Relations Specialist

Overview

As the Employee (People) Relations Specialist, you will partner collaboratively with the HR Business Partners in support of their business units. You will be responsible for facilitating and managing employee relations on behalf of the designated Group. You will lead investigations and address complaints, as well as mediate and resolve issues between employees in compliance with ICF policies and procedures. The People Relations Specialist provides guidance to employees and managers in both performance and discipline-based issues.

This role will report to the Manager, Employee Relations and will be a direct partner to the group’s HRBPs as well as other corporate organizations such as the ICF legal team. The role can be based out of an ICF office, remote or a hybrid (in the US) and may require occasional travel.

• Serves as a resource and liaison for employee relations matters, demonstrating a knowledgeable and comprehensive approach. Inspire trust and confidence with employees and leaders with the HR partnership.
• Conducts investigations using appropriate fact-finding methods to gather information and obtain pertinent facts of employee relation concerns.
• Facilitates employee relations meetings and manages employee issues, conflict resolution, performance concerns and corrective action.
• Refer employees to performance management resources so that they may be successful in addressing performance gaps and/or working with their manager and others.
• Develops and maintains systemic and proactive approaches to conflict resolution between supervisors and employees.
• Advises managers and supervisors in best employee relations practices and strategies for managing for both manager and employee concerns.
• Work in partnership with managers/leaders and HRBPs to help administer involuntary terminations, e.g., layoffs, reduction in force, etc.
• Engage appropriate involvement of internal partners such as internal and external Legal Counsel, Risk Management, and Compliance to proactively ensure risk management and workplace safety.
• Draft, proof and finalize documents ensuring accuracy and compliance with policy/legal requirements.
• Provide guidance and interpretation on policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure core principles of ICF are upheld through consistency, fairness and according to our vision and values.
• Stays abreast of changes in regulations and laws that may impact ICF’s policy or processes.
• Proactively communicate elevated behavior incidents, patterns, and trends to HRBP leads.
• Serve as the primary contact to respond to questions from employees and management regarding ADA compliance and accommodation requests. Evaluate, research and administer employee requests for workplace accommodations. Facilitate and participate in the interactive process to identify and assess options for providing reasonable accommodations and access to eligible employees in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability laws.
• Use surveys, interviews, and other studies to conduct research regarding human resource policies and other employment issues. After analyzing the information, make recommendations on trends in policy, program or process changes.
• Recommend implementation of team-building strategies to the HRBP.
• Provide HR Business Partners and leaders with reporting data that provides a high-level review of number and type of cases on a quarterly and yearly basis. Analyze trends and assist in the development of action plans.
• Promote ICF's core values through HR programs and practices, model personal integrity, drive the importance of ethics and compliance, and address related issues in a timely and effective manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned or deemed necessary.

• 2+ years of demonstrated success in human resources with experience that may include one or more of the following: managing employee relations, facilitating investigations, and/or administering conflict management and resolution.
• 2+ years of experience successfully supporting, coaching, and influencing internal clients, including with clients in varying geographic locations.