Manager- Employee Relations & Internal Investigations (Public Service Administrator, Option 1)

State of Illinois•Springfield, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the Employee Relations Manager for the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) managing the day-to-day activities of the Department’s Employee Relations function, including overseeing the intake, triage, assignment, prioritization, and resolution of Employee Relations matters including disciplinary issues, workplace complaints, investigations, grievances, and policy interpretation questions. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of workforce strategy, employee and labor relations, workplace administrative investigations, and organizational leadership within one of the largest technology organizations in Illinois state government. Reporting to the Director of Employee Relations & Internal Investigations, the Employee Relations Manager serves as a key leader responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Employee Relations function. The position provides expert guidance to executive & senior leadership, managers, and supervisors on complex workforce matters including workplace investigations, employee conduct issues, disciplinary governance, grievance resolution, and collective bargaining contract interpretation. The Employee Relations Manager plays a critical role in maintaining workplace accountability, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, and strengthening leadership decision-making across a large statewide IT workforce. This position also participates in labor-management discussions, negotiations, and workforce initiatives that shape how employee relations programs support operational success across the Department. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical judgment, investigative experience, and the ability to navigate complex employee relations issues in a fast-moving organizational environment. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to assess workplace issues objectively, advise leaders on defensible personnel decisions, and drive consistent employee relations practices across a diverse workforce.

Requirements

Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business administration, public administration, human resources, employee or labor relations.
Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in public sector employee or labor relations in a public or business organization.
Requires three (3) years of professional experience conducting administrative or criminal investigations.
Requires two (2) years of professional experience interpreting organizational policies, employment rules, or collective bargaining agreements.
Requires the ability to verify identity.
Requires employment authorization to accept permanent full-time position with State of Illinois.
Requires the ability to pass a position specific, agency required background check.
Requires self-disclosure of criminal history.
Requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel, including occasional overnight stays.
Requires the ability to work outside of normal hours to meet deadlines.
Requires the ability to use agency supplied equipment such as laptop, personal computer, work cell phone, etc.
Requires the ability to attend seminars, conferences, and training to remain current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to job duties.
Requires the ability to lift and carry objects or equipment weighing up to 10 pounds. This is considered sedentary work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(a)). Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and requires occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing.

Nice To Haves

Five (5) years of professional experience leading Employee Relations or Labor Relations functions, including managing intake, triage, prioritization, and resolution of complex employee relations matters, such as workplace complaints, investigations, grievances, and disciplinary action.
Five (5) years of professional experience ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), employment policies, and applicable labor laws, including consistent application of organizational precedent and defensible decision-making practices.
Five (5) years of professional experience overseeing internal administrative investigations, including supervising complex or high-risk investigations, reviewing evidence, validating findings, and ensuring adherence to established investigative methodologies and documentation standards.
Five (5) years of professional experience administering and overseeing disciplinary and corrective action processes, including applying progressive discipline principles, reviewing charges, and approving disciplinary documentation to ensure fairness, consistency, and legal compliance.
Five (5) years of professional experience representing management in employee or labor relations activities, including grievance hearings, labor-management meetings, contract interpretation, and participation in collective bargaining or supplemental negotiations.
Three (3) years of professional experience advising executive leadership, managers, and supervisors on complex employee relations matters, including conflict resolution, performance management, workplace conduct, and risk mitigation strategies.
Three (3) years of professional supervisory experience, including assigning and reviewing work, managing performance, coaching staff, administering discipline, and establishing team goals and operational priorities.
Three (3) years of professional experience overseeing case management systems and documentation practices, ensuring accurate recordkeeping, audit readiness, confidentiality, and timely resolution of employee relations matters.
Three (3) years of professional experience analyzing Employee Relations data and trends, including case metrics, investigation outcomes, and grievance activity, to inform strategy, identify organizational risk, and support continuous program improvement.
Working knowledge of HR systems, data analytics tools (e.g., Power BI), and Human Capital Management processes, including using tools to monitor workflows, supporting decision-making, and maintaining data.

Responsibilities

Under administrative direction, serves as the Employee Relations Manager for the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) managing the day-to-day activities of the Department’s Employee Relations (ER) function, including overseeing the intake, triage, assignment, prioritization, and resolution of Employee Relations matters including disciplinary issues, workplace complaints, administrative investigations, grievances, collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and policy interpretation questions.
Oversees the Department’s internal administrative investigation processes involving allegations of employee misconduct, workplace policy violations, and other sensitive personnel matters.
Provides strategic leadership and oversight of disciplinary and corrective action processes, verifying decisions are evidence-based, consistent, and aligned with organizational policy, collective bargaining agreements, and legal standards.
Serves as an agency representative in contract negotiations, labor management meetings, supplemental negotiations, and provides interpretation of collective bargaining agreements governing union-represented employees.
Serves as a trusted advisor to executive and senior leadership, managers, and supervisors regarding complex Employee Relations matters, including providing training and guidance regarding workplace conduct issues, performance management consultation, employee complaints, and conflict resolution.
Serves as a full-line supervisor.
Leads the monitoring, analysis, and continuous improvement of Employee Relations programs, leveraging data, systems, and cross-functional collaboration to identify risk, inform strategy, and enhance organizational effectiveness.
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Benefits

Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
Flexible work schedules (when available and dependent upon position).
10 -25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment).
12 days of paid sick time annually which carry over year to year.
3 paid personal business days per year.
13-14 paid holidays per year dependent on election years.
12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System.
Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan.
Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP).
Tuition Reimbursement Program and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility.