Employee Relations Specialist

DSST Public Schools • Denver, CO

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Employee Relations Specialist serves as the lead people partner for a portfolio of DSST schools. In this role, you're the School Director's primary Human Capital partner, leading and owning employee relations and supporting staff HR matters. You'll manage employee relations from intake through resolution, coach school leaders to grow as people managers, and help build a fair, supportive workplace where transformational talent can thrive. This position is ideal for an HR professional with deep Employee Relations experience who's a strong coach and relationship builder, highly organized, and committed to strengthening systems that support an equitable, healthy, mission aligned workplace culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required or current enrollment in a Bachelor’s degree
• You are mission-driven: You have a desire to change the way the public school system serves students, so that all kids – regardless of race, ethnicity, or income – have the opportunity to go to college
• 3–5 years of HR experience, with at least 2 years in employee relations, case management, or compliance
• Demonstrated experience coaching or advising managers on people issues
• Strong relationship building skills and the ability to influence leaders without direct authority
• Experience supporting employee relations work in a multi-site or complex organization
• Familiarity with workplace investigations processes
• Basic understanding of employment law principles (i.e. ADA, FMLA, EEO, Title VII, TIX)

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead Human Capital partner for an assigned portfolio of schools and/or home office, leading the school's HC team in partnership with the HR Partner so each school has one team for everything from policy and leaves to performance and separations
• Build trusted relationships with School Directors and school leadership through a consistent partnership cadence, and bring in the right Human Capital expertise (benefits, compensation, talent acquisition, compliance) when needed
• Build trust with staff at every level, ensuring they feel heard, respected, and supported as they navigate employee relations matters
• Manage a high volume of employee relations cases from intake through resolution, including performance concerns, workplace conflict, and employee complaints; triage cases, escalate complex or high risk issues appropriately, and ensure timely follow up
• Lead and support workplace investigations, including documentation, interviews, coordination, and recommendations
• Coach school leaders to build their capacity as people managers, including setting clear expectations, giving feedback, documenting, and leading difficult conversations
• Guide leaders through performance management, from early coaching conversations through Performance Improvement Plans, with staff success as the goal
• Help leaders spot and address people trends at their school before they escalate
• Support training and resources that build leader capacity in handling employee relations
• Interpret and apply HR policies to support consistent, equitable decision making, partnering with Human Capital and school leadership to reinforce policies, procedures, and expectations
• Contribute to refining employee relations processes, templates, and tools that improve efficiency, transparency, and alignment with organizational values
• Maintain accurate case logs, metrics, and documentation
• Analyze data by school to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for proactive support, and share insights with school leaders and HC leadership

Benefits

• relocation stipend
• fertility and adoption support
• educator-focused mental-health care
• Safeway grocery discounts
• Weekly 1:1 coaching
• data-driven feedback
• clear career pathways such as Apprentice Teacher and Emerging Leader
• Core Value and TOAST Awards
• milestone celebrations
• the signature Flower Person Award honoring staff who help our community flourish
• Access to the Therapist of Color Collaborative
• Wellness Wednesdays
• comprehensive health coverage
• six weeks of paid parental leave
• 11+ weeks off each year
• local discounts

What This Job Offers

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