Title: Employee Relations Consultant

State Role Title: Human Resource Analyst III

Hiring Range: Up to $100,000

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Central Office

Agency Website: www.dbhds.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) is dedicated to supporting individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination, and wellness across all aspects of life. DBHDS is seeking a skilled professional to join the Office of Human Resource Management and support our statewide behavioral health system as an Employee Relations Consultant. This position offers the opportunity to work directly with leadership across Virginia’s statewide behavioral health system while helping shape fair, consistent, and legally defensible workforce practices; partners with Human Resources professionals, leadership teams, and supervisors to address complex workplace concerns and support effective workforce management across several hospital and service locations; and serves as a trusted advisor to leadership by helping interpret employment laws and policies, guiding workplace investigations, supporting grievance management, and helping resolve conflicts in a manner that promotes fairness, accountability, and organizational stability.

This position is aligned to DBHDS Central Office in Richmond, Virginia, with regular travel to assigned DBHDS hospitals and service locations to support HR teams. The position is eligible for telework but requires regular in-person travel to DBHDS locations. A valid, unrestricted driver’s license and an acceptable driving record in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Driver Safety Program are required.

This position reports to the Senior Employee Relations Consultant and works closely with HR teams across the DBHDS system to serve the following DBHDS locations:
• Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents (CCCA)
• Catawba Hospital (CH)
• Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI)
• Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute (SVMHI)
• Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute (SWVMHI)
• Western State Hospital (WSH)

Key responsibilities include:
• Serving as the primary Employee Relations consultant for assigned DBHDS facilities.
• Providing consultation to supervisors and HR leaders on performance management, disciplinary actions, workplace concerns, and conflict resolution.
• Supporting workplace investigations by advising on investigative planning, interviews, documentation standards, and evidence review.
• Assisting HR teams with grievance procedure compliance and preparation of documentation for the Commonwealth grievance process.
• Providing guidance on alternative dispute resolution strategies to help resolve workplace conflicts early and effectively.
• Providing guidance to leadership on appropriate corrective action strategies and consistent application of HR policies.
• Delivering training and consultation to HR professionals and supervisors on employee relations practices, workplace investigations, and progressive discipline.
• Monitoring trends in employee relations matters and helping identify workforce risks or emerging workplace concerns.
• Traveling to DBHDS facilities to provide in-person consultation and supporting HR teams throughout the Commonwealth.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience supporting or advising on employee relations matters such as workplace investigations, grievance procedures, disciplinary actions, or conflict resolution.
• Ability to interpret and apply employment laws, policies, and workplace procedures to complex employee situations.
• Ability to analyze workplace issues and recommend practical solutions that support fair and consistent workforce decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to provide clear guidance to supervisors and leadership.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build collaborative working relationships with HR teams and leaders across multiple locations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Additional Considerations

• Professional HR certifications, such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
• Experience supporting large or multi-facility organizations.
• Experience working in public sector, healthcare, behavioral health, or other complex operational environments.
• Experience supporting workplace investigations or grievance procedures.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

This position is eligible, however not guaranteed, for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration of telework shall be approved as outlined in the Commonwealth telework policy.

For consideration, interested applicants must apply by completing the online application and/or submit a resume. However, emailed, faxed, and hand-delivered applications and/or resumes will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:55 p.m., on the listed closing date. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act.

DBHDS welcomes all applicants authorized to work in the U.S. For more information on how to seek this authorization, please refer to Working in the United States or contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office directly.

For any technical assistance with the jobs.virginia.gov website, please contact applicantinquiry@dhrm.virginia.gov.

Contact Information

Name: ShaKiera Miles

Phone: N/A

Email: shakiera.miles@dbhds.virginia.gov - Inquiries Only/No Submissions, to include resumes.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.