DSHS OOS Employee Relations Unit Investigator

Full Job Description

Picture yourself doing deeply meaningful work—using your investigative skills, sound judgment, and ability to navigate complex situations to ensure fairness, accountability, and equity across a large public service agency.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is seeking multiple Employee Relations Unit Investigators to join the Human Resources Division within the Office of the Secretary.

In this role, you will conduct complex and routine workplace investigations and provide expert guidance to leadership to ensure compliance with laws, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.

You will lead and support investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other forms of employee misconduct.

Your work ensures that such allegations are dealt with factually and helps ensure protection for the public, employees, and DSHS by creating a record of the facts and evidence found, and when appropriate, may also serve as a basis for discipline.

This position requires strong analytical thinking, independent judgment, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing with a wide range of stakeholders, including leadership, employees, legal partners, and external agencies.

This role is classified as a WMS1.

Some of What You’ll Do

Conduct Investigations

• Lead and support routine and complex workplace investigations into policy violations concerning all forms of employee misconduct, discrimination, and harassment.
• Create investigation plans and schedule and conduct investigative interviews necessary to present key findings of fact.
• Review, request, and analyze evidence obtained through verbal and written statements, records, video, various electronic data and other available forensic documentation

Analyze & Report

• Collect and objectively analyze evidence as it relates to policies and procedures.
• Correlate alleged behavior with applicable policies
• Prepare clear, concise, well-organized investigative reports outlining facts and providing analysis to support consistent, fair, and legally compliant decision-making.

Support Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain confidential data and information as required by applicable laws and DSHS policies.
• Maintain timely records of investigation status using program approved software and systems.
• Provide information and analysis to support a determination of appropriate corrective action and/or agency wide risk-mitigation

Lead & Develop Others

• Provide training, coaching, and technical guidance when requested to programs and HRD partners.
• Adhere to and promote consistent and timely investigation practices.
• Provide input for continuous process improvement and protocols designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of employee relations investigations.
• Work collaboratively with team members, union partners, employee relations leadership and stakeholders

Who we want as our newest teammate
Knowledge and Experience

At least seven years of paid professional experience of the following:

• Providing human resources consultation and/or managing human resource staff.
• Conducting investigations into employee misconduct and/or civil rights investigations.

Equivalent education and/or experience may be substituted for the years of experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Experience in a legal or investigative setting requiring a high degree of knowledge of legal or investigative concepts, issues, and analysis.
• Professional experience and training in investigative/paralegal/law enforcement work.
• Professional experience and training in analysis of complex issues and data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to author clear concise, thorough and grammatically correct writings.
• Demonstrated ability working with multidisciplinary groups, securing cooperation across departments, and working collaboratively with diverse individuals and teams.
• Knowledge and clear understanding of employment civil rights laws pertaining to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

To Apply

1. Completed Application
2. Resume
3. Cover Letter

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work.

It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS.

We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Questions? Contact grant.grady@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number 02640

Additional Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.


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