Employee Relations Partner

Native American Youth And Family Center • Portland, OR

10d • $75,000 - $80,000

About The Position

NAYA Family Center is seeking an experienced, culturally responsive Employee Relations Partner to help foster a fair, respectful, and healthy workplace. Working closely with the HR Manager, the Employee Relations Partner serves as a trusted resource for employees and leaders navigating workplace concerns, performance challenges, conflict, and HR policies. The role provides confidential coaching, conducts workplace investigations, supports performance management, facilitates conflict resolution and restorative practices, and identifies employee relations trends and opportunities to strengthen workplace culture. The position requires sound judgment, strong listening skills, empathy, and objectivity.

This full-time position typically works 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional evenings or weekends as needed. The annual salary range is $75,000–$80,000, commensurate with experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Communications, Conflict Resolution, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2–4 years of progressive HR experience focused on employee relations, investigations, and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations, navigating complex interpersonal conflicts, and preparing clear, objective documentation.
• Strong coaching, active listening, empathy, sound judgment, and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to balance employee support, organizational needs, confidentiality, and objectivity.
• Understanding of Native American history, the diversity of the local American Indian/Alaska Native community, and issues surrounding the Urban Indian experience.
• Experience with HRIS administration, reporting, and workflow management.
• Proficiency with HRIS systems, Microsoft Word and Excel, databases, email, and web-based research.
• Hold, or be able to obtain and maintain, CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working within Native communities or organizations.
• Paylocity experience.
• SHRM or PHR certification.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted point of contact for employee workplace concerns, providing confidential intake, coaching, and restorative approaches to resolution.
• Conduct timely, thorough, and impartial workplace investigations; document findings and recommend fair and equitable corrective actions.
• Coach supervisors and directors on performance management, progressive discipline, constructive feedback, policy interpretation, and other employee relations matters.
• Facilitate conflict resolution and mediation using approaches that strengthen communication, address concerns, and restore workplace relationships while maintaining appropriate HR boundaries.
• Track and analyze employee relations trends and partner with the HR Manager to identify systemic concerns and opportunities to improve organizational practices.
• Develop and support trainings related to conflict resolution, effective communication, workplace respect, and employee relations.
• Serve as the first point of contact for HR matters when the HR Manager is unavailable, maintaining confidentiality, professionalism, and a safe, respectful, culturally responsive workplace.

Benefits

• Free medical insurance for employees, with affordable options for family members.
• Free dental insurance for employees, with affordable options for family members.
• Free vision insurance for employees, with affordable options for family members.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 6% match.
• Paid vacation.
• 16 paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level