Employee Relations Specialist

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, $100 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 Center’s People team as an Employee Relations Specialist. The Employee Relations Specialist handles 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. This is a role within the Center’s People Department. However, for an interim period, the position will report to the Deputy General Counsel. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Identify and respond to employee complaints and potential violations of the Center's policies;
• Lead workplace investigations including the intake of complaints, planning investigations, interviewing, writing investigation reports, and communicating outcomes of investigations; 
• Determine and initiate follow-up plans for investigations and other related matters;
• Maintain and manage administrative record-keeping related to workplace investigations, including any Sharepoint, Google or other folders and systems currently in use or that may be created for this purpose;
• Be a resource to managers and all staff on Employee Relations processes, policies, and best practices and ensure the proper implementation;
• 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;
• After the role transitions to the People Department, continue to coordinate and consult with the Legal Team on investigations and other employee relations matters, as appropriate;
• After the role transitions to the People Department, assist with other projects as needed;
• Additional tasks as necessary. 

Qualifications: 

• A 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;
• 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 three days onsite per week at our midtown Manhattan location with occasional travel within the five boroughs to other sites and Newark, New Jersey.

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. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of 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 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

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