Employee Relations Specialist

Job description

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center’s research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization’s staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center’s mission and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center is seeking a dynamic and compassionate professional to join the People Department as an Employee Relations Specialist. Reporting to the Employee Relations Director, the Employee Relations Specialist will handle employee complaints, disputes, and performance matters, ensuring fair treatment and compliance with organizational policies and employment laws. The role also works in a preventative manner by providing training to managers and supervisors on topics including performance management and communication techniques, and by serving as a resource to managers and supervisors as well as to the People Department team.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conduct comprehensive investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct, including but not limited to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, policy violations, and interpersonal conflict with an emphasis on care and sensitivity;
• Serve as the point of intake for internal complaints or referrals involving employee behavior, leadership concerns, or violations of the organization’s core policies;
• Interview complainants, respondents, and witnesses; gather and analyze relevant documentation and physical/digital evidence;
• Ensure all investigations are conducted promptly, fairly, and in accordance with internal protocols and applicable employment laws;
• Draft clear, well-reasoned investigation summary reports with findings of fact, credibility assessments, and recommendations for resolution;
• Present findings to Employee Relations leadership and, when necessary, partner with Legal, and senior management to determine appropriate next steps;
• Maintain and manage detailed, confidential records related to workplace investigations across SharePoint, Google, and other recordkeeping systems, ensuring compliance with internal requirements and applicable laws;
• Partner with HR Business Partners and site leadership to support accountability conversations and progressive discipline, based on investigation outcomes;
• Partner with HR Business Partners to identify trends in complaints and policy violations and escalate patterns of concern to leadership for proactive risk mitigation;
• Provide excellent customer service to staff by being proactive and responsive to employee inquiries;
• Develop and lead training and other supports to managers on topics such as giving feedback and communication techniques;
• Visit program site locations to connect with our staff to deepen relations with staff;
• Coordinate and consult with the Director of Employee Relations on investigations and other employee relations matters, as appropriate;
• Assist with other projects as needed; and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required;
• A minimum of 5 years as an HR Generalist or related HR experience required, including 3-4 years of experience conducting investigations in response to employee complaints particularly in relation to Equal Employment Opportunity, Anti-Harassment and Discrimination and Violence-Free Workplace policies;
• Direct experience conducting full-scope workplace investigations is required, including detailed documentation, witness interviews, and writing investigation findings. Experience managing caseloads involving harassment, discrimination, or retaliation complaints strongly preferred;
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills, a collaborative approach to problem-solving, exceptional organizational and analytical skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are required;
• Strong ability to work independently, prioritize work, efficiently complete tasks with multiple simultaneous projects, maintain confidentiality and discretion, and exercise good judgment; and
• Excellent verbal and writing skills.

Position Type: Full-Time.

Position Location: Hybrid with approximately two days onsite per week at our midtown Manhattan location with occasional travel within the five boroughs, Newark, New Jersey and Syracuse, New York.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $75,000 - $90,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.