Employee Relations Investigator

The City of Richmond is seeking a dedicated and experienced Employee Relations Investigator to join its Human Resources Department. This critical role is responsible for conducting workplace investigations, ensuring compliance with employment laws and policies, and fostering a fair and equitable work environment. Preferred experience includes working with public safety agencies such as police, fire, and emergency services.

The Employee Relations Investigator will be responsible for handling complex workplace investigations related to employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and policy violations. This position requires strong analytical and investigative skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage sensitive matters with confidentiality and professionalism.

• Lead thorough and impartial investigations into workplace complaints, including interviews, evidence collection, and report preparation.
• Ensure investigations align with city policies, employment laws (EEO, ADA, FMLA, Title VII), and best practices.
• Prepare detailed investigative reports with factual findings and recommendations.
• Advise management and HR on appropriate corrective actions and workplace resolutions.
• Work closely with police, fire, and emergency services leadership to handle employee relations matters within public safety agencies.
• Assist in developing training programs to prevent workplace misconduct and promote a culture of respect and accountability.
• Serve as a liaison between HR, legal counsel, labor representatives, and department heads to resolve workplace disputes.

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Ability to handle confidential matters with discretion and impartiality.
• Excellent report-writing, documentation, and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact with diverse employee groups.
• Experience conducting interviews, gathering evidence, and analyzing case findings.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining a collaborative approach with city leadership.

• Bachelor’s degree Disciplines Preferred: Human Resources; Business; Public Administration 
• Minimum of 5 years of employee relations, HR investigations, or labor relations experience.
• Preferred experience working in or investigating cases within public safety organizations (law enforcement, fire, EMS, corrections).
• Experience handling workplace grievances, conducting disciplinary investigations, and mediating disputes.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (approved by the department) maybe used to meet the minimum experience qualification of this classification. 

• HRCI HR Certification (PHR/SPHR)  or SHRM HR Certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP) is required upon hire or obtained within 6 months after initial hire date
• Certification in Human Resources: SPHR, PHR, SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, or equivalent in HR field preferred

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly finger, talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; frequently walk; and occasionally stoop, reach, stand, push, pull, lift, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may contain environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Salary : $70,122 - $109,963