Employee Relations Specialist

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.  

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.  

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research organization at the University of Washington (UW). Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations.

IHME is committed to providing the evidence base necessary to help solve the world’s most important health problems. This requires creativity and innovation, which are cultivated by an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment that respects and appreciates differences, embraces collaboration, and invites the voices of all IHME team members.

IHME has an outstanding opportunity for an Employee Relations Specialist on the People and Performance (PNP) subteam, which is part of the larger Organizational Development and Training (ODT) team.

POSITION PURPOSE
The PNP team supports IHME’s diverse workforce across the employee lifecycle from onboarding to exit, spanning a broad scope of responsibilities to support the growth, development, and success of IHME’s people. This includes recruiting top talent, developing leaders, engaging managers, and supporting employees across all levels of the institute to ensure a vibrant and thriving community in which all members can fully contribute to IHME’s mission. The PNP team oversees a suite of core responsibilities including employee relations, performance management, community-building, coaching and mediation, recruiting, career development, employee engagement, and facilitation of personnel processes in partnership with campus HR. The PNP team is instrumental in driving IHME's mission forward, ensuring our institute remains adaptable, productive, and aligned with our core values.

The Employee Relations Specialist plays a key role in supporting the PNP team and serves as a technical leader who provides guidance across all levels of the institute from leadership to managers and employees. This position requires a high degree of employee relations expertise to adeptly address sensitive employee matters, including professionally managing and de-escalating grievances, resolving employee concerns, providing support to managers on performance management and corrective action, and guiding and advising on complicated leave of absence and/or disability accommodations. To accomplish this, the Employee Relations Specialist must possess excellent organizational acumen and be able to utilize sound judgment in high-pressure situations while demonstrating a high level of independence. The Employee Relations Specialists utilizes their expertise to skillfully manage delicate layoff termination cases, workplace climate concerns, conflict management and mediation, and organizational change to ensure their actions are in alignment with and represent the institute’s objectives. Tasked with handling sensitive and confidential matters adeptly, the Employee Relations Specialist will maintain excellent documentation and conduct thorough reviews and analyses of various employee relations issues to identify trends.

The Employee Relations Specialist acts as a key advisor to management, offering guidance on appropriate corrective measures and addressing delicate issues that could lead to challenging public relations or workplace climate concerns. This role frequently tackles unique challenges and problems that lack precedent or established guidelines, requiring sound decision-making and thoughtful solutions. The position acts as a liaison between the institute and campus HR and Labor Relations to address employee relations cases requiring collaboration on escalating performance management, complaint resolutions, and/or matters pertaining to employees represented by a union contract.  

To thrive in this role, we are in search of an individual with exceptional interpersonal abilities and communication skills, capable of developing strong connections throughout IHME and UW utilizing both compassion and tact. It's essential that this person not only understands the value of empathy in building these relationships but also recognizes their own authority and responsibility in ensuring people are held accountable to their tasks and the processes set forth by state and federal policy, UW, and/or IHME. The Employee Relations Specialist must understand organizational complexities, reporting relationships, and specific roles and responsibilities across IHME and within the broader context of the UW’s administration of policies and procedures. Additionally, they must also exhibit the capability to handle difficult or volatile situations and individuals effectively.