Employee Relations Specialist (HR)

Mission Healthcare•San Diego, CA

12h•$100,000 - $120,000•Remote

About The Position

The Employee Relations Specialist serves as a trusted HR partner to employees and leaders across Mission Healthcare, providing guidance and support on employee relations matters throughout the organization. The role manages workplace concerns, conducts employee investigations, supports performance and corrective action processes, interprets company policies, and coaches leaders through complex employee situations. In a fast-paced, multi-state healthcare environment, the specialist helps ensure employee matters are handled consistently, promptly, fairly, and in alignment with company policies, Mission’s values, and applicable employment laws. The position calls for strong employee relations expertise, sound judgment, empathy, discretion, and the ability to balance employee experience, compliance, and business needs. This is a full-time, Monday–Friday position scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some overnight and out-of-state travel is required. The position can be remote.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
3–5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, including meaningful experience handling employee relations matters.
Experience advising managers on performance management, corrective action, employee complaints, and policy interpretation.
Experience conducting or supporting workplace investigations.
Strong knowledge of employee relations principles and employment practices.
Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws.
Strong workplace investigation and fact-finding skills.
Ability to remain objective and exercise sound judgment in complex or emotionally sensitive situations.
Strong written documentation skills, including investigation summaries, corrective actions, and professional employee communications.
Ability to coach managers through challenging employee conversations.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish credibility with employees and leaders at all levels.
High degree of discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple cases and competing priorities.
Ability to work independently and recognize when higher-risk matters should be escalated.
Ability to interpret policies and apply them consistently while considering individual circumstances.
Strong emotional intelligence, professionalism, and resilience.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HR technology platforms.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting employees across multiple states.
Experience in healthcare, home health, hospice, or another highly regulated and distributed workforce environment.
Experience supporting both field-based and corporate employee populations.
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or similar HR certification.
Experience using HRIS, case management, or employee relations tracking systems.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary HR resource for employee relations concerns, including workplace conflict, conduct, performance, attendance, policy violations, and complaints.
Conduct timely, thorough, and objective investigations into harassment, discrimination, retaliation, workplace conduct, and other policy concerns.
Interview employees, managers, and witnesses, and document interviews and findings.
Assess investigation findings and partner with HR leadership to recommend appropriate next steps.
Prepare clear, factual investigation summaries and supporting documentation.
Maintain confidentiality and professionally manage sensitive employee information.
Coach leaders on performance concerns, accountability, attendance, conduct, and workplace expectations.
Guide leaders through coaching conversations, written corrective actions, performance improvement plans, and other performance management processes.
Review corrective action documentation for clarity and appropriate documentation of concerns, expectations, and required improvements.
Partner with leaders to determine consistent corrective action based on circumstances, company policy, prior practices, and applicable employment requirements.
Support employee separations and other sensitive employment decisions in partnership with HR leadership.
Promote timely intervention and documentation of employee concerns.
Advise operational and functional leaders on employee relations matters and help assess situations objectively and identify practical, compliant solutions.
Provide guidance on company policies, workplace expectations, employee communication, and HR best practices.
Coach leaders on difficult messages, setting expectations, and documenting employee conversations.
Build collaborative relationships with employees and leaders at all organizational levels.
Partner with HR, Talent Acquisition, Onboarding, Payroll, Compliance, Operations, and other internal teams on cross-functional employee matters.
Interpret and consistently apply company policies and procedures.
Maintain working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
Partner with HR leadership on higher-risk matters and escalate concerns when appropriate.
Identify potential compliance, employee experience, or organizational risks and raise them proactively.
Support updates to employee relations policies, processes, templates, and guidance as business or regulatory requirements evolve.
Maintain organized and complete employee relations documentation in accordance with company standards.
Help ensure employees’ concerns are heard and handled professionally and consistently.
Identify recurring employee relations trends and share insights with HR leadership.
Support exit interviews and identify themes or areas of concern.
Partner with HR leadership to develop education, tools, and resources for recurring employee or leader needs.
Facilitate employee relations and performance management training for leaders as needed.
Support HR initiatives that strengthen accountability, communication, engagement, retention, and the employee experience.

Benefits

401(k) retirement savings plan
Mileage reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
Tuition reimbursement
Relocation assistance
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees regularly scheduled 30 or more hours per week
Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts for employees regularly scheduled 30 or more hours per week
Disability, life, and AD&D insurance for employees regularly scheduled 30 or more hours per week
Pet insurance for employees regularly scheduled 30 or more hours per week