Employee Relations & Training Assistant

State of Maryland • Baltimore City, MD

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (SRPS) administers benefits for over 397,000 members, including active employees, retirees, and vested participants across 12 retirement systems. Located in Baltimore’s Central Business District, MSRPS offers a purpose-driven workplace with modern amenities, including panoramic city and harbor views, renovated common areas, upgraded elevators, and an on-site café. This position reports directly to the Employee Relations Manager and supports employee relations and human resources by assisting with a full range of personnel services and programs for the Maryland State Retirement Agency in accordance with State Personnel Management System laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. The incumbent will assist in the areas of employee and labor relations, policy implementation, and regulatory compliance. The position requires the ability to research, interpret, and apply applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to human resources and employee relations. The incumbent must maintain the highest level of confidentiality regarding personnel information and actions. This position will assist the Employee Relations Manager with investigations involving workplace bullying, employee misconduct, and all other employee relations matters. The incumbent will also assist in the development and delivery of employee relations and human resources training programs and must be able to independently present training materials to staff at all organizational levels. Training topics will include performance reviews, disciplinary process, and effective workplace communication. In addition, this position will support broader Human Resources division initiatives, including assisting with the continued development of HR operations, attending training related to Workday, processing disciplinary actions and terminations in Workday, as well as helping to process HR transactions as needed or when assigned.

Requirements

• Five years of experience, one year of professional HR experience involving recruitment and employment services, classification and compensation, employee relations, test development and validation, job analysis, job evaluation, salary administration, HR program evaluation, or HR policy formulation and an additional four years of professional HR management work experience in the areas of recruitment and selection, classification, salary administration, employee relations, test development and validation or as a generalist.
• Paraprofessional personnel work experience on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required experience.
• Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of professional HR experience involving recruitment and employment services, classification and compensation, employee relations, test development and validation, job analysis, job evaluation, salary administration, HR program evaluation, or HR policy formulation.
• Possession of thirty graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in the fields of HR/personnel administration, business administration, public administration, statistics, tests and measurements, psychology or a related field.
• U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in human resources management classification or human resources management specialty codes in the human resources management field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
• Ability to efficiently research, interpret, and apply applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to human resources and employee relations, or a current working knowledge of these areas.
• Must maintain the highest level of confidentiality regarding personnel information and actions.

Nice To Haves

• One year experience performing employee relations and conducting workplace investigations related to (bullying, misconduct, grievances, etc).
• One year experience providing guidance on performance management, PEP/PIP processes, disciplinary actions, and leave administration to supervisors and managers.
• One year of experience processing HR transactions in Workday or another HRIS, including PEPs, terminations, and disciplinary actions.
• One year experience performing work duties involving handling confidential and sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Assists with all employee relations functions for the Maryland State Retirement Agency.
• Assists with investigations related to complaints of bullying, misconduct, and other employee relations matters. This may include, and is not limited to, drafting interview questions, interviewing witnesses, and drafting appropriate reports.
• Serves as witness for Step 1 of appeals and grievances.
• Serves as witness for mitigating meetings, and for meetings in which disciplinary actions are delivered.
• Assists management with the PEP process, which may include reviewing PEPs and PIPs for necessary documentation, and assisting with the gathering of appropriate documentation.
• May be tasked to serve as witness during PEP delivery.
• Recommends and refers employees to training resources.
• Administers training programs, curriculum on Employee Relations topics such as Bullying in the Workplace, the disciplinary process, and Performance Planning and Evaluation Program (PEP).
• Updates and develops existing training for engagement purposes and any time a law, policy or procedure is revised.
• Completes and attends all required Workday training, which at times may be at another location.
• Assists with the processing of Workday transactions, which may include and is not limited to, creating job profiles, entering disciplinary actions, and assisting with entering leave events.
• Organizes the file room and keeps files updated.
• Purges files in accordance with file retention guidelines.
• Advises supervisors, managers, directors, and other staff on matters involving performance management and PEP evaluations, disciplinary actions, and leave administration.
• Interprets and applies COMAR, SPP, Federal laws and regulations, and State policies.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to maintain compliance with regulations and to stay informed of best practices.
• Performs other duties assigned to complete tasks associated with operation of Employee Relations and assist other areas of the Human Resources Services Unit.

Benefits

• health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost.
• Personal Leave - new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).
• Annual Leave - ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.
• Sick Leave - fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.
• Holidays - State employees also celebrate at least thirteen (13) holidays per year.
• Pension - State employees earn credit towards a retirement pension.
• Positions may be eligible for telework.

What This Job Offers

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