DSHS OOS Employee Relations Unit Investigator

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

About The Position

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is seeking an Employee Relations Unit Investigator to join the Human Resources Division within the Office of the Secretary. In this role, you will conduct complex and routine workplace investigations and provide expert guidance to leadership to ensure compliance with laws, policies, and collective bargaining agreements. You will lead and support investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other forms of employee misconduct. Your work ensures that such allegations are dealt with factually and helps ensure protection for the public, employees, and DSHS by creating a record of the facts and evidence found, and when appropriate, may also serve as a basis for discipline. This position requires strong analytical thinking, independent judgment, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing with a wide range of stakeholders, including leadership, employees, legal partners, and external agencies. This role is classified as a WMS1.

Requirements

At least seven years of paid professional experience in providing human resources consultation and/or managing human resource staff.
At least seven years of paid professional experience in conducting investigations into employee misconduct and/or civil rights investigations.
Experience in a legal or investigative setting requiring a high degree of knowledge of legal or investigative concepts, issues, and analysis.
Professional experience and training in investigative/paralegal/law enforcement work.
Professional experience and training in analysis of complex issues and data analysis.
Demonstrated ability to author clear concise, thorough and grammatically correct writings.
Demonstrated ability working with multidisciplinary groups, securing cooperation across departments, and working collaboratively with diverse individuals and teams.
Knowledge and clear understanding of employment civil rights laws pertaining to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

Responsibilities

Conduct investigations into policy violations concerning all forms of employee misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.
Create investigation plans and schedule and conduct investigative interviews necessary to present key findings of fact.
Review, request, and analyze evidence obtained through verbal and written statements, records, video, various electronic data and other available forensic documentation.
Collect and objectively analyze evidence as it relates to policies and procedures.
Correlate alleged behavior with applicable policies.
Prepare clear, concise, well-organized investigative reports outlining facts and providing analysis to support consistent, fair, and legally compliant decision-making.
Maintain confidential data and information as required by applicable laws and DSHS policies.
Maintain timely records of investigation status using program approved software and systems.
Provide information and analysis to support a determination of appropriate corrective action and/or agency wide risk-mitigation.
Provide training, coaching, and technical guidance when requested to programs and HRD partners.
Adhere to and promote consistent and timely investigation practices.
Provide input for continuous process improvement and protocols designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of employee relations investigations.
Work collaboratively with team members, union partners, employee relations leadership and stakeholders.