LEAN.
SPHR or similar HR certification.

Responsibilities

Train, coach, and support people managers in fostering effective employer-employee relationships.
Monitor and analyze employee relations using surveys, conversations, and other data; prepare reports and analytics; and recommend solutions.
Guide and support managers in performance management.
Receive, triage, and investigate formal and informal workplace complaints involving behavior, performance, misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and policy violations.
Conduct objective investigative interviews, collect evidence, prepare investigative summary reports, and collaborate with executive leadership and legal counsel on corrective actions.
Ensure employee relations practices comply with applicable laws, regulations, and ADOR and ADOA policies.
Serve as a secondary presenter for New Employee Orientation benefits sessions and provide backup support to the Benefits Specialist as needed.
Propose, draft, implement, interpret, train on, and review personnel policies, procedures, and HR guidelines.
Respond to employee and manager requests for policy interpretation and track precedents and policy exceptions to support equitable application.
Lead and participate in cross-functional projects, including developing and maintaining project plans, coordinating roles and assignments, documenting processes, and tracking actions and metrics.
Facilitate and attend project meetings; monitor project and audit milestones; and prepare reports documenting results, KPIs, and quality improvement.
Build effective stakeholder relationships, manage expectations, and coordinate and facilitate meetings.
Stay current on relevant laws, regulations, policies, and best practices through research, professional engagement, and continuing education.
Participate in staff meetings, required training, work teams, coaching, and requested metrics, projects, and reports.
Apply lean principles within the Arizona Management System, recommend process improvements, and participate in continuous improvement efforts.

Benefits

Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans.
Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans.
10 paid holidays per year.
Vacation accrual of 4.00 hours biweekly for the first three years.
Sick leave accrual of 3.70 hours biweekly.
Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks per year for a newborn or newly placed foster or adopted child (pilot program).
Deferred compensation plan.
Wellness plans.
Tuition reimbursement.
Infant at Work Program.
Rideshare and public transit subsidy.
Career advancement and employee development opportunities.
Flexible schedules to support work/life balance.
Option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, subject to management approval and business needs.