Employee Relations Specialist

Location:

DSST:
Home Office

Salary Range: $70,000-$85,300 based on up to 10 years of aligned experience. We also offer a relocation stipend for anyone joining us from 75 miles or more from Denver!

Status/Classification:
Full time, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position (Denver, CO)

Start:
Immediate.

Applications will be accepted until October 13th at 8am MST.

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.

School Partnership & Employee Relations (55%) 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, escalates complex or high risk issues appropriately, and ensures timely follow up Lead and support workplace investigations, including documentation, interviews, coordination, and recommendations Leader Coaching & Development (20%) 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 escape Support training and resources that build leader capacity in handling employee relations Policy Guidance & Consistency (10%) 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 Data Tracking & Reporting (10%) 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.

• 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…