Senior Employee Relations Specialist

We are recruiting for a mission-driven Senior Employee Relations Specialist to join our team!

We're with you for life’s journey. At Denver Health, purpose isn’t just something we believe in—it’s something we live every day, for life’s journey.

Our Values

Respect | Belonging | Accountability | Transparency

Department

HR Employee Relations

Job Summary

Serves as a senior advisor and subject matter expert on employee relations. This includes complex performance management, discipline, and formal investigations or complaints. This role is responsible for providing guidance on sensitive or high-risk issues with a people-centric focus, while also ensuring clear adherence to policy and employment law. Works independently to handle the most complex and sensitive employee relations matters. Provides mentorship to other employee relations specialists. Collaborates with HR Business Partners to analyze trends and recommend preventive measures or interventions. Takes initiative in identifying and implementing process improvements, provides input on policy and program development, and ensures consistency in approach to support a positive workforce culture.

Essential Functions:

• Employee Relations & Investigations
  • Leads highly complex and sensitive employee relations investigations.
  • Analyzes investigation findings and recommends appropriate actions based on findings, policy, past practice, and organizational risk.
  • Maintains complete, accurate, and timely case documentation in accordance with established standards.
  • Identifies recurring or broader employee relations issues and partners with HR Business Partners to recommend interventions and preventative measures.
  • Reviews and approves moderate to complex corrective actions/ Accountability Based Performance (ABP) and Performance Improvement Plans (PIP)and provides guidance to support appropriate and consistent application.
  • Provides advanced consultation to leaders on complex, sensitive, and high-risk employee relations matters.
  • Contributes to the development and continuous improvement of investigation protocols and best practices. (40%)
• Performance Management & Training
  • Coaches leaders through complex performance management situations.
  • Develops and facilitates training related to employee relations and performance management.
  • Develops and recommends performance management tools and resources to support consistent practices.
  • Monitors performance management practices and identifies opportunities to improve consistency and effectiveness.
  • Analyzes performance management trends to identify recurring or broader employee relations concerns.
  • Recommends approaches to address performance management and employee relations concerns and partners with HRBPs when broader leadership, team, or organizational intervention may be needed. (20%)
• Program Administration & Compliance
  • Coordinates program implementation and evaluation and recommends improvements based on outcomes.
  • Coordinates compliance monitoring and reporting processes and identifies areas requiring follow-up.
  • Oversees unemployment case management and drives high organizational success rate.
  • Partners with the leave of absence team to support complex leave and accommodation cases.
  • Identifies and recommends opportunities for program improvement or development and coordinates related documentation and metrics.
  • Provides ER insights and trend information to support employee experience and engagement initiatives.
  • Coordinates survey and audit preparation activities and ensures required information is complete and timely.
  • Contributes ER expertise to policy and process development, implementation, and communication. (20%)
• Employee Relations Consultation & Partnership
  • Provides advanced policy interpretation and guidance to employees and leaders.
  • Develops and reviews employee relations documentation for complex or sensitive situations.
  • Provides employee relations education and guidance as part of new leader onboarding.
  • Identifies process improvement opportunities and coordinates implementation of approved improvements.
  • Provides employee relations expertise and consultation to support organizational change initiatives.
  • Mentors less experienced team members and serves as a resource on complex employee relations matters.
  • Serves as a subject matter resource on employee relations practices and recommends improvements based on emerging needs, trends, and best practices.
  • Partners with HRBPs to address employee relations trends and concerns that may require broader leadership, team, or organizational intervention. (20%)

Education:

• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience in Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred. Required

Work Experience:

• 7-9 years Progressive Human Resources experience with significant employee relations focus. Required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Expert knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Proven track record of successful complex investigations.
• Strong organization, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Intermediate level of public speaking and facilitator skills to speak effectively and persuasively on matters of interest to employees and serves as facilitator on employee focus groups.
• Microsoft Office proficiency.

Shift

Work Type

Regular

Salary

$80,900.00 - $125,400.00 / yr

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future — with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development — while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays
• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks
• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%
• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.
• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.